Torquay United v Wealdstone - Match Preview
THE DETAILS Torquay United v Wealdstone National League Plainmoor Tuesday 9th February, 7:45pm kick-off This fixture will be hosted behind closed doors. HOW TO WATCH Due to current COVID-19 restrictions in place across the country, this fixture will be held behind closed doors. Our hosts are live streaming the event and you can purchase your streaming passes HERE. THE CONTEXT Torquay have shown themselves to be the runaway leaders of the National League this season, the last time the sides met in December the Stones produced one of their best performances of the season only to be undone by a late Torquay winner. The Gulls won on the weekend in a tough FA Trophy clash away to Southport but did lose their last league game in a rare home defeat to Altrincham. Wealdstone meanwhile will be looking to put right a disappointing 4-1 FA Trophy loss to Darlington on the weekend. TEAM NEWS Danny Parish made his return from a hamstring injury in the weekend game against Darlington, it was the reverse Torquay fixture that was his last league game. Connor Stevens continued his long recovery from a knee injury on the bench on Saturday and could make his comeback tomorrow evening. Ross Lafayette remains injured but could be back in the squad by the end of the month. Josh Meekings remains out with a hip injury and Michee Efete was substituted in the weekend's defeat to Darlington after a nasty clash of knees with Luke Charman. FORM GUIDE Stones: Darlington (A) 4-1 L (Emmanuel) Altrincham (A) 2-0 L Aldershot Town (H) 3-4 L (Lewis, Dyer, Emmanuel) Gloucester City (H) 3-1 W (Dyer, Emmanuel, Green) Hartlepool United (A) 3-1 L (Mendy)
Torquay United: Southport (A) 0-2 W (Umerah, Waters) Altrincham (H) 1-2 L (Cameron) Barnet (A) 0-2 W (Whitfield, Andrews) Sutton United (H) 0-0 D Notts County (A) 0-0 D WHO TO WATCH FOR Ben Whitfield: Whitfield joined the Gulls at the beginning of last season following his release from Port Vale and has proved a key figure in the Gulls midfield, playing in every league game so far and grabbing five goals from midfield. The 24-year old had a very good game against Wealdstone in December and will be looking for more of the same as the Gulls aim to keep themselves well ahead of the nearest challengers of Sutton United in second-place. HEAD-TO-HEAD Played - 4 Won - 1 Drawn - 0 Lost - 3
LAST FOUR MEETINGS:
Dec 2020 - Stones 1-2 Torquay (Parish)
Mar 2019 - Torquay 3-2 Stones (Monakana, Okimo)
Oct 2018 - Stones 0-3 Torquay
Aug 1976 - Stones 3-1 Torquay (Duck 2, Edmondson)
Preview by Chris Woods