TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Slough Town vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: Arbour Park, Slough

Date: Tuesday 21st January 2025

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 3

Draw: 1

Slough: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W3 – D2 – L1

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

D 1-1 St Albans A

Slough – W0 – D3 – L3

D 2-2 Hampton & Richmond Borough A

D 1-1 Chesham United H

L 1-5 Boreham Wood A

L 0-4 Kidderminster Harriers A (FA Trophy)

L 1-4 Hemel Hempstead Town A

D 0-0 Eastbourne Borough H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (11)

Slough: Slavi Spasov (9)

SLOUGH FACT FILE

Year founded: 1890

Nickname: The Rebels

Last season’s league finish: 10th in National League South

Slough Town notable honours:

FA Amateur Cup:

Runners-up: 1972-73

THE MANAGER – SCOTT DAVIES

Rebels boss Scott Davies is a familiar opponent of the Gulls from his playing days, most notably with Aldershot Town and Wycombe Wanderers. A former Republic of Ireland international at Under-19 and Under-21, Davies started his senior professional career with Reading and was loaned out to a number of clubs, most notably Aldershot and Wycombe. He won the Blue Square Premier title with the Shots in the 2007-08 campaign. Davies then joined Crawley Town in 2011 before moving onto Oxford United prior to dropping into non-league football.

He is currently in his second spell with the Rebels and became player-manager in November 2022, following a brief stint in caretaker charge. In the first full season in charge, he guided Slough to an tenth placed finish in the 2023-24 campaign.

PLAYER TO WATCH – JOHNNY GODDARD

After starting his career at Reading, Johnny Goddard progressed through the Royals youth system before signing his first professional contract in 2011. He was released a year later and spent one season at National League South club Hayes & Yeading United.

Goddard then signed for National League club Woking in September 2013 after a successful trial period. He became a fans’ favourite at Woking, scoring 25 goals in 116 league appearances before securing a move to EFL side Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee in May 2016.

He subsequently signed for Stevenage in January 2018. He was loaned out to Bromley of the National League at the start of the 2018-19 season and then joined Aldershot Town on a six-month deal in January 2019. Goddard signed for divisional rivals Ebbsfleet United in July 2019. He rejoined Woking in August 2020, where he spent the 2020-21 season and then moved on to St Albans City who he joined the Rebels from in June 2022.

GODDARD STATS – Position: Midfield – Date of Birth: 02/06/93 – Height: 1.78m – Previous Clubs: Reading, Hayes, Woking, Swindon, Stevenage, Bromley, Aldershot, Ebbsfleet, St Albans, Boreham Wood – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 24, Goals 4, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Slough: 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, Dylan Morgan, Cody Cooke

Slough Town (3-4-2-1): Charlie Horlock; Guy Hollis, Scott Davies, Dan Bayliss, Jeanmal Prosper, Leon Chambers-Parilion, Henry Ochieng, Josh Jackman; Slavi Spasov, Johnny Goddard; Francis Amartey

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday February 10, 2024, Torquay United 3 Slough Town 4

Despite taking the lead three times, Torquay United fell to defeat against Slough Town as substitute Leon Chambers-Parilion struck a late winner for the Rebels. The Gulls made a bright start as Duane Ofori-Acheampong was denied by the reflexes of Dan Lincoln on three minutes.

Slough fashioned a chance of their own three minutes later when Nathan Minhas fired a shot on the turn straight at United keeper Mark Halstead. In the 20th minute, the Gulls took the lead when Will Jenkins Davies took a touch before calmly slotting home following good work from Dean Moxey and Ofori-Acheampong.

Four minutes later, the Rebels went close to equalising as Minhas saw an effort tipped behind by Halstead. United were forced into a change on 27 minutes when skipper Asa Hall was replaced by Brad Ash. The Rebels levelled matters a minute later when Jeanmal Prosper turned home after the Gulls failed to clear their lines following a corner. Deep in injury time, Ash had a shot blocked behind for a corner as the two sides went into the interval level.

Four minutes after the break, the Gulls restored the lead when Jenkins Davies got the final touch on a long throw from Moxey to nod home his fifth of the campaign. The Rebels were back on level terms on 61 minutes when Johnny Goddard slotted home from close range. Three minutes later, Slough looked to hit United on the counter attack as Goddard teed up Minhas, but Halstead dashed off his line to smother the danger.

United restored their lead in the 69th minute when Tom Lapslie found the target after the Rebels failed to clear another Moxey long throw. However, the Rebels came from behind yet again as Dan Bayliss headed home a cross from the left on 82 minutes.

Then in injury time, they found the winner as sub Chambers-Parilion gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the afternoon.