Torquay United v Kidderminster Harriers

[Dave]

I don't think it's right to call this the biggest match in our clubs current history, think it's fair to say every match between now and the end of the season has that tag, however to play one of only two sides current below us in the table at home, this match if there ever was such a thing, is a must, must win game.

As a club and fans group we can cast an eye over to The Harriers with some sympathy, their plight is very much our plight, Kidderminster like us have well documented financial problems, and with just ten games left The Harriers are now looking at almost certain relegation from the non-league top flight, as, even if they won all of their remaining games you'd feel they would have rely on a few results going their way elsewhere.

When 3pm comes around though, we're not a charity, we have our relegation battle to fight and sympathy must and will be put to one side. Back in mid September we played out 2.2 draw at Aggborough in a match that looked as if The Gulls would take all three points until at late Equaliser for the home side.

Kidderminster went on a run of seven straight defeats from late November to late January giving The Harriers a real mountain to climb, however three straight wins in February saw a real upturn in form in Kidderminster's season, however they have since gone five games without a win, a real warning to us, that we must stick together and continue to work hard to maintain our own upturn in form.

Kidderminster top goalscorers

Gurjit Singh 4
Ben Whitfield 4
Arthur Gnahoua 3
Jordan Jones 2
Luke Maxwell 2
Zaine Francis-Angol 1
Kelvin Langmead 1
Keith Lowe 1
James McQuilkin 1
Elton Ngwatala 1

Current form


Kidderminster; W-L-D-L-L-L

13 Feb Kidderminster 3 - 1 Macclesfield
16 Feb Cheltenham 2 - 0 Kidderminster
20 Feb Kidderminster 2 - 2 Chester
23 Feb Wrexham 2 - 0 Kidderminster
27 Feb Kidderminster 0 - 1 Bromley
1 Mar Braintree 2 - 1 Kidderminster

Last time out


Braintree 2 - 1 Kidderminster

13 Snedker
2 Hodgkiss
29 Lowe
24 Fane (Patrick 80'minutes)
17 Kinsella
5 Langmead
18 Jones(Williams 46'minutes)
4 Maxwell Booked at 90mins
11 Gnahoua
9 Garnett
34 Whitfield

Substitutes
10 Patrick
21 Williams
26 Brown
27 Francis-Angol
36 McQuilkin

Gordon: Have faith in my long-term vision

“I want the fans to trust that we’re going in the right direction,” said the chief executive.

“We’ve got fantastic plans in place for next season and everybody at the club is buzzing with what we’re hoping to do.

“What’s important is performances and philosophy and I was very pleased with the performance against Braintree.

“It’s not about what happens this season, it’s what happens over the next five years.

“If we go down we will come back stronger and return to the Vanarama National League and then we’ll be up going another level as well with our style of football.

“Braintree are a top four side and we scared them, so I was pleased.”

"I am not worried about playing in the National North if we go down.

He said: “I am not worried about playing in the National North if we go down.

“The pitches won’t be any worse than the ones we’ve played on at Braintree and Cheltenham in recent weeks and we’ll make sure Aggborough’s surface will be a carpet.

“People keep saying to me that it will be too physical but the teams in that division will not be as fit as the league we are in now.

“We’ll be fitter and stronger than the other teams and we’ll be playing in a way that the fans can be proud of and enjoy.

“But with that we’ll also be well organised and solid with it.”

“The chairman and I have spoken at length about what to do,” said Gordon.

“I have really enjoyed being in charge although there have been times when I haven’t been pleased, such as the first half against Wrexham which was my fault.

“I know where I would be most useful and that is looking after contracts and helping find revenue for the club, so I won’t be manager next season.

“We’ve got plans in place and it will become clear by the end of the season.”



From a Torquay United point of view


I talked about how the picture could change very quickly with a few wins, which is hardly a pearl of wisdom on my part I know, but here we are, 3 straight wins, some momentum and confidence which breeds itself, the team have at least given themselves a real chance with up coming fixtures fairly favourable to avoid the drop, and that's all us fans could ask for, we can't control what happens elsewhere, but we can control our own destiny, by winning our games.

I've talked about controlling the pressure, and the player fitness and well being with such a fixture pile up, well so far 3 wins out of 3 games, so 10/10 on that score, those issues seem to be taken care of.

Now it's about the mentality of us fans, have we got the stomach for this battle, this match Saturday could be as big as it gets, TUFC fans past and present can sit at home moaning about this that and the other, or you can get down to Plainmoor and support your team, they need us, in numbers and in voice, and now. We have real chance beating the drop, us fans can help.

As for the likely team selection, Iffy Allen who took no part Tuesday and we all saw his impact v Macclesfield in the Trophy and Welling in the league, hopefully we can get this lad fit soon, the starting team should remain the same, I know of no other suspensions or injuries. Although Verma I believe can't take any part in this game due to the conditions of his loan to us from Kidderminster.

