TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Hemel Hempstead Town – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 21st December 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 0

Hemel: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W5 – D1 – L0

W 1-0 Truro City (FA Trophy) H

D 0-0 Boreham Wood A

W 4-2 Weston-super-Mare H

W 4-1 Enfield A

W 2-0 Horsham (FA Trophy) H

W 2-0 Farnborough H

Hemel – W1 – D0 – L5

L 0-1 Weston Super Mare H

L 1-2 Aveley A (FA Trophy)

L 0-2 Tonbridge Angels A

L 1-7 Dorking Wanderers H

L 0-5 Salisbury A

W 3-0 Weymouth H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (8)

Hemel: Ricky German (6)

HEMEL FACT FILE

Year founded: 1885

Nickname: The Tudors

Last season’s league finish: 20th in the National League South

Hemel Hempstead notable honours:

Southern League – Prem Division Champions 2013-14

Isthmian League – Division 2 Champions 1999-2000, Division 3 Champions 1997-98

THE MANAGER – LEE ALLINSON

Lee Allinson recently succeeded Bobby Wilkinson after spending five years in charge of Hendon, which saw him cross paths with United boss Paul Wotton, who were seventh in the Isthmian Premier League. Allinson is also the son of former Arsenal midfielder Ian Allinson, who previously managed Boreham Wood and St Albans City.

PLAYER TO WATCH – RICKY GERMAN

Grenada international Ricky German is currently in his second spell with the Tudors after re-joining the club in the summer from Chesham United, and is currently their top scorer with six goals in all competitions. German started his career with Chesterfield and had loan spells with Alfreton Town, Sheffield and Matlock Town before moving to the South East, having stints with Hendon and Crawley Town prior to his first spell with the Tudors during a loan spell in 2019-20. He then returned to Hendon before joining Chesham.

GERMAN STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 13/01/99 – Height: 1.83m – Previous Clubs: Chesterfield, Alfreton, Sheffield FC, Matlock, Hendon, Crawley, Dulwich, Chesham – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 18, Goals 6, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Hemel: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-3-3): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Will Jenkins-Davies; Jordan Young, Omar Mussa, Cody Cooke

Hemel Hempstead (4-3-3): Brad House; Dan Wishart, Kyle Ajayi, Mustapha Olagunju, Sam Adenola; Bradley Smith, Joe White, Matthew Achuba; Alfie Cerulli, Ricky German, Brandon Barzey

LAST MEETING

Saturday 16th December 2023 – Torquay United 3 Hemel Hempstead Town 2

Skipper Dean Moxey’s late effort sealed a fifth successive win in all competitions for Torquay United, as they came from behind to beat Hemel Hempstead, despite playing the final few moments with ten men following Brett McGavin’s late dismissal.

The Tudors edged ahead in the sixth minute through a penalty from Joe Iaciofano after Tyrese Briscoe had been felled by United keeper Mark Halstead. Six minutes later, Hemel doubled their lead when Kyle Ajayi headed home a corner from skipper George Williams. In the 16th minute, the Gulls pulled one back when a cross from Lewis Collins found Theo Williams, who saw his shot blocked before Ryan Hanson slotted home from the rebound.

United levelled matters on 23 minutes when a through ball from Hanson picked out Theo Williams, whose angled effort was parried by Hemel keeper Craig King into the path of Ethon Archer, who bundled home. Four minutes before the break, Ross Marshall connected with a McGavin corner, but he was denied by the off the line clearance from Tudors debutant Brandon Barzey.

In the second half, the Gulls threatened again on 58 minutes when Archer saw a shot from distance palmed away by King. However, United snatched the winner on 89 minutes when Moxey arrived at the back post to turn home a cross from McGavin. It was a lead that United managed to hold on to, despite being reduced to ten men after McGavin received a second yellow card.