TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Hemel Hempstead Town vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: Vauxhall Road, Hemel Hempstead

Date: Saturday 26th April 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 5

Draw: 0

Hemel: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W5 – D0 – L1

W 1-0 Bath City H

W 1-0 Aveley A

L 1-2 Chesham United H

W 2-0 Slough Town H

W 1-0 Truro City A

W 3-0 Weymouth H

Hemel – W1 – D3 – L2

D 1-1 Aveley H

D 0-0 Bath City A

D 1-1 Enfield Town H

L 0-3 Boreham Wood A

W 2-0 Chesham United H

L 0-1 St Albans City A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (16)

Hemel: Brandon Barzey (11)

HEMEL FACT FILE

Year founded: 1885

Nickname: The Tudors

Last season’s league finish: 20th in the National League South

Notable honours:

Southern League – Champions 2013-14

Isthmian League – Division 2 Champions 1999-2000, Division 3 Champions 1997-98

THE MANAGER – LEE ALLINSON

Lee Allinson recently succeeded Bobby Wilkinson after spending five years in charge of Hendon, which saw him cross paths with United boss Paul Wotton, who were seventh in the Isthmian Premier League. Allinson is also the son of former Arsenal midfielder Ian Allinson, who previously managed Boreham Wood and St Albans City.

PLAYER TO WATCH – GEORGE WILLIAMS

A non-playing member of the Wales squad who reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, George Williams signed for the Tudors in the summer following a successful loan spell towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Williams started his career with Milton Keynes Dons and later had spells with Fulham, Forest Green Rovers, Grimsby Town, Barrow and Boreham Wood prior to joining the Tudors.

WILLIAMS STATS – Position: Winger – Date of Birth: 07/09/95 – Height: 1.72m – Former Clubs: MK Dons, Fulham, Gillingham, St Johnstone, Forest Green, Grimsby, Barrow, Boreham Wood – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances: 38, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 4/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Hemel: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-3-3): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Omar Mussa, Dan Hayfield, Lirak Hasani; Matt Jay, Jordan Young, Cody Cooke

Hemel Hempstead (4-3-2-1): Jameson Horlick; Sam Adenola, Ben Tompkins, Kyle Ajayi, Mazeed Ogunbo; Kyran Wiltshire, Matthew Achuba, George Williams; Giovanni McGregor, Kai Brosnan; Joe White

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 21st December 2024, Torquay United 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 0

A second half penalty from leading scorer Cody Cooke proved to be the difference for Torquay United, as they made it five wins out of five in all competitions against Hemel Hempstead. The first chance of the game fell to the Gulls in the 13th minute when Jordan Young had a shot blocked on the line following a corner from Omar Mussa. On 28 minutes, Young attempted an audacious effort from 30 yards which struck the bar before bouncing clear. Hemel threatened in the 33rd minute when Alfie Cerulli found himself in a promising position, but fired a tame shot wide. A minute before the break, Ricky German had a shot on the turn saved by United keeper James Hamon.

In the second half, Kyle Ajayi connected with a Brandon Barzey corner, but his header was turned onto the bar and over by Hamon on 50 minutes. Three minutes later, Barzey’s cross from the left almost crept in, but bounced off the inside of the far post. In the 68th minute, United sub Matt Carson, within a minute of coming on, produced a cross which picked out Jordan Dyer who missed the target. The Gulls made the breakthrough five minutes later when referee Steven Swan pointed to the penalty spot after Carson was fouled by Barzey in the area. Cooke then stepped up to convert the spot-kick to score his ninth of the campaign, which ultimately decided the contest.