Following two away games, Gary Johnson’s men are back at Plainmoor when they host Boreham Wood tomorrow afternoon (3pm KO).
Who’s the boss?
Luke Garrard became the youngest boss in all of England’s top five divisions when he was appointed First Team Manager in October 2015, after he had spent two years as Ian Allinson’s Assistant.
The Wood were in their first season in the National League when Garrard was appointed, during which he steered his side to safety on the last game of the season. The Hertfordshire side made their first Wembley appearance in 2017/18 under his leadership after achieving their highest National League finish to date. Garrard also led the Wood to their best ever FA Cup run last season, by guiding them to the 5th Round. Their run included wins over AFC Wimbledon and Bournemouth before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park against Everton.
How Have They Been Doing?
Garrard’s Boreham Wood started the season with a win at Southend United, where a solitary Danny Newton goal was enough to give them all three points despite the Wood finishing the game with nine men. A 2-2 draw against Notts County at home was next as an 83rd minute penalty from Tyrone Marsh gave them a share of the spoils. Tuesday night under the lights at Meadow Park saw Garrard’s side slip to a 2-1 home defeat to Aldershot Town, with a late George Williams goal only proving to be a consolation.
Player to watch
George Williams is a Welsh midfielder who joined Boreham during the summer. Williams started at MK Dons, before moving to Premier League Fulham in 2012, where he would spend the next six years of his career. During his time at Craven Cottage, Williams made 15 appearances while also spending time out on loan at Gillingham, MK Dons and even a spell in the Scottish Premiership with St.Johnstone. Following his release from Fulham, Williams spent two years at Forest Green Rovers scoring eight goals in 42 games before moves to Grimsby Town and Barrow came before his move to Meadow Park. Williams has also represented Wales at U17, U18 and U21 levels and also had seven full caps for the national side.
Played for Both
A loan spell at Barnet – where he made 17 league appearances and scored 1 goal precluded his move to Plainmoor in 2013 where Krystian Pearce made 67 league appearances and scored 5 goals in a two year spell at United, having previously been at Port Vale, Scunthorpe and Notts County.
Upon leaving the Gulls Pearce joined Mansfield where he spent five seasons and made over 190 appearances, scoring 13 goals. After leaving Field Mill Krystian played for Solihull Moors and Boreham Wood before joining current club Hereford this summer in the National League North.
Pearce has also represented England at U17 and U19 levels but chose to represent Barbados at full international level where he has currently made three appearances for the country.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 3 – 2 Boreham Wood, Saturday 19th October 2019, FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
A swift double from Jake Andrews and Jamie Reid put The Gulls in charge at the interval, and despite Tyrone Marsh’s response via the penalty spot, Torquay regained the two-goal advantage through Ben Whitfield. An unlucky own-goal from Robbie Cundy looked set to force a tense finale, but Gary Johnson’s side held on to secure a victory that was perhaps more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
After a cautious opening for both sides United took the lead when Frank Vincent’s 26th minute short corner eventually found its way through centrally to Andrews on the edge of the box, who showed nifty footwork to ride a challenge before sending a low left-footed drive into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later and the lead was doubled. After receiving the ball 20 yards from goal, Reid used his presence to gain the half-yard he needed to get a shot away, with the resultant effort seeing the ball soar into the roof of the net, past the despairing dive of Nathan Ashmore, and thats how the score remained at half-time.
Former Gull Tyrone Marsh halved the defecit early in the second-half, slotting home a penalty after Kane Smith was fouled in the area. United’s two goal lead was restored in the 64th minute, when Andrews fed Liam Davis wide on the touchline, who responded by back-flicking the ball into the path of the onrushing Vincent. Showing tremendous determination, not to mention skill, the on-loan Bournemouth man broke into the box, and fed Whitfield, who smashed the loose ball into the net from 10 yards to make it 3-1.
The Wood were to get a second goal in the 90th minute when as a right-wing cross was diverted into his own net by the stretching Robbie Cundy to make it 3-2, but Torquay held on in added time to progress into the First Round Proper.