TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Aveley FC – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 31st August 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

TORQUAY – 0

DRAWS – 1

AVELEY – 1

LAST RESULTS

Torquay

W 2-1 Enfield Town H

L 0-1 Farnborough A

W 2-1 Bath City A

W 1-0 Dorking H

W 3-2 Chesham United A

Aveley

L 0-1 Welling United A

D 2-2 Tonbridge Angels H

L 0-1 Hemel Hempstead Town H

L 1-2 Eastbourne Borough A

L 0-3 Slough Town H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke/Brad Ash (2)

Aveley: Alex Hernandez (2)

AVELEY FACT FILE

Year founded: 1927

Nickname: The Millers

Last season’s league finish: 7th in National League South

Aveley Town notable honours:

Isthmian League Division One North:

Champions: 2008-09, 2022-23

THE MANAGER – DANNY SCOPES

After assisting the Cowley brothers (Danny and Nicky) during their rise through the leagues with Concord Rangers, Danny Scopes later managed the Beach Boys and guided them to the FA Trophy final in 2021, where they lost to Harrogate Town.

He took over as manager of the Millers in November 2021 and guided Aveley into National League South for the first time ever when he led them to promotion through the Isthmian League Premier play-offs last season. This was their second consecutive promotion, having won the Isthmian Division One North title in the previous campaign. He followed up this achievement by guiding the Millers to the National League South play-offs.

PLAYER TO WATCH – CHARLEE HUGHES

Charlee Hughes joined The Millers ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and went on to make 48 appearances, scoring 14 times, including a hat-trick against former club Hemel Hempstead Town. Prior to signing for Aveley, Hughes played for Brentwood Town and Maldon & Tiptree, where he was top goal scorer for both in successive seasons with 20 in 33 for Brentwood and 30 in 45 games for Maldon & Tiptree, which earned him a move to National League side Wealdstone. Following a move to Hemel Hempstead, the forward then moved to Aveley and helped the Millers to achieve a seventh placed finish in National League South.

HUGHES STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 17/05/96 – Height: 1.79m – Previous Clubs: Maldon, Wealdstone, Hemel – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 5, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

TORQUAY: None

AVELEY: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-5-2): James Hamon; Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Finn Tonks, Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson; Brad Ash, Cody Cooke

Aveley (4-5-1): Jack West; Jason Ring, Harry Gibbs, Harry Beadle, Josh Hallard; Luke Allen, Adam Leathers, Kenny Aileru, Josh Anifowose, David Kawa; Charlee Hughes

LAST MEETING – 24.02.24, Torquay United 2-2 Aveley FC, National League South

Torquay United were denied a win in Aaron Downes’ first game in interim charge as play-off chasing Aveley came from behind to earn a share of the spoils.

The visitors started the game the brighter, forcing two corners in the opening five minutes.

However, the Gulls soon grew into the game when a dangerous looking cross from QPR loanee Arkell Jude-Boyd found Brad Ash on 13 minutes, but he couldn’t fully connect with it.

In the 27th minute, United edged ahead when Aaron Jarvis nodded home a corner from Brett McGavin to score his tenth goal of the campaign.

Eight minutes later, Ash also netted his tenth of the season, following a goalmouth scramble after the Millers failed to clear another McGavin corner.

Aveley pulled one back from the spot in first half injury time through Siju Odelusi after United defender Austen Booth was adjudged to have felled Millers’ left-back Eduino Vaz.

Six minutes into the second half, the Millers’ equaliser came as a bolt from the blue as Vaz volleyed home past United keeper Mark Halstead from 35-yards.

The Gulls then came close restoring their lead in the 64th minute when sub Dan Martin failed to connect with a cross from Ash.

On 77 minutes, sub Jack Stobbs picked out Jude-Boyd with a cross from the right, which North managed to smother.

In the dying minutes, Ash and Colchester United loanee Ronny Nelson both went close for United, as they were forced to settle for a point.