TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Chelmsford City vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: The Melbourne Stadium, Chelmsford

Date: Saturday 22nd February 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 3

Draw: 2

Chelmsford: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D2 – L2

D 2-2 Slough Town A

L 0-1 Hampton H

L 0-1 Maidstone A

W 2-0 Eastbourne H

D 2-2 Worthing A

W 2-1 Hornchurch H

Chelmsford – W3 – D2 – L1

D 0-0 Maidstone United H

W 1-1 Chesham United H

L 2-1 Bath City A

W 4-3 Farnborough A

D 0-0 Hemel Hempstead Town H

W 3-1 Salisbury FC A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (12)

Chelmsford: Ousmane Foyo (now AFC Wimbledon) (12)

CHELMSFORD FACT FILE

Year founded: 1938

Nickname: The Clarets

Last season’s league finish: 2nd in the National League South

Chelmsford notable honours:

Isthmian League Premier Division:

Champions: 2007-08

Southern League:

Champions: 1939-40, 1945-46, 1967-68, 1971-72

THE MANAGER – ROBBIE SIMPSON

No stranger to the South West from his time as an Exeter City player between 2016 and 2018, Robbie Simpson initially joined the Clarets as a player in 2019 and became interim manager in 2020, following the departure of Rod Stringer. During his reign, he has twice led the Clarets to the National League South Play-offs.

As a player, Simpson started his career with Cambridge City before moving to near neighbours Cambridge United and progressed on to the likes of Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic and Leyton Orient.

PLAYER TO WATCH – JAKE HYDE

Jake joined the Clarets in June 2024, after picking up a Vanarama National League South winners’ medal last season with Yeovil Town. The experienced striker has made plenty of appearances throughout his career, including over 100 in both League Two and the Vanarama National League. He has an international cap to his name, having been selected for England C in September 2013 during his time with Barnet.

HYDE STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 01/07/90 – Height: 1.85m – Previous Clubs: Swindon, Weymouth, Barnet, Hayes, Lochee, Dunfermline, Dundee, York, Stevenage, Maidenhead, Woking, Halifax, Wrexham, Southend, Yeovil – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 27, Goals 5, Yellow/Red Cards 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Chelmsford: Kalvin Kalala, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-4-1-2): James Hamon; Finley Craske, Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer; Jordan Thomas, Dan Hayfield, Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson; Jordan Young; Matt Jay, Cody Cooke

Chelmsford City (4-3-3): Ted Collins; Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, Joe Rye, Harry Barbrook, Sam Oguntayo; Archie Tamplin, Ryan Blackman, Nico Valentine; Kane Crichlow, Jake Hyde, Charlie Ruff

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 2nd November 2024, Torquay United 2 Chelmsford City 2 – NLS

Despite an outstanding debut display from new signing Jordan Young, Torquay United couldn’t quite manage to see off the challenge of Chelmsford City, as they were pegged back late on by the Clarets. The Gulls opened the scoring on five minutes after Young, who joined United from Yeovil Town, went on a thrusting run before his eventual shot was blocked into the path of Cody Cooke, who volleyed home his fifth of the campaign. In the 11th minute, Young attempted a strike from distance which was parried behind for a corner by Clarets keeper Woody Williamson. The resulting flag kick was half cleared by the Chelmsford defence as far as Young, who doubled United’s lead with a low drive from 15 yards.

On 31 minutes, Chelmsford pulled one back as Jake Hyde nodded home a cross from Sam Oguntayo. Sam Dreyer looked to have restored the Gulls’ two-goal cushion on 36 minutes after Dan Hayfield nodded a Matt Carson corner back into the box, but it was ruled out for offside following consultation with the linesman.

In the second half, Young came close to scoring a brace in the 66th minute with a free-kick from the right which narrowly sailed over the bar. Four minutes later, Williamson denied Cooke and United skipper Oscar Threlkeld with a double save before Young blasted over. In the 83rd minute, Chelmsford skipper Cameron James grabbed an equaliser for the Clarets following a goalmouth scramble.