TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs St Albans City – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draws: 1

St Albans: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W3 – D1 – L2

W 1-0 Dorking Wanderers H

W 3-2 Chesham United A

D 1-1 Aveley H

W 3-0 Chippenham Town H

L 0-2 Welling United A

L 0-3 Bishop’s Cleeve (FA Cup)

St Albans – W1 – D1 – L4

L 2-1 Chesham United H

L 2-1 Dorking Wanderers A

L 1-0 Farnborough A

L Tonbridge Angels A

D 0-0 Weston Super Mare H

W 2-0 Needham Market A (FA Cup)

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke/Brad Ash/Ed Palmer/Matt Carson/Lirak Hasani/Dan Hayfield (2)

St Albans: Shaun Jeffers (3)

ST ALBANS FACT FILE

Year founded: 1908.

Nickname: The Saints

Last season’s league finish: 11^th in National League South

St Albans City notable honours:

Isthmian League Champions:

1923-24, 1926-27, 1927-28

THE MANAGER – DAVID NOBLE

David Noble returned to the Saints as manager in the summer following a brief spell in charge of Wealdstone.

After starting his playing career with Arsenal, David Noble first made his name at Boston United where he was snapped up for Bristol City in January 2006.

He went to score twice in the Robins’ 3-1 win over Rotherham United on the final day of the 2006-07 season, which sealed their return to the Championship (former Gulls midfielder Alex Russell scored the other).

Noble left Ashton Gate at the end of the 2008-09 season and then went on to have spells with Exeter City (twice), Oldham Athletic and Rotherham United. He initially joined the Saints as a player in 2016 before becoming a player-coach, interim head coach later head coach on a permanent basis.

In his first spell in charge at Clarence Park, Noble guided the Saints to the National League South Play-off final in the 2022-23 season, where they were beaten 4-0 by Oxford City.

PLAYER TO WATCH – SHAUN JEFFERS

A prolific scorer since he joined the Saints in 2020, Shaun Jeffers has established himself as one of the leading strikers at National League South level over the past few years. He started his career with Coventry City and later had spells with Peterborough United, Newport County and Yeovil Town before dropping into non-league football with Chelmsford City in the 2016-17 season. Jeffers later had stints with Boreham Wood and Brackley Town before re-joining the Clarets in the 2019-20 season, shortly before his move to Clarence Park.

JEFFERS STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 14/04/92 – Height: 1.85m – Previous Clubs: Coventry, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Tamworth, Peterboro, Newport, Brackley, Yeovil, Woking, Chelmsford, Boreham Wood – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 8, Goals 1, Yellow/Red Cards 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

St Albans: Iffy Allen

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; Ben Seymour, Cody Cooke

St Albans City (3-5-2): Michael Johnson; Phil Chinedu, Joe Partington, David Longe-King; Jack James, Alfie Payne, Sam Deadfield, Giorgio Rasulo, Josh Castiglione; Zane Banton, Shaun Jeffers

LAST TIME

Saturday 3rd February, 2024, Torquay United 0 St Albans City 4

A brace apiece for Shaun Jeffers and Giorgio Rasulo saw St Albans City move into the play-off zone at the expense of Torquay United.

The visitors took the lead on seven minutes when leading scorer Jeffers beat the offside trap before finding the target after seeing his initial effort parried by United keeper Mark Halstead.

In the 32^nd minute, St Albans came close to adding a second when Mitchell Weiss fired over after being teed up by Rasulo.

Two minutes later, the Gulls threatened an equaliser as Lewis Collins saw an effort palmed away by Johnson following good work from Tom Lapslie.

The Saints doubled their lead on 36 minutes when Rasulo found the back of the net with an angled shot.

Four minutes before the break, Jeffers scored his 20^th of the campaign after racing clear of the Gulls defence before slotting home.

Deep injury time, the Gulls were denied a route back into the game when Ollie Tomlinson had a close range effort disallowed for offside.

In the second half, the Saints were denied a fourth when a cross from George Hoddle found sub Jake Burger who hit the bar before Jeffers saw his shot from the rebound blocked on the line by Gulls’ debutant Austen Booth.

However, St Albans eventually made it four on 81 minutes when Rasulo completed his double from close range.