United head to Tonbridge Angels tomorrow with players returning to fitness and Jimmy Ball facing some welcome selection decisions. With all four centre-backs available, all eyes will be on who he recalls to the heart of defence as the Gulls bid to reach the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.
Cody Cooke, Jake Wannell, Oludare Olufunwa, Angelo Cappello and Harry Shield are all available for selection. Jimmy confirmed that United’s three loan players also have permission to feature in the competition at this stage.
Deon Moore remains on international duty with Guyana having scored for the Golden Jaguars in last night’s 5-1 win over Dominica, while Jordan Dyer continues his recovery from his surgery earlier this week. Dom Bernard is a major doubt with a groin problem, and Tegan Finn is touch and go after experiencing muscle tightening in training on Thursday.
The players left Plainmoor this morning and will stay overnight ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off at the Yeomans Community Stadium, Longmead.
“Have a go”
For Jimmy, the Cup offers an opportunity to embrace the occasion and play positively.
“You can kind of go and have some fun with it, be aggressive within your mindset and have a go, because it is a knockout tournament,” he said.
“I’ve always really enjoyed it and, to be fair, it’s come at a nice time.”
United have already won at Tonbridge this season, but Jimmy knows that repeating the result will require another determined performance.
“Tough fixture, but you’ve got to play tough fixtures to progress in the FA Cup. You accept it, and then you start getting excited about it and looking forward to it, and everything that the FA Cup is.”
Familiar ground
United hold a narrow advantage across the clubs’ eight competitive meetings: four wins, one draw and three defeats. Seven encounters have come in National League South, with Tonbridge winning the FA Trophy meeting in December 2021.
Longmead has been a rewarding destination recently, with the Gulls winning on their last three visits: 1–0 in March 2025, 2–1 in April 2026 and 2–1 again in August. Tonbridge, however, won the clubs’ most recent meeting at Plainmoor, taking a 2–1 victory last December.
Those results provide encouragement, but Saturday presents a fresh test.
“It’s hard in this league to win any games, but to beat someone twice in such a short space of time is going to be difficult,” Jimmy said, adding that United’s squad could look quite different from the one that visited in August.
How both sides reached this stage
United began their cup campaign with a 6–1 victory over AFC Stoneham at Plainmoor. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s hat-trick led the way, with Callum Morton, Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Cody Cooke also scoring in a performance Jimmy described as “thoroughly professional”.
Tonbridge’s passage was tighter. They came from behind to beat Ramsgate 2–1 at Longmead, with Jephte Tanga equalising before Bunmi Babajide supplied the winner in the 82nd minute. Ramsgate had been reduced to ten men before half-time but made the Angels work hard for their place in the draw.
The view from Tonbridge
Angels manager Alan Dunne welcomed the home draw, praised United’s travelling support and made clear his own side’s ambition to progress.
“It’s a difficult fixture of course but one we’re really looking forward to,” he said.
Saturday will be United’s third visit to Longmead since April, giving both sets of supporters another familiar encounter with fresh cup stakes.
What is at stake?
Both clubs have already earned £3,375 in FA prize money for their Second Qualifying Round victories — United against AFC Stoneham and Tonbridge against Ramsgate.
The winners of this tie receive a further £5,625, taking their prize-money earnings from these two rounds to £9,000. The losing club receives £1,875, bringing its total to £5,250.
Progression also opens the door to another £9,375 for winning in the Fourth Qualifying Round, alongside a place in the first round proper.
Ticket income benefits both clubs too. Net gate receipts are shared equally, after the deductions permitted by FA rules, including applicable VAT, match expenses and approved visiting-team travel and accommodation costs.
Tickets for the Yellow Army
Kick-off is 3pm tomorrow (Saturday, 3 October), with turnstiles opening at 1pm. Tickets can be purchased online or by cash/card at the gate, with advance purchase recommended.
Adults: £18
Concessions / seniors aged 65+: £15
Ages 12–17: £8
Under-12s: free
Under-14s must attend with a ticket-buying adult. Torquay fans aged 14–17 attending without an adult must buy the designated away youth ticket online and complete the accompanying questionnaire; this ticket is unavailable at the gate.
There will be no segregation, and supporters can change ends at half-time. Printed programmes must be ordered in advance for collection from the club shop.
Listen live on TUFC Radio
For supporters following from home, TUFC Radio will provide free live commentary, with coverage expected to start around 2.50pm, approximately ten minutes before kick-off. Voluntary donations are welcome to help maintain the service.
Whether you are travelling to Longmead or tuning in, join the Yellow Army as United aim to take another step along the FA Cup trail.
