TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Tonbridge Angels vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: Longmead Stadium, Tonbridge

Date: Saturday 8th March 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 1

Draw: 1

Tonbridge: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D3 – L1

D 2-2 Worthing A

W 2-1 Hornchurch H

L 2-3 Chelmsford A

D 1-1 Weston SM A

D 2-2 Boreham H

W 3-1 Chippenham A

Tonbridge – W2 – D0 – L4

L 1-2 Worthing H

L 0-1 Dorking Wanderers A

L 0-1 Truro City H

W 3-1 Enfield Town A

W 2-0 Welling United H

L 0-2 Hemel Hempstead Town A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (13)

Tonbridge: Sean Shields (9)

TONBRIDGE FACT FILE

Year founded: 1947 (as Tonbridge)

Nickname: The Angels

Last season’s league finish: 14th in National League South

Tonbridge Angels notable honours:

National Step Three Super Play-off winners: 2018-19

Isthmian Premier Division Play-off winners: 2018-19

THE MANAGER – JAY SAUNDERS

A hugely experienced manager in non-league level, Jay Saunders made his name as a manager when he guided Maidstone United from Isthmian League Division One South to the National League in the space of four years. He took charge of Angels in May 2022 and guided the club to ninth in the 2022-23 campaign, which was followed by a 14th place finish in 2023-24.

PLAYER TO WATCH – SEAN SHIELDS

After starting his career as a youth player with Tottenham Hotspur, Sean Shields has enjoyed a varied career. Although born in Enfield, he qualified to play for Northern Ireland through his father and made two Under-21 appearances for the province. Moving into senior football, he found his first real home at St Albans City, where he made 71 appearances and scored 13 times in a three season spell.

In 2013, he earned a move into the Football League when he joined Dagenham and Redbridge, then of League Two. In a two-year term, he made 13 appearances, but was also loaned back to St Albans with a further loan move to Ebbsfleet United, where in 2015 he really put down roots with a successful five season term in which he amassed 116 appearances, scoring 15 times.

Sean’s time at Stonebridge Road was also punctuated with various loan moves before he departed for Weymouth in 2020 where he spent two seasons making 66 appearances and netting seven goals. He has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite at Longmead and was named Manager’s Player of the Season for 2023-24.

SHIELDS STATS – Position: Winger – Date of Birth: 20/01/92 – Height: 1.77m – Spurs, Potters Bar, Rushden, St Albans, Dagenham, Ebbsfleet, Maidstone, Boreham, Notts County, Weymouth, Barnet, Scunthorpe, Rayners Lane – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 27, Goals 9, Yellow/Red Cards 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Tonbridge: Ryan Hanson, Ronny Nelson, Jack Wood

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-2-3-1): James Hamon; Matt Carson, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jordan Thomas; Oscar Threlkeld, Dan Hayfield; Lirak Hasani, Jordan Young, Matt Jay; Offrande Zanzala

Tonbridge Angels (3-5-2): Matt Rowley; Ethan Sutcliffe, Nazir Bakrin, Jamie Fielding; Sean Shields, Jack Wood, Ronny Nelson, Christie Ward, Liam Vincent; Gianluca Botti, Mikey Berry

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 9th November 2024, Torquay United 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Torquay United and Tonbridge Angels played out a goalless draw, which appeared to have been settled late on when Stoke City loanee Keke Jeffers found the back of the net for the Gulls, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

The Gulls started the game on the front foot, forcing two corners in the opening five minutes. As the half wore on, United enjoyed some good spells of possession without being able to carve open the Angels defence. In the 31st minute, the visitors went closest when Jamie Fielding headed a Sean Shields corner wide. Two minutes later, Matt Carson cleared the cross bar with a speculative effort from 40 yards for the hosts.

Five minutes into the second half, the Gulls went close as Omar Mussa connected with a cross from Carson, but hit the side netting. On 62 minutes, United midfielder Dan Hayfield attempted a low strike which was easily collected by Tonbridge keeper Matt Rowley. Moments later, the Gulls had an appeal for penalty turned down after Carson was felled in the area. With eight minutes to go, sub Ed Palmer attempted a shot from distance that was deflected behind for a corner.

In the 89th minute, debutant sub Jeffers thought he had sealed victory for the Gulls when he headed home a Jordan Young free kick, but he was deemed to have been in an offside position by the linesman on the far side.