Gary Johnson’s side will be looking to make it back-to-back wins on Tuesday evening, as United take on Solihull Moors at Plainmoor.
Having come out on top at Southend last time out, The Gulls will be going in search of their first home win of the 2022/23 campaign against a side already living up to their billing as one of the favourites to launch a promotion bid this term.
Who’s the Boss?
Having arrived at Damson Park last summer, Neal Ardley went within a whisker of securing promotion for Solihull at the first time of asking, as his side fell at the final hurdle, with Grimsby coming from behind to seal a 2-1 win, and with it, a place in the EFL at The Moors’ expense.
It is for an eleven-year spell at Wimbledon FC that Ardley the player is perhaps best remembered for, as ‘The Crazy Gang’ made a habit of upsetting their more prestigious Premier League opponents for the best of a decade. After serving Watford, Cardiff and Millwall prior to retirement, he returned to Wimbledon – this time ‘AFC’ of course – to cut his managerial teeth in 2012.
Neal’s six years in the dugout for the new club proved to be just as memorable as the were on the pitch for the old one, initially leading them to League Two safety, before leading them to promotion via the play-offs, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley in May 2016.
After going their separate ways two years later, it wouldn’t be long before relegation-haunted Notts County came calling, and although he was unable save the Club from dropping out of the Football League for the first time, he came within one match of instantly redressing that balance, with the National League Promotion Final to be his nemesis – not for the last time – as Harrogate pipped County to the final EFL promotion slot following a 3-1 win at a behind-closed-doors Wembley.
With his departure from Meadow Lane coming the following March, Neal will be now be looking to go one step further with his current club this time around.
How have they been doing?
Far from experiencing a hangover, Ardley’s side have started well, having recorded four wins and two draws in the first seven games, to leave them in fourth place with 14 points – three behind early leaders Chesterfield. They certainly haven’t been short of goals either, with their 18 strikes during that period just one behind current goalscoring pacesetters Wrexham.
Player to Watch
With imposing frontman Kyle Hudlin having departed the West Midlands club for Football League shores in the summer, a sizeable degree of goalscoring responsibility will fall onto the shoulders of local lad Alex Reid, who joined the club for third time during the close season – this time on loan from EFL new boys Stockport County.
After beginning his career as a youngster at hometown club Aston Villa, Reid broke into the professional ranks – via Moors – following a successful trial with League One club Fleetwood Town. Subsequent loan spells at National League sides Wrexham, and Solihull again, preceded a permanent move to League Two side Stevenage, before further success during temporary spells at Fylde, Ebbsfleet and Dagenham caught the attentions of parent club Stockport.
Reid already looks to be making his latest stint at the club a success, with his five goals in seven outings including a hat-trick in the 5-1 rout over Altrincham last time out.
Played for Both
Former United striker Danny Wright will always be remembered fondly by both sets of supporters present at Plainmoor on Tuesday evening, having taken both teams to within touching distance of the Football League during his two-years at both clubs,
Two years at Damson Park saw Wright score 16 goals in 72 league appearances, with his first season at Solihull seeing them post a 2nd-place finish, before repeating that feat with The Gulls following his switch to Plainmoor in the summer of 2020, as his two-year stint on the English Riviera seeing the experienced centre-forward chalk up another 14 goals in 52 league outings.
Having also represented Histon, Cambridge United, Wrexham, Forest Green Rovers, Gateshead, Kidderminster and Cheltenham Town, Danny left Torquay to join National League South side Havant & Waterlooville in June 2022.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 2 – 0 Solihull Moors, Tuesday 23rd March 2021, National League.
Torquay’s last success over our latest opponents came in the midst of a promotion push that would see Gary Johnson’s side take their EFL bid all the way to the final kick of the season.
First half strikes from Jake Andrews and Adam Randell saw Johnson’s side come out on top at Plainmoor in March 2021, as early goals from Jake Andrews and loanee Adam Randell were enough to put daylight between the two sides, with The Gulls’ devoted livestreaming followers savouring another valuable three points in front of the cameras.
A repetition of that result under the floodlights will certainly be warmly accepted by the Yellow Army inside Plainmoor on Tuesday!
Ticketing information is available here, with live commentary of the match also available via TUFC Radio here.