Solihull Moors are the next side to take on Gary Johnson’s side on Tuesday evening, as The Gulls look to follow up Saturday’s victory with another three points at Plainmoor.
Having triumphed 2-1 at Damson Park just four weeks ago, tomorrow’s clash presents an opportunity for United to record their first ‘double’ of the season, however they will be facing a Moors side eager to impress new boss Mark Yates, who was installed as Solihull’s new man in charge earlier this month.
Who’s the boss?
Solihull’s 0-5 home battering by Stockport signalled the end of Jimmy Shan’s spell in charge, and when searching for a suitable replacement, the club’s board chose a familiar face to assist at short notice.
Mark Yates oversaw a remarkable turnaround in Moors’ fortunes in 2017/18, with the club bottom of the National League table upon his arrival in November, before the former Kidderminster Harriers and Cheltenham Town manager led the side to 12 wins from 29 games, easily enough to ensure safety for another season.
That resurgence under his stewardship was rewarded by a return to the Football League with Macclesfield Town, however it proved to be unhappy spell at Moss Rose, with Yates departing after just four months, before another brief stint at previous club Kidderminster followed shortly after.
His appointment as the new manager of another Midlands-based outfit, Southern League outfit Stourbridge, was subject to two abandoned campaigns, with the most recent one enabling him to take up the opportunity of a temporary return to Damson Park.
How are they doing?
After a bright start saw Shan’s men eyeing the play-offs, a set of derailing results have left the side some way adrift in 17th position, with 32 points from 26 games.
They do possess a number of games in hand on some of their rivals however, and although initial matches under their new boss haven’t quite brought the desired results, the single-goal defeats at promotion chasing Halifax and Bromley suggest their next victory might not be too far away.
Player to watch
Experienced midfielder Kyle Storer boasts a wealth of experience at this level, and like manager Yates, has spent much of his career plying his trade in the Midlands.
A regular with Tamworth during their spell in non-League’s top-tier preceded two campaigns in National League North with Hinckley, then Nuneaton, before Storer moved to Kidderminster Harriers. Over 130 appearances in his four seasons there was enough to catch the attention of current Gulls boss Johnson, who identified him as one of the men to lead Cheltenham Town out of the National League at the first attempt.
Kyle, like his Robins teammates, duly delivered on that count, giving him the chance to represent Town at EFL level for two seasons, prior to leaving the club for The Moors midway through 2017/18.
Played for both
Former United man Jamie Ward hit the heights of The Championship and international football after leaving Plainmoor in 2007, having notched 11 goals in 29 appearances for Ian Atkin’s – then Lubos Kubik’s – troubled side.
After failing to make an appearance at Aston Villa, a loan spell at Stockport County gave Jamie his first taste of senior football, and after his partial season on the English Riviera heralded a big-money move to Chesterfield, Championship sides Sheffield United, Derby and Nottingham Forest all benefitted from his attacking prowess over the next decade. An injury-plagued season at Glanford Park may have ruined Ward’s time at League Two Scunthorpe last time out, however his availability saw Moors act quickest to secure the Northern Ireland international’s signature last summer.
Previous encounters
Keiffer Moore’s stunning hat-trick sealed a 3-0 home success over Solihull back in November 2016, a result which remains Torquay’s only league win over The Moors to date.
After Gary Johnson gave Moore his first shot in professional football at Yeovil Town, a subsequent spell at Forest Green Rovers appeared to have stalled his career, however a hugely impressive loan move to Plainmoor – with five goals in just four outings – was the catalyst for Keiffer to work his way back up the football ladder.
Stints at Ipswich, Rotherham, Barnsley and Wigan preceded a £2 million move to Cardiff City last summer, a place where the Torquay-born targetman had already made an impact, after his sterling performances for Wales had helped the national team secure their place at Euro 2020.
In association with LV BET
Torquay United AFC will once again be providing full Livestream access for this fixture, including an hour-long pre-match show here.
The club will also be providing commentary of the match via Official TUFC Radio here.