PREVIEW
Steve Harris
@steveharris84
MATCH DETAILS
Match details: Torquay United versus Havant and Waterlooville
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Saturday 20th April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
HEAD TO HEAD
Torquay: 1
Draw: 1
Havant: 1
FORM GUIDE
Torquay: L, D, L, W, L, W
Havant: L, L, W, D, D, L
TOP SCORERS
Torquay: Brad Ash (13)
Havant: Ryan Seager (11)
HAVANT FACTFILE
Year founded: 1998 (When Havant Town merged with Waterlooville)
Nickname: The Hawks
Last season’s league finish: 10th in National League South
Notable honours:
National League South:
Winners: 2017-18
MANAGER – CLIFF DE GORDON
Cliff De Gordon took over as co-caretaker manager following the departure of Steve King in December 2023 with Ross Betteridge and Richard Pope.
PLAYER TO WATCH – RYAN SEAGER
Former England Under-17 international Ryan Seager recently joined the Hawks from National League side Dorking Wanderers.
Seager, who was born in Yeovil, started his career with Southampton and appeared for the Saints in the Premier League in the 2014-15 season. After several loan spells with Crewe Alexandra, MK Dons, Yeovil and Dutch side Telstar, he joined the Glovers on a free transfer in 2017.
He was released by Yeovil at the end of the 2019-20 season and then signed for Hungerford Town, where he stayed for two years.
In the 2022-23 season, Seager returned to the National League when he joined Dorking Wanderers.
Seager is currently the Hawks’ top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions.
SEAGER STATS
Position: Striker
Date of Birth: 05/02/96 (28)
Birthplace: Yeovil
Height: 1.76m
Former Clubs: Southampton, Crewe, MK Dons, Yeovil, Telstar, Frome, Hungerford, Dorking
OLD BOYS
Torquay United: None
Havant: None
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
TUFC:
Mark Halstead
Ollie Tomlinson – Asa Hall – Dean Moxey
Arkell Jude-Boyd – Tom Lapslie – Brett McGavin – Will Jenkins Davies – Jack Stobbs
Ethon Archer
Brad Ash
Havant:
Ross Worner
Devante Stanley – Jake McCarthy – Brendan Willson – Kai Innocent
Preston Woolston – Nathan Carlyle – Jack Jebb
Jamie Roberts – Callum Kealey – Ryan Seager
LAST MEETING
Last meeting: Saturday 11th November 2023, Havant & Waterlooville 0 Torquay United 2
Substitute goalkeeper Filip Chalupniczak pulled out a vital penalty save on his Torquay United debut as the Gulls defied mounting injury problems to beat struggling Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.
After a goalless first period, Chalupniczak replaced Rhys Lovett after he sustained concussion. A dramatic second half display which saw Theo Williams score his first goal for the club, before Chalupniczak saved a spot kick from the Hawks’ Jamie Roberts, then Brad Ash netted a late second for the Gulls.
COYY – STEVE
OPPOSITION Q&A – HAVANT by Les Hyson
Season Summarising – Overall a bad season for the Hawks, until December the 2nd we had only 6 points and looked a team of very little confidence and for me the turning point was the removal of Steve King as manager, since then we have picked up 31 points, but the damage was done early in the season.
Highlights – Highlights for me were our wins against Yeovil, Maidstone and Chelmsford.
Key Players – Key player all season has been goalkeeper Ross Worner.
Management Team – The interim management team moved up from our under 23 squad and all have either played or been involved with the Hawks and have the club very close to their hearts.
Likely line up – Worner, Stanley, Innocent, McCarthy, Carlyle, Seager, Willson, Kealy, Jebb, Roberts and Woolston.
Bouncing back – It won’t be easy but with some rebuilding then yes confident of regaining our place in the NLS.
Best opposition – Best team I have seen this season is Worthing and they will probably win the play-offs.
Prediction – Prediction for the game 2-1 to Torquay.
OTHER ARTICLES
TT BLOG – Top 50 TUFC Players 2014-24 (10-1) by Steve Harris
Steve picks his top Gulls from the last 10 years
Read MoreTRANSFER SPECULATION 2024 by Joe Uglow
Joe discusses players who could join Torquay United
Read More