United are back on the road when they head to Essex tomorrow to take on Braintree Town.
The Gulls will be looking to put the disappointment of last Saturday’s loss at home to Slough Town behind them, as they take on the Iron in the National League South.
Who’s the Boss?
Who’s the boss?
The son of Geoff Harrop, who was Torquay United’s General Manager in 2017-18, Braintree boss Angelo Harrop guided the Essex club to the National League South play-offs last season in his first term in charge. Following his youth career at Colchester United and spells with several other clubs, the former central midfielder was appointed head coach in 2012 for Norwich City’s newly created centre of excellence in conjunction with Brantham Athletic.
The 35-year-old, whose support team includes assistant coach Steve Pitt, previously managed Stanway Rovers, Brightlingsea Regent and, most recently, AFC Sudbury
Player to Watch
Alfie Pavey is currently on loan and in his second spell at Braintree from National League side Woking, having already scored eight goals in ten league games for Farnborough in the National League South earlier this season. Pavey came through the youth ranks at Maidstone United, before moving to Millwall in 2013 on a two year academy scholarship. While at the New Den, Pavey found himself taking in loan spells at Barnet, Aldershot Town, Bromley, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Dartford, and despite joining Welling upon his release from Millwall in 2017, the striker played just two games before signing for Dartford in a second spell following his loan a few months earlier.
The 2017/18 season proved to be his best to date as in 38 games he scored 22 goals, before finding himself at Havant & Waterlooville and then his first spell at Dover Athletic. A return to Barnet and then Maidstone followed, before a loan spell back at Dover led to a permanent move for the 2022/23 season, however in February 2023 he was transferred to Braintree for his first spell at the club before arriving at Farnborough. Woking signed him for an undisclosed fee on a two year contract back in September after his blistering start for the Boro, and after ten games for the Surrey club he was loaned to the Irons for the remainder of this season.
How have they been doing?
Braintree started the season with just one win from their opening five league games before falling to a 2-1 defeat here at Plainmoor at the end of August. Following that defeat the Iron suffered just two defeats in their next 13 league games, although over the Christmas period they suffered three consecutive league defeats, including two 3-0 defeats to local rivals Chelmsford.
The turn of the year has seen an upturn in results and they come into this fixture undefeated in 2024 and winning four of their last five games, the last being a 1-0 victory last Saturday at Chippenhame Town, meaning they have won 13, drawn eight and lost nine with 47 points from their 30 games played sp far.
Played for Both
Left-back Wyatt arrived in South Devon last summer after making 24 appearances for League Two side Sutton during the previous campaign, where he was a popular member of the side that pipped Johnson’s side to the National League title in 2020/21.
After starting out as a youngster at Ipswich Town, Ben moved on to join Colchester United in 2016, however it was his superb form for the likes of Braintree and St Albans City that really saw his career move up a gear, and ultimately secured him a move to Gander Green Lane.
A return to St Albans was confirmed during pre-season, after Wyatt made 31 appearances for Torquay last term.
Previous Encounter
Braintree Town 1 – 3 United | National League | Saturday 29th August 2016
United took the lead in the 21st minute thanks to Jamie Reid, but were pegged back in the 32nd minute when Craig Barham-Barrett equalised for the hosts. The Iron weren’t level for long though as three minutes later defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco restored Torquay’s lead, before a third goal from Luke Young in the 75th minute increased United’s lead to see them run out 3-1 winners in Essex.
Ticketing information for tomorrow’s match is available HERE, whilst full live commentary will be available via TUFC Radio HERE.