TALKING POINTS

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Thomas looks ahead to the rest of the January fixtures

18TH JANUARY 2025

St Albans (a) – Current League Standing 21st

Last 5:

D 1-1 v Worthing (a)

L 1-2 v Truro City (h)

W 2-1 v Enfield Town (h)

L 1-0 v Eastbourne Borough (a)

D 0-0 v Weston Super Mare (a)

Many supporters within the National League South would have been predicting St Albans to be challenging for a play-off spot, rather than fighting a relegation scrap when the season began, but after losing the play off final in 2023 and lacking consistency to challenge for promotion last season, for whatever reason, something hasn’t clicked for the club from Hertfordshire and the Saints find themselves in the relegation zone, eight points adrift of Salisbury in 20th place and with just three wins all season

On paper, you’d like to think this should be a routine result for the Gulls, but football isn’t played on paper and after the sacking of David Noble, Ian Culverhouse will be looking to upset the Gulls this weekend in front of what should be close to 2,000 for the hosts.

St Alban’s have had to navigate a tough set of fixtures in recent weeks, mostly against teams in the upper end of the table, but a morale boosting win at home to Enfield a few weeks ago and an improvement in defence will give Saints fans hope that they can find form at home and close the gap to those above them.

Our last two visits have resulted in wins and if we are serious about promotion, I’ll be hoping for another win to add to the list this weekend. I think there will be goals for both, but we’ll find a way to win.

Tommy’s prediction: St Albans 2-3 Torquay United.

21ST JANUARY 2025

Slough Town (a)

Last 5: As of time of publishing.

D 2-2 v Hampton & Richmond (a)

D 1-1 v Chesham United (h)

L 5-1 v Boreham Wood (a)

L 4-0 v Kiddiminster Harriers (a) FA Trophy

L 4-1 v Hemel Hempstead (a)

Insert 3G pitch nightmare screams here!

If Torquay are to be genuine title contenders this season, the Gulls will need to find a way to overcome their fear of playing on the fake stuff, with plenty of trips to come over the next few months on the “plastic”.

Torquay did manage to find victory on our last visit to Slough with a Brad Ash double in the second half, earning the Gulls a 2-1 victory back at the end of August 2023.

Slough Town started the season very well and at one point were top of the division early on, but have slowly dropped down to mid-table and have hit a bit of a tricky spell in recent weeks, conceding 13 goals in their last 3 games, including a thumping exit in the Trophy to Kidderminster Harriers of the NLN.

Player manager Scott Davies is well respected at this level and has made them difficult to beat on their own patch this season, with just two defeats all season at home to Hemel Hempstead & Welling United, so the Gulls will need to be focused and once again work hard to bring the points back to Devon in what should be a tight affair.

Fancy a birthday trip to Slough Mum? I hear it’s beautiful this time of year!

Tommy’s Prediction: Slough Town 1-2 Torquay United

25TH JANUARY 2025

Hampton & Richmond Borough (h)

Last 5: As of time of publishing.

W 3-2 v Chelmsford City (h)

D 2-2 v Slough Town (h)

D 0-0 v Farnborough (a)

L 2-0 v Spennymoor Town (h) FA Trophy

W 3-2 v Welling United (a)

The Beavers have gone under the radar in recent weeks and have found themselves in the top half of the table, a position many (including myself) didn’t expect them to be all season. After losing a lot of quality players over the summer, many had Hampton & Richmond as relegation candidates. However, under former Beavers goalkeeper Alan Julian, Hampton have found form since the end of October, losing just one league game to Chesham United and despite a disappointing FA Trophy exit, supporters of the club will “believe” that they can mount a late play off charge after falling out of them towards the end of last season.

One big blow for the Beaver’s was the departure of highly regarded young goalkeeper Ted Curd, after Chelsea recalled him back from his loan move to Hampton, a club he watched from the terraces only a few years ago. I’m sure Alan has plenty of contacts to replace him but time will tell to see how Hampton progress in the second half of the season, especially with their next two games against Tonbridge Angels and Boreham Wood.

This will be tightly contested affair, but the Gulls should march on in front of another bumper Plainmoor crowd.

Tommy’s prediction: Torquay United 3-1 Hampton & Richmond Borough

28TH JANUARY 2025

Chippenham Town (a)

Last 5 at time of publishing.

L 2-1 v Dorking Wanderers (h)

W 2-1 v Hornchurch (a)

L 3-0 v Bath City (h)

W 3-1 v Weston Super Mare (a)

D 1-1 v Tonbridge Angels (a)

Believe it or not, Chippenham have the 4th best away form as of time of writing, a better record than ourselves. Their home form reads a different story as they currently 4th worst with just three wins from 11.

When Chippenham came to Plainmoor early on in the season, Torquay displayed their best first half performance of the season, scoring three times in a 3-0 win with relative ease, so it’s testament to them for finding the resilience to pick up points on the road.

Chippenham are well clear of any immediate relegation danger and I’m sure staying in the NLS would have been their ultimate aim at the beginning of the season but their loyal support will be hoping for more home comfort by seasons ends.

On a pitch that is normally challenging, Torquay will be looking to register their first ever win at Hardenhuish Park, having lost 2-1 and drawing 1-1 in our only two visits.

Games against the teams near the top have ended in close affairs for Chippenham, so Torquay will need to avoid complacency here and let their ability do the talking.

Tommy’s prediction: Chippenham Town 1-2 Torquay United.

Oh dear, I’ve only gone and predicted four wins haven’t I?! It’s nice to be optimistic about Torquay United again after last season’s dross and impending implosion.

No game in this division is easy and I know Paul Wotton will set us out professionally and drill into the team about rocking up and expecting to win. We are going to have to work hard but if we are to be serious about mounting a title challenge, if we can pick up maximum points or close to maximum points by the end of the month, that puts us in a strong position ahead of crunch games with Maidstone United, Eastbourne Borough and Worthing in early February.

We have a great opportunity over the next few weeks to put our stamp on this division and we will all need to continue to show great support as we head on the road for the majority of the next few games.

See you all on Saturday, up the Gulls!