We look ahead to Tuesday's game at Plainmoor
TORQUAY UNITED v GILLINGHAM
npower League Two
Plainmoor
Tuesday October 23 2012
Kick-off: 7.45pm
TEAM NEWS…
Martin Allen has included youth team player Michael Freiter in the 18-man travelling party that heads to Plainmoor tomorrow night, the versatile 16-year-old is equally adept in central defence or midfield.
Although he didn’t name them, the Gillingham manager admitted that a couple of players were struggling to be fit but there was more than enough strength in the squad to cover every position.
Torquay full-back Joe Oastler will miss the game having been sent-off in Saturdays defeat at Bristol Rovers. The Gulls will be without injured long-term duo winger Lloyd Macklin (metatarsal) and midfielder Ian Morris (ruptured Achilles).
THE GULLS SEASON SO FAR…
Martin Ling’s side are currently tenth in the League Two table having picked up 18 points (four wins and six draws) from their 13 games. They are unbeaten in their last six home league games, three of which have been draws.
The Gulls opened the season unbeaten in five games although this included just one win, 4-2 against Rochdale. Their opening defeat came on September 15 when they slipped to a single-goal loss to Rotherham United at the New York Stadium.
Then came another four games without losing which included two wins, at AFC Wimbledon and at home against Aldershot Town. The latter saw a remarkable comeback after the Shots had taken a 3-0 lead with 48 minutes on the clock.
That run ended with a 2-1 reverse at Wycombe Wanderers and since then they have beaten Accrington Stanley at home but lost their ‘West Country’ derby at Bristol Rovers 3-2 at the weekend.
In cup competitions Torquay were eliminated by Leicester City in the Capital One Cup (0-4 at Plainmoor) and Yeovil Town (4-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw) in the Johnstone Paints Trophy.
LEADING SCORERS…
There have been 13 different scorers for the Gills this season after both Tom Flanagan and Matt Fish added their names to the list in Saturday’s 4-1 over Burton Albion. Danny Kedwell leads the way with ten goals, Deon Burton and Myles Weston both have four while Chris Whelpdale has three.
Former Gillingham loanee Rene Howe equalled the club record of scoring in seven consecutive league games at the weekend in their defeat to the Pirates. It took his total for the season to ten.
Billy Bodin, Aaron Downes and Ryan Jarvis have all netted three apiece while Lee Mansell, Ian Morris and Ashley Yeoman have one goal to their name.
THE LAST MEETING…
Second-half goals from Simon King and Danny Kedwell saw the Gills end their seven game winless run when we last played Torquay back in February.
Danny Stevens hit the post early on for the visitors with the best of the few chances at either end in the opening 45 minutes.
Six minutes after the break the Gills opened the scoring, Danny Jackman’s corner was flicked on by Kedwell and King went full-length to net with a diving header.
Gavin Tomlin and Lewis Montrose (twice) could have increased the lead but the second goal finally came in stoppage time.
Tomlin was felled in the area by Brian Saah but amazingly Joe Oastler was the one dismissed by referee Jock Waugh, Kedwell eventually converting.
Gills: Gazzaniga, Evans, Essam, King, Jackman, Tomlin, Weston (C Lee 71), Payne, Whelpdale, Kedwell, Kuffour (Montrose 79) Unused subs: O Lee, Martin, Richards.
Torquay: Olejnik, Nicholson, Ellis, Saah, Mansell, Howe, O'Kane, Morris (Atieno 64), Oastler, Stevens, Lathrope (McPhee 81) Unused subs: Rice, Rowe-Turner, MacDonald
Last season at Plainmoor the Gills recorded a fine 5-2 victory but did it the hard way. Jo Kuffour netted twice against his former club to make it 2-0 to the visitors before Chris Robertson and Danny Stevens levelled matters within six minutes of the restart.
However a Luke Rooney penalty restored the lead and then Frank Nouble and Chris Whelpdale, his sublime chip winning goal of the season, made the result deservedly far more comfortable.
OFFICIALS…
Referee – Brendan Malone
Assistant Referee’s – Justin Amey & Richard Martin
Fourth Official – Christopher Powell