Torquay United v Boreham Wood
Saturday 14th November 2020, 3.00pm
Plainmoor, Vanarama National League
THE CONTEXT
On Saturday, Boreham Wood travel to Devon where we face League leaders Torquay United in the Vanarama National League.
There was no lack of excitement for the Gulls on their last time out as they took a narrow exit out of the Emirates FA Cup due to a 6-5 home defeat against League 2 outfit Crawley Town.
Whereas the Wood suffered their first home defeat of the season on Tuesday evening when Dagenham & Redbridge came away from Meadow Park with all three points from a 0-1 win.
Unfortunately, this fixture will be held behind closed doors, however there are several ways for fans to stay-up to date on proceedings including Wood’s twitter and Instagram.
THE FORM GUIDE
THE WOOD
Previous six games (in all competitions and friendlies): –
Dagenham & Redbridge (H) | VNL | 0-1 L
Southend United (H) | FAC1R | 3-3 (4-3 after penalty shootout) W
Woking (H) | VNL | 1-0 W
Wimborne Town (H) | FAC4QR | 2-0 W
Solihull Moors (A) | VNL | 0-1 L
Kings Lynn Town (A) | VNL | 0-3 W
On Tuesday evening, our home unbeaten run came to end after the Daggers came to town and secured a 1-0 victory.
Despite the defeat, Wood dominated play for the majority of the game with several goal scoring chances falling to strike partnership Shaquille Coulthirst and Kabongo Tshimanga. But like recent weeks, the chances failed to convert to goals.
Wood had several penalty appeals turned down from the referee on the night, but third time lucky, a spot kick was given in the 73rd minute to the homeside but Tshimanga failed to equalise from the opportunity.
Myles Weston’s 58th minute winner for the Daggers was the first goal Wood have conceded at home in league proceedings this season, a superb defensive run that Luke Garrard will be disappointed to lose.
THE GULLS
Previous six games (in all competitions and friendlies): –
Crawley Town (H) | FAC1R | 5-6 L
Hartlepool (A) | VNL | 0-5 W
Aldershot Town (A) | VNL | 1-4 W
Sholing (A) | FAC4RQ | 0-2 W
Dover Athletic (H) | VNL | 2-0 W
Chesterfield (H) | VNL | 2-0 W
After seven games played, Torquay United sit top of the table having won six of their opening fixtures in the National League.
Despite an impressive start to the league campaign, the Gulls unfortunately were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday as they took part in an 11 goal thriller but were narrowly on the wrong end of the score line as they lost 6-5 in extra time.
The front men for Gary Johnson have been pivotal to the Gulls’ success this season as they have scored the most goals (18) in the National League this year so far, including six from second top scorer in the league Daniel Wright.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
FRASER KERR
Kerr came through the youth ranks at Birmingham City, but failed to make a first team appearance before heading out to Motherwell on loan in 2012.
After impressing for the Well during his loan spell, the deal was made permanent in 2013 and he enjoyed a successful two-year period at Fir Park making over 50 appearances and featuring in the Europa League on several occasions.
The towering centre half departed from the Well in 2015 and dropped down to the Scottish League One in search for regular first team football with spells at Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir.
National League North side Gateshead then came calling for Kerr’s signature at the start of the 2017/18 campaign where he went on to spend 18 months before signing for Hartlepool in 2019.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
ASA HALL
Asa Hall came through the youth academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers before signing for Birmingham City where he signed his first professional contract at 17-years-old.
Hall went on loan spells during his time at Birmingham to Football League sides Boston United, Ashford Town and Shrewsbury Town of League Two.
When his contract came to an end in in 2008, Hall signed for Luton Town and went on to make over 80 appearances before being released in 2010.
The centre midfielder then signed a two-year deal with League Two outfit Oxford United but when his contract expired, despite making over 70 appearances, he opted to move on to re-join Shrewsbury Town.
Prior to Hall signing for the Gulls in the summer of 2018, he spent periods at both York City and Barrow. The 33-year-old then went on to became the first Torquay captain to lift a championship in over 90 years, when he helped his side win the National League South in the 2018/19 season.
“THE FINISHER
DANNY WRIGHT
Danny Wright has National League experience in abundance as he has featured in over 300 games scoring over 100 goals across 10 years at this level.
Wright started his career at Histon and spent an enjoyable three seasons at the club when he helped them win the Conference South in the 2006/07 campaign.
The centre Forward then moved on to Cambridge United where he spent one season being their top scorer, prior to a move across to Wales where he signed for Wrexham and scored over 20 goals in 73 appearances.
In 2015, Wright signed for Cheltenham where he joined, current Torquay manager, Gary Johnson. The duo won the National League, which was Wright’s first time and eighth attempt at promotion into the Football League!
The target man then left Cheltenham to sign for National League side Solihull Moors and he went on to spend two seasons at the club before signing for the Gulls at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Wright is the National Leagues second top scoring so far this season as he has netted six times in seven appearances.
PRE-MATCH WORDS
STAY HOME, STAY SAFE
LIVE UPDATES
Alternatively, you can keep up with the action via our Twitter and Instagram pages, where there will be regular updates throughout the course of the match.
Instagram: @boreham_woodfc
Twitter: @boreham_woodfc
Instagram: @boreham_woodfc
Twitter: @boreham_woodfc
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
Match Preview written by Joe Karadzas (Press Assistant)
