United return to National League action tomorrow, as they head to Hertfordshire to take on Boreham Wood.
With The Gulls in fourth position and just four points off league leaders Weston-super-Mare, victory at Meadow Park would set The Gulls up nicely ahead of Weston’s trip to Plainmoor on Tuesday. However with The Wood within touching distance of the promotion-chasing pack themselves, it promises to be another tough examination of Paul Wotton’s side tomorrow.
Who’s the Boss?
After less than five months away, long-serving Boreham manager Luke Garrard returned home to Meadow Park last September, following the dismissal of Ross Jenkins.
Having lost their space at non-League’s top table after nine years of almost continuous improvement, the decision was made to seek a new man to lead Boreham’s charge back to the fifth tier.
Jenkins’ reign was brief and unconvincing though, and when The Wood board opted to make an early-season change, they decided to look no further than Garrard, who made an almost immediate return to the Boreham dugout.
How have they been doing?
Having stalled in the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, Garrard’s return has brought about a swift upturn in form, with his charges winning seven of their twelve matches under his stewardship.
Their last league outing saw them defeat high-flying Truro, a result United matched last weekend in their FA Trophy encounter at Plainmoor.
Player to Watch
Torquay will once again be facing up to an imposing figure between the sticks tomorrow, with the experienced Nathan Ashmore proving to be a thorn in United’s side many times over the past five seasons.
Ashmore began his career in the youth ranks at Portsmouth, before successful spells at Havant & Waterlooville and Gosport Borough attracted the attentions of Ebbsfleet United. In 2019, Ashmore joined Boreham Wood – initially on loan – and he’s been a crowd favourite there ever since.
A place in the 2022/23 National League Team of the Season following 15 clean sheets only served as further evidence of his ability, with only a brief loan stint at Maidenhead interrupting his 200-odd appearances for the Club.
Played For Both
United striker Brad Ash spent the 2018/19 campaign at Meadow Park, following his release from Barnsley.
With a long-term injury putting paid to an earlier loan spell with The Wood, 5 goals in 29 appearances (6 starts) saw him play a valuable part in securing Boreham’s safety following a difficult campaign.
Having established himself as a prolific goalscorer at National League South level with the likes of Weston-Super-Mare, Chippenham Town and Weymouth, Brad’s stock rose even higher during the 2022/23 season, with his 24 strikes helping to drag his Weymouth side to NLS safety.
After a move to Plainmoor saw him finish 2023/24 as United’s top scorer, Brad has added two more important strikes this season, notching winners on the opening day v Enfield, before following that up with a late, late winner at Chesham.
Previous Encounter
Boreham Wood 0-1 Torquay | Vanarama National League | Tuesday 28th March 2023
United dug in deep to record a valuable three points on the road at Boreham Wood on their last visit t Meadow Park in March 2023.
A header from Captain Asa Hall just after the half-hour mark was all that separated the sides in a hard-fought game, as United held on to record a victory in their valiant, but ultimately unsuccessful bid to beat the drop.