Torquay United v FC Halifax Town: Opposition focus

Are Torquay deservedly top of the table? What’s got them there?

Yes, Torquay deserve their spot at the top. They went top after their sixth game at the end of october and haven’t been toppled since. They won 11 of their first 15 games and racked up a plus-21 goal difference in the process. Since Christmas their form has dipped a little - in 2021 so far they have played six, won one, drawn three and lost two - but they were outstanding in the first third of the season before the current injury problems took hold

Who have been your star players so far and why?

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans has been consistently one of Torquay’s best players so far this season, playing in a role just behind the striker(s). Lemonheigh-Evans has grabbed five league goals himself as well as being a creator for others. He scored at Halifax in the 2-1 win in November. Skipper Asa Hall is in the form of his career at the moment, and in Yorkshireman Ben Whitfield Torquay have one of the most exciting wingers in the league.

Who will be your dangerman on Saturday and why?

Depends who plays - I’ll get on to the injuries in a minute. Top scorer Danny Wright is out with a long-term hamstring injury and will not play, so a lot of the responsibility falls on target man Josh Umerah and/or fellow striker Billy Waters, the man gaffer Gary Johnson calls his ‘fox in the box’. Otherwise, watch Whitfield, Lemonheigh-Evans and defender Kyle Cameron from set pieces.

What’s Torquay’s style of play - what can Halifax expect to come up against?

Torquay have been experimenting with different formations as the injury problems set in. They played against Sutton recently with no strikers at all, a game that ended 0-0. They attack quickly through midfield and use the pace of Whitfield and Aaron Nemane on the flanks

What are the biggest strengths of the Torquay side?

Strength in depth at the moment, with a number of key players sidelined. Torquay are weathering the storm of an injury crisis and a wobble in form. A lot of young players are being pulled into the squad and doing well

Do they believe they can get promotion?

Yes. They can be champions if they can regain some of their early season form

Injuries/suspensions?

Lemonheigh-Evans will be back from suspension for Saturday. But the injuries will be key. Last time out they were missing long-term casualties Liam Davis, Andrew Nelson and Danny Wright. Also out injured then were Fraser Kerr, Ben Wynter, Gary Warren, Aaron Nemane, Dean Moxey and Armani Little, along with keeper Lucas Covolan.

Likely line-up and formation?

Gary Johnson never gives much away about the injuries ahead of the game, so there’s no way of knowing which of his shorter-term injured players will return. Best guess at a team is MacDonald; Lewis, Sherring, Cameron, Moxey; Nemane, Hall, Little, Whitfield; Lemonheigh-Evans; Umerah. Kind of a 4-4-1-1