MATCH VERDICT
Tom Beddows – @BeddowsTom
Tom reports back from the final day of the NLS season
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD 1-4 TORQUAY UNITED – 26.04.25
SUMMARY
With a slight delay to kick off due to a medical incident, the Gulls got us underway in a warm and full of Yellow, Hertfordshire. News soon trickled through that Truro had taken an early lead down in Cornwall, followed in quick succession by a 2nd and 3rd, which made the task for United grow larger!
United were by far the better side today, but struggled to get going in the first half. Taking until the half hour mark to take the lead. An indecisive Hemel keeper allowed Jordan Young to slot the ball home. Murmurings of a St Albans goal in Cornwall soon filtered through and the away end was bouncing urging the boys in Yellow on.
Cody Cooke stepped up and in a crowded area found his first of the game and United’s second. The Gulls were firing on all cylinders now and with another mistake from the Hemel back line, an indirect free kick was awarded, which United couldn’t capitalise on.
Moments later Matt Jay was through on goal and would surely find the third of the game but somehow managed to send it wide of the post!! The Gulls went in at half time full of confidence, with the 2000 strong Yellow Army singing loud and proud!
The second half saw the introduction of WJD in place of Hasani, with United knowing they needed to maintain their dominant hold of the game. United were at full pace, from kick off but weren’t able to find the back of the Hemel net, with chance after chance being kept out.
Some poor officiating meant United’s men were deemed to be committing soft fouls each time they entered the Hemel box. And with the Hemel No. 4 managing to remain on the pitch after receiving treatment, things didn’t seem to be falling in the Gulls’ favour.
The pressure continued with Jay’s shot being deflected onto the bar! Cooke found his feet just before the hour mark and made it 3-0 to United! The hosts managed to grab a consolation soon after with a shot from Ogungbo slipping past Hamon. And then with twenty minutes to go Cooke had his hat-trick and the away end once again was in full voice!
The pressure continued but a 4-1 score line was to be it for today. A fine performance by United and we can look forward to a play-off semi-final against either Boreham Wood or Dorking on Saturday!
PLAYER RATINGS
James Hamon – 8
Jordan Thomas – 7
Ed Palmer – 8
Sam Dreyer – 8
Jay Foulston – 8
Dan Hayfield – 8
Omar Mussa – 8
Lirak Hasani – 7
Matt Jay – 8
Jordan Young – 9
Cody Cooke – 9
SUBS:
Will Jenkins Davies – 7
Dean Moxey – 7
Brad Ash – 7
Offrande Zanzala – N/A
MAN OF THE MATCH – CODY COOKE
Hat-trick hero today and my player of the season! Didn’t put a foot wrong today, and should have had a fourth had a silly decision for a foul not been given.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Ed Palmer – resolute at the back. Stepped up to the plate in place of Dyer and had a sound game in the back line.
TACTICS
A single enforced change compared to Monday with Palmer in for Dyer. Subs – Hasani replaced by WJD with Ash and Moxey stepping in for Jay & Thomas respectively, plus a late appearance for Zanzala replacing Mussa.
OFFICIALS
As to be expected in this league, not the greatest but certainly not the worst we’ve had this season. Some questionable decisions, with Cody’s fourth.. Ash/Mussa being ‘offside’!
OPPOSITION
Outperformed today by a dominant United, a poor keeper and very little to offer up front but they frustrated United for much of the first half. We wish them well for the 25/26 season.
CONCLUSION
The season isn’t done yet, and with potentially, hopefully, two more games to go who knows where this season will end.
Today’s performance will be up there with the best of the season and each and every one of the United squad, staff, owners and fans can be extremely proud of where we’ve found ourselves.
I’d have snapped your hand off at the start of the season to finish second, and although it’s hard to have been so close, we’re in fantastic form and know we will be at home for the play-off game(s)!
Let’s pack out Plainmoor, sing loud and proud and whatever will be, will be!
SOCIAL MEDIA
COYY – Tom
OTHER ARTICLES
TT GROUNDHOPPING – AFC TOTTON (A) by Clive Hayward
Clive discusses his trip to see the Gulls
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TALKING POINTS REVIEW – AFC Totton (a) by Thomas Kelly
Talking Points from the game at Totton
Read More
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TORQUAYTALK 
I enjoyed your article but I would ask that you consider whether your players ratings are a fair reflection, there was a good reason hasani was subbed at half time, he was hemel’s 12th man for the majority of the first 45, I counted ten passes of his to the opposition, Hayfield second half if he had squared both balls he had near the dead ball line as opposed to going for glory we had players over in the six yard box. I appreciate your views like others are subjective but hasani a 7, when 4 would have been charitable.
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