United are back under the floodlights on Tuesday evening, as Weymouth head to Plainmoor to take on Gary Johnson’s men.
United, who will come into the game on the back of successive victories over Eastbourne (4-1) and Tonbridge Angels (2-1), will be looking for their third win on the bounce tomorrow, as they play host to aWeymouth side who are also in form, and undefeated in their last four in all competitions.
Who’s the Boss?
Bobby Wilkinson was appointed manager of The Terras in September 2022, after the previous campaign had seen the Dorset side relegated from the National League. Back in January, Wilkinson extended his contract as Weymouth’s First Team Manager, with the new deal seeing him remain at the helm until the end of the 2025/26 season.
After his own playing career was cut short through injury, Wilkinson worked as a coach under Brendan Rodgers, and Brian McDermott at Reading. Wilkinson then went on to manage Hungerford Town, Wealdstone and Bracknell Town, leading Hungerford into the National League, and also winning the Isthmian League South Central Division One title during his stint at Bracknell.
Under Wilkinson last campaign, Weymouth won 14, drew 6 and lost 26. A difficult 2022/23 season was concluded with National League South safety on the final day with a 2-0 victory over Dover Athletic which saw the Dorset side move to 18th – it was the first time in 487 days that Weymouth had been outside of the relegation spaces.
How have they been doing?
Tuesday evening’s visitors come to Plainmoor on the back of a weekend without a fixture, as their away clash at Braintree Town was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Weymouth’s last fixture saw them host second placed Aveley on 25th November, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
After 20 league fixtures, The Terras currently occupy 18th on 23 points, with a mixed bag of results so far this season seeing the side having won five, drawn eight and lost seven. Tuesday evening’s visitors come to Plainmoor in a good stead of form, with the Dorset side coming into the fixture unbeaten in their last four fixtures in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Prior to arriving at the Bob Lucas stadium in the summer of 2023, Ezio Touray spent time at Watford, with the striker having regularly featured for their Under-21s, whilst also training with the Hornets first team. Touray has previously enjoyed stints at Reading and Basingstoke Town before his arrival at Vicarage Road.
Following his release from Watford over the summer, Weymouth secured the signature of the Italian marksman in September, before the 20-year-old went on to score twice in his debut away at Dover Athletic – a feat he went on to repeat against the same opponents in the Isuzu FA Trophy in their 4-4 draw two months later.
After scoring four goals in his opening four games for The Terras, the striker’s brace against Dover in November marks the last time he was on the scoresheet, with the young striker no doubt looking to get back into goal-scoring form after failing to get on the scoresheet in the Dorset sides last two fixtures.
Played for Both
The signing of Brad Ash in the summer of 2023 saw delight amongst the Yellow Army, as United secured the signature of the experienced frontman, from fellow National League South club Weymouth. 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 last term, with his 24 strikes helping secure Weymouths National League South safety.
The now 27-year-old began his career with hometown club Weston-super-Mare, before 14 goals in as many games prompted League One side Barnsley to secure his services, and although Ash was unable to make a first-team breakthrough at that stage, a loan return to the Somerset side saw him register another 19 goals in 34 appearances.
A permanent transfer to Boreham Wood, followed by stints at Hereford and Chippenham, preceded his move to Dorset to sign for The Terras, where the striker went on to establish himself as a firm fan favourite at the Bob Lucas Stadium. After making the switch to Plainmoor over the summer, Ash has since gone on to feature for United in every fixture so far this season in all competitions, scoring eight goals in the process.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 3 – 0 Weymouth, Saturday 26th March 2022, Vanarama National League.
The two teams last met as the 2021/22 season drew to a close, with Weymouth making the trip to Devon in March 2022, where it was Gary Johnson’s United side who ran out 3-0 winners.
Stephen Wearne gave The Gulls the perfect start, and that early advantage was increased shortly after by Armani Little’s penalty kick. Just after the interval, Danny Wright added further gloss to the scoreline with a third, to round-off an excellent week for the Yellow Army.
It only took twelve minutes before United were a goal to the good. The move itself was simplicity personified, with a searching ball down the left wing giving Wearne something to chase, and after outpacing his opponent with ease, the on-loan winger drove inside the box before sending hie right-footed effort low into the far corner of the net.
Torquay were soon in search of another and it duly arrived seven minutes later. A delightful one-two between Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Little sent the latter clear, and after turning his man inside out, a clipping of the United skipper’s legs inside the 18-yard box saw the referee point to the penalty spot. Little dusted himself down before firing the spot-kick into the back of the net.
The side from Dorset continued to create chances and plugged away, with United goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald forced into action to deny Ben Thomson just before the halfway stage.
The Gulls added a third moments after the restart. A promising foray forward initially seemed to have lost its impetus, however with the visitors hoping danger had been averted, a right-wing cross was flicked by Lemonheigh-Evans expertly into the path of Wright at the back stick, who eagerly nodded home from point-blank range to make it 3-0.
Vanarama National League South | Torquay United v Weymouth | 05/12/23 | KO: 7:45pm | | TICKETS | Live commentary via Official TUFC Radio available HERE