TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
MATCH DETAILS
Match details: Torquay United vs Eastbourne Borough
Competition: National League South
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Saturday 22nd November 2025
Kick-off: 3pm
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Torquay: 5
Draw: 2
Eastbourne: 1
CURRENT FORM (LAST 6)
Torquay (W3 – D0 – L3):
W 3-0 Chippenham Town H
L 1-3 Dorking Wanderers A
L 1-2 Hornchurch H
W 3-1 Farnborough A
W 2-1 Maidenhead United A
L 0-2 Maidstone United H (FA Trophy)
Eastbourne (W1 – D1 – L4):
L 1-2 Chesham United H
W 2-1 Enfield Town A
L 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge H
L 1-2 Weston Super Mare H
D 2-2 Chippenham Town H
L 2-3 Dorking Wanderers A (FA Trophy)
TOP GOAL-SCORERS
Torquay: Jordan Young (8)
Eastbourne: Pemi Aderoju (6)
EASTBOURNE FACT FILE
Year founded: 1964 (as Lagney Sports)
Nickname: The Sports
Last season’s league finish: 3rd in National League South
Eastbourne notable honours:
National League South:
Play-off winners: 2007-08
Sussex County League:
Division One Champions: 1998-99, 2002-03
MANAGER – TOMMY WIDDRINGTON
Newcastle-born Tommy Widdrington returned the Sports in October 2025 for his second spell in charge of the club, which he previously managed between 2012 and 2017.
He then had a spell as caretaker manager of Bristol Rovers before taking charge of King’s Lynn Town between 2021 and 2023 and Aldershot Town between 2023 and 2025; his spell with the latter saw him win the FA Trophy in 2025. Widdrington also managed Salisbury City and Hemel Hempstead Town earlier in his career.
As a player, Widdrington made his name with Southampton after graduating from the famous Wallsend Boy’s Club, after being spotted by the same scout who discovered Alan Shearer for the Saints. He subsequently played for a number of different clubs, including Port
Vale (twice), Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United and Macclesfield Town.
PLAYER PROFILE – KAI CORBETT
Kai Corbett joined the Sports in October 2025 after a FA Trophy winning season with National League outfit Aldershot Town.
Born in Barcelona, he was part of the world famous La Masia academy at a young age before most settling with West Ham for seven years. He departed the Hammers and went to Peterborough and made his debut for the club in the Championship.
After a loan spell with Scunthorpe United, and three years at Peterborough, he departed for Aldershot where he spent the 2024-25 season. He made 34 appearances in the National League and also appeared in their FA Trophy success. Corbett then joined Chelmsford City in the
summer before arriving at Connect Management Stadium.
PLAYER STATS:
Position: Winger
DOB: 08/10/02
Height: 1.82m
Previous Club: Chelmsford
NLS Stats 25/26: Appearances: 15, Goals 3, Assists 1, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0
OLD BOYS
Torquay: None
Eastbourne: None
LAST MEETING
Last meeting: Saturday 8th February 2025, Torquay United 2 Eastbourne 0
Late goals from Sam Dreyer and Omar Mussa saw Torquay United end their four-match winless run against fellow promotion hopefuls Eastbourne Borough.
Dreyer opened his account for the Gulls on 86 minutes before Mussa, who entered the fray midway through the second half, struck in injury time to seal an important three points for United.
The Gulls went close in the ninth minute when Jordan Young curled a free-kick wide of the left-hand post after he had been felled by Eastbourne’s Jason Adigun. Chances were few and far between for both sides until the 40th minute when Ed Palmer nodded a free-kick from Matt Carson into the path of Cody Cooke who forced a routine save from Eastbourne keeper Joe Wright. A minute before the break, Matt Jay teed up Lirak Hasani for a shot that Wright turned behind for a corner, as the first half ended goalless.
In the second half, the Sports went close on 68 minutes as Adigun connected with a cross from the left – only to be denied by the reflexes of United keeper James Hamon. However, on 86 minutes, United made a late breakthrough when Dreyer scored his first goal for the club following a goalmouth scramble after a corner from sub Mussa, with an effort which took a deflection before finding the back of the net.
Deep in injury time, the Gulls almost added a second when Cody Cooke hit the post. However, United doubled their lead moments later when Mussa raced onto a through ball from Cooke and coolly slotted home – sending the Gulls’ fans home in raptures.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Torquay United (4-2-3-1): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Dan Hayfield; Jordan Young, Matt Jay, Dylan Morgan; Louis Dennis
Eastbourne (3-4-3): Ryan Sandford; Dan Quick, Cameron Gbodebo, Laith Fairnie; Harvey Lintott, Tayt Trusty, Mo Sagaf, Josh Anfiowose; Kai Corbett, Arthur Grout, Pemi Aderoju
COYY – STEVE
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