United are back on their travels tomorrow, as Gary Johnson’s side make the long trip to Norfolk to take on King’s Lynn Town.
Whilst The Gulls will be looking for three points to extend their unbeaten run and bolster their top-seven ambitions, they will have to remain wary of a Linnets side who have become remarkably hard to beat in recent weeks.
Who’s the Boss?
It was all-change in the King’s Lynn dugout last December, as Tommy Widdrington was named as the successor to previous boss, Ian Culverhouse.
Having made his name as a player in English football’s top-flight with Southampton, subsequent moves to the likes of Grimsby, Port Vale and Hartlepool saw the Newcastle-born midfielder continue to chalk up appearances further down the league ladder.
When management came calling, it was at crisis-hit Salisbury City that Widdrington initially made his mark, prior to the club being expelled due to entering administration. A brief spell in charge of Hemel Hempstead would follow, before a five-year stint at Eastbourne Borough saw him transform the side from relegation probabilities to an established sixth-tier force.
A move back into the EFL with Bristol Rovers would see Tommy oversee two periods as caretaker manager, before his move to Norfolk just prior to Christmas saw him provided with his latest opportunity at the helm of a National League club.
How have they been doing?
Despite only doomed Dover being below them, Widdrington’s appointment has certainly produced an upturn in performances during the past three months – even if results haven’t been quite consistent enough to make up the gap to Aldershot, who currently occupy the last ‘safe’ position outside of the relegation zone.
Looking at their results in isolation though, the Linnets are taken lightly at their peril, with promotion-chasing Solihull Moors having to settle for a point after going 0-2 down last weekend – with only an 88th minute equaliser saving the Moors from a shock home defeat, prior to Town securing another positive result in the shape of a scoreless draw with Woking at The Walks in midweek.
Player to watch
Young Wycombe forward Malachi Linton currently leads the way in Lynn’s scoring charts, even if his modest total of five goals only serves to illustrate his temporary club’s struggles after joining them in a loan move last summer.
Having already proven his potential courtesy of 13 strikes in just 10 outings for Lowestoft prior to his move into the EFL, 3 goals in his last 7 for Town suggest he may be rediscovering his goal touch for the Linnets, just in the nick of time.
Played for both
Former Norwich City youngster Ryan Jarvis represented both Torquay and King’s Lynn during a long career that continues to see action at Lowestoft in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
His arrival at Plainmoor gave Martin Ling’s side the added impetus they needed to secure a place in the 2011/12 League Two Play-Offs, although United’s bid for promotion would ultimately disappear at the semi-final stage at the hands of Cheltenham.
The following campaign saw The Gulls do battle at the opposite end of the table, whilst also seeing him link up with current Torquay Assistant Manager Aaron Downes. After scoring at both ends in the final day 3-3 home draw with Bristol Rovers to banish any lingering relegation fears, Jarvis opted for a move to pastures new, with York City his next destination.
Having signed on at The Walks in pre-season 2017, Ryan’s experience was invaluable as The Linnets won back-to-back promotions to secure their place at non-League’s top table, and although a 21st-placed would usually result in relegation, the reprieve issued by the National League meant that Jarvis’ final experience as a King’s Lynn player would not be a sour one.
Previous Encounter
Kings Lynn Town 0 – 0 Torquay United, 12th December 2020, National League.
Table-topping United had to make do with a point following a goalless draw on their last visit to this part of Norfolk, with Asa Hall’s controversial red card eleven minutes from time providing the game’s main talking point. A gritty display did ensure that Gary Johnson’s men wouldn’t leave empty-handed however, as The Gulls stretched their at the National League summit to six points.