TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

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

Venue: Clarence Park, St Albans

Date: Saturday 18th January 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 2

St Albans: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W4 – D1 – L1

W 2-0 Farnborough H

W 1-0 Hemel H

D 2-2 Weymouth A

W 1-0 Truro City H

L 1-5 Worthing A

W 3-1 Welling H

St Albans – W1 – D2 – L3

L 0-3 Boreham Wood A

D 1-1 Worthing A

L 1-2 Truro City A

W 2-1 Enfield Town H

L 0-1 Eastbourne Borough A

D 0-0 Weston Super Mare A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (11)

St Albans: Ken Charles (10)

ST ALBANS FACT FILE

Year founded: 1908.

Nickname: The Saints

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

St Albans City notable honours:

Isthmian League Champions:

1923-24, 1926-27, 1927-28

THE MANAGER – IAN CULVERHOUSE

Saints boss Ian Culverhouse is probably best known for his spell as Norwich City right-back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During this time, he helped the Canaries to finish third in the Premier League in the 1992-93 season under Mike Walker. He was also part of the Norwich side that famously knocked Bayern Munich out of the UEFA Cup in the following 1993-94 campaign.

After serving as assistant manager to Paul Lambert at Colchester United, Norwich and Aston Villa, Culverhouse took charge of the Linnets for the first time in 2018 before a brief spell with Grantham Town. He then returned to the Walks and led King’s Lynn to promotion from the Southern League Central Premier in the 2018-19 season, via victory in the super play-off, which was followed by their National League North title triumph in the 2019-20 campaign after the outcome of the league was decided by PPG (points per game).

After leaving the Linnets, Culverhouse had spells in charge of Kettering Town and Boston United before he took charge at Clarence Park in November 2024.

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, Hampton – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 24, Goals 4, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

St Albans: Iffy Allen

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-3-3): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Matt Carson; Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Will Jenkins-Davies; Jordan Young, Dylan Morgan, Cody Cooke

St Albans City (4-4-2): Michael Johnson; Jack James, Deon Woodman, David Longe-King, Tafari Moore; Alfie Bendle, James Claridge, Ben Smith, Josh Castiglione; Shaun Jeffers, Zane Banton

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 20th September 2024, Torquay United 1-1 St Albans City

Zane Banton went from being a hero to a zero for St Albans City as he saw red in the second half shortly after cancelling out Ben Seymour’s opening goal for Torquay United. In a first half of few chances, United threatened on ten minutes when Sam Dreyer flicked a cross from Matt Carson into the path of Seymour who couldn’t get a shot away.

The Saints came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 37th minute when Banton rounded the onrushing United keeper James Hamon and attempted a shot from a tight angle, which Dreyer blocked on the line before Hamon gathered.

In the second half, Giorgio Rasulo raced through on goal on 50 minutes – only to be denied by the reflexes of Hamon. Within a minute, the Gulls were in front after Seymour attempted to tee up Cody Cooke, but his pass was cut out by St Albans defender Phil Chindeu, but it landed at the feet of Seymour, who duly slotted home his first goal for the club.

Six minutes later, the Saints were level when Banton curled home a shot from the edge of the area. Banton then received a straight red card for elbowing United defender Ed Palmer in the 64th minute. Carson almost snatched a late winner in injury time when Carson blasted a cross from sub Roddy Collins over the bar and the Gulls also had a late penalty appeal waved away following a challenge on Omar Mussa.