Forget Games of Thrones, forget Line of Duty, if it's real drama that you are looking for then you'd need look no further than Torquay United's recent encounters with Woking.
When the Gulls face the Cards on Saturday on Kingfield, it will be the fifth time that the two sides have met in the past three seasons (2018-19, 2019-20 and the current 2020-21), not to mention the six meetings in the two campaigns prior to that (2016-17 & 2017-18).
If the footage of these games were made into a boxset, it would surely be a bestseller. And there's still an FA Trophy quarter final in the FA Trophy to follow later this month. They include memorable comebacks, cup victories and numerous red cards and also a ‘pantomime villain’ (Ben Gerring).
Here's a recap of the previous five meetings between the two sides in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons:
September 29, 2018 Torquay United 2 Woking 2 - National League South
Local boy Jamie Reid was the star of the show as Torquay United came from behind to secure a draw with National League South leaders Woking in Gary Johnson’s first home game in charge of the Gulls. First half efforts from Max Kretzschmar and Jake Hyde gave the visitors a two-goal cushion in the first half before Reid struck with a brace in the final ten minutes to claim a point for United.
November 10, 2018 Torquay United 0 Woking 1 - FA Cup first round proper
A 48th minute penalty from Max Kretzschmar proved to be enough to earn Woking a 1-0 win over Torquay United in the FA Cup 1st round. Kretzschmar's spot-kick, which was awarded after Jean Yves Koue Niate felled Jamar Loza, ultimately proved to be the difference for the Cards, who then went onto beat Swindon Town in the second round before facing Premier League side Watford.
April 6, 2019 Woking 3 Torquay United 3 - National League South
Two goals in the last ten minutes of their Vanarama
National League South 'six-pointer' with Woking left Torquay United within
touching distance of securing the division's title.
Greg Luer had given the Cards the lead on seven minutes before Jamie Reid equalised
for United, following good work from Ruairi Keating, to score his 31st of the
season and Torquay's 100th in all competitions. Luer then restored Woking's
lead with his second of the game and Kieron Cadogan, cousin of Torquay
left-back Liam Davis, added a third midway through the second half.
With ten minutes to go, Saikou Janneh headed home his 18th of the season after
Kyle Cameron headed a Jake Andrews corner back across goal to reduce United's
arrears to a single goal.
The Cards were then reduced to ten men after ex-Torquay defender Ben Gerring
became the villain of the afternoon - receiving a second yellow card for a foul
on Reid.
With a numerical advantage, the
Gulls then saved the best for last as right-back Ben Wynter equalised with
his second goal of the season to ensure that United go into the final four
matches of the campaign with a seven-point gap between themselves and the
Cards.
September 3, 2019 Woking 1 Torquay United 1 - National League
Ben Whitfield marked his debut for Torquay United with a goal which also served to knock Woking off top of the National League. The Cards, who were chasing a seventh successive victory, took the lead early in the second half when Dave Tarpey struck into the top-right corner after 53 minutes. Tyreke Johnson almost sealed the points for Woking but they were made to pay when Whitfield converted at the back post in the 79th minute.
December 28, 2019 Torquay United 4 Woking 1 - National League
Despite falling behind to an early Jake Hyde strike, Torquay United rally to come from behind to hit four past Woking. Skipper Asa Hall cancelled out Hyde's opener with his second goal in as many games with a strike from distance in the 25th minute and Jamie Reid then hit his 19th of the campaign on 37 minutes. The Cards were then reduced to ten men after Godfrey Poku received two yellow cards before Ben Whitfield and Ruairi Keating found the target for the Gulls in the 71st and 90th minutes respectively to end a run of seven straight league defeats for United.