Torquay United top goalscorers


Nathan Blissett 4
Dan Butler 2
Andre Wright 2
Toby Ajala 1
Durrell Berry 1
Josh Carmichael 1
Exodus Geohaghon 1
Shaun Harrad 1
Angus MacDonald 1
Courtney Richards 1
Aman Verma 1

Current form


Torquay United; L-L-L-W-W-W

1 Jan Forest Green 3 - 1 Torquay Utd
23 Jan Torquay Utd 0 - 2 Gateshead
30 Jan Tranmere 2 - 1 Torquay Utd
20 Feb Boreham Wood 0 - 1 Torquay Utd
23 Feb Torquay Utd 2 - 0 Welling Utd
1 Mar Macclesfield 1 - 2 Torquay Utd

Last time out

Macclesfield 1 - 2 Torquay Utd

21 Lavercombe
29 Berry
3 Butler
5 MacDonald
18 Smith
10 Racchi
14 Ajala(Wright 65'minutes)
16 Richards
12 Harrad
4 Rees(Verma 79'minutes)
17 Blissett

Substitutes
1 Fisher
19 Chaney
22 Gerring
25 Verma
28 Wright


PRIDE AND PASSION



The work-rate, effort and application of the players was there for all to see,” he said. “It was a fantastic performance from everyone involved; we did the ugly stuff well and this kind of attitude and character is going to be so important in these remaining battles.

“I’ve now got the attitude amongst the squad that I have been looking for since day one. It’s great to have this kind of spirit around the place and it’s nice to see us getting the rewards in terms of results.

“I also thought that our supporters were amazing. It was a great effort from them and it was nice to be able to give them something to cheer about.

“My hope is that our recent form will see a decent crowd turn up on Saturday to create a good atmosphere which will be a real inspiration to us.”

Read more at http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... d5oIuhj.99


Head to Head meetings



English Division Three

12.08.2000 Kidderminster Harr 2-0 Torquay United
01.01.2001 Torquay United 1-1 Kidderminster Harr
25.08.2001 Kidderminster Harr 1-0 Torquay United
05.01.2002 Torquay United 1-4 Kidderminster Harr
19.11.2002 Torquay United 2-2 Kidderminster Harr
15.02.2003 Kidderminster Harr 2-0 Torquay United
22.11.2003 Kidderminster Harr 1-2 Torquay United
01.05.2004 Torquay United 1-1 Kidderminster Harr


English Conference Premier

22.09.2007 Kidderminster Harr 2-5 Torquay United
09.02.2008 Torquay United 1-0 Kidderminster Harr
04.09.2008 Kidderminster Harr 1-0 Torquay United
28.12.2008 Torquay United 0-1 Kidderminster Harr


English Conference

01.11.2014 Kidderminster Harr 2-1 Torquay United
21.03.2015 Torquay United 2-1 Kidderminster Harr


English National League

15.09.2015 Kidderminster Harr 2-2 Torquay United


English FA Cup

12.11.1994 r1 Kidderminster Harr 1-1 Torquay United
23.11.1994 r1r Torquay United 1-0 Kidderminster Harr

[nickbrod]

So can or can't Verma be part of the match day squad?

[Dave]

So can or can't Verma be part of the match day squad?

To be quite honest I don't 100% know, however I did read an article in the Kidderminster Shuttle whilst doing my research which does suggest he can not take any part in this game as part of the loan deal, doesn't mean that's correct however that's a local rag no different to the H/E.

[TUST_Member_Rob]

To be quite honest I don't 100% know, however I did read an article in the Kidderminster Shuttle whilst doing my research which does suggest he can not take any part in this game as part of the loan deal, doesn't mean that's correct however that's a local rag no different to the H/E.

As per the loan conditions Verma cannot play

[torq2u]

It would be a total nonsense if Verma played (unfortunately).

Hope Iffy isn't iffy.

[northlondongull]

Torquay 3
Kidderminster 0

Nathan Blissett with all 3...

Pity to have Verma out. If we win this then I think it will be the final nail in the coffin for Kidderminster I am afraid.

[DJ Gull]

Lets get down there in numbers for this one!

Torquay 2-1 Kidderminster

Bliss + Harrad

COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!!

[Behind-the-Gulls]

It would be a total nonsense if Verma played (unfortunately).

Hope Iffy isn't iffy.

He is-"doubtful".

[samuel]

I cannot wait for this game. Looking forward to it so much.

[IanGull01]

Ditto!! Come on lads!!

[TUST_Member_Rob]

[Gullscorer]

No points for Guiseley tomorrow; their game v Wrexham is postponed..

[Dave]

Love that Rob, I've got at least one extra coming tomorrow.

[Jeff]

I'll be there for only my second home game all season (the other was FGR so if is anything like as good as that, I'll be happy!)

[markypoos77]

01.05.2004 Torquay United 1-1 Kidderminster Harr

again, remember this match - davey graham scored an absolute beauty in the first half, think we were pegged back late on.