With the battle for promotion edging into the final month of the season tomorrow, United take on another in-form side, as Eastleigh head to Plainmoor.
Having enjoyed a near-perfect April, Gary Johnson’s side sit in pole position as the calendars turn to May, however The Gulls will have to extend that impressive run just a little further, with the battle for top spot showing no signs of slowing down.
Who’s the boss?
After a brief five games as interim manager, Ben Strevens was named permanent Eastleigh boss in November 2018.
Strevens played over 100 times for the Spitfires as a player and his talent on the field has continued off it, as he was successful in taking Eastleigh all the way to the National League play-off semi-final during his initial campaign in charge. After a 16th placed in the truncated 2019/20 term, he is looking on course to repeat the post-season trick again this time around.
As a player, Ben made his name as a goalscoring midfielder for a number of league and non-league clubs including Barnet, Dagenham, Wycombe prior to his arrival in Hampshire.
How have they been doing?
Less than three weeks ago, a 2-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge threatened to damage The Spitfires’ play-off aspirations, with an inconsistent run of results leaving them with ground to make up in the race for a top-seven berth. However, just as United responded in style to defeat at Victoria Road, Strevens’ side have produced a hat-trick of eye-catching wins – with a quick fire league ‘double’ over much-fancied Notts County coming either side of a superb 1-0 win over Torquay’s title rivals Sutton.
Those victories were all gained without a goal being conceded, and that has very much been the team’s main strength this season, with their 14 clean sheets marking a club record during their spell in non-League’s top tier.
Player to watch
Forward Tyrone Barnett has been a regular adversary for United over the years, having plied his trade at a number of clubs following a breakthrough spell at Hednesford Town, where he netted 40 goals in 81 league games. His 6ft 3in physical presence was utilised during spells at Macclesfield, Peterborough, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham amongst many others, before linking up at Eastleigh.
He has once again proven to be a regular goal threat this term, and currently leads the way at the top of his side’s scoring charts, having netted nine league goals so far.
Played for both
United’s Head of Youth Chris Todd gained his first coaching experience during a spell in the dugout at The Silverlake Stadium, having represented both The Gulls and The Spitfires with distinction as a player.
After beginning his career at hometown club Swansea, stints at Drogheda (Ireland) and Exeter City preceded a £7,500 move to Plainmoor in June 2007, with Chris playing a pivotal role in helping United regain their Football League status at Wembley two years later. A return to his native Wales with Newport County would follow, with Forest Green Rovers his next stop, before arriving in Hampshire in January 2013. Todd would then go on to take charge of the team for the majority of the 2015/16 campaign, as Eastleigh finished 7th.
Previous Encounters
With Gary Johnson’s men having put to bed a number of long-standing club hoodoos recently, the Yellow Army will be hoping for more of the same tomorrow afternoon, as The Gulls look to put an end to a dominant spell from their opponents.
With Eastleigh remaining undefeated during their last nine fixtures against United, and having chalked up eight wins during that one-way spell, you have to go back to their first league meeting in November 2014 for Torquay’s last – and currently solitary success at Plainmoor – when goals from Toby Ajala and Ryan Bowman helped secure a 2-0 win for Chris Hargreaves’ side.
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.