Successive away fixtures are rounded off on Saturday afternoon, as United head to Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Who’s the Boss?
Mel Gwinnett was appointed as the Beavers First Team Manager and Head of Football Operations back in January. His role sees him take charge of first team responsibilities, but as Head of Football Operations, Gwinnett is also involved in the design, development and embedding of the side’s operating model.
Prior to arriving at the Beveree Stadium in January, Gwinnett had enjoyed a stint at Barnet as First Team Head Coach. Upon his departure to take the helm at Hampton, the former goalkeeper was praised by the Bees for having played a pivotal role in the impressive form of goalkeeper Laurie Walker, as well as playing an integral part in analysing, match preparation and player development.
As a player, the now 60-year-old, played as a goalkeeper with his clubs including the likes of Peterborough United, Hereford United, Gloucester City, Bradford City, Exeter City, Colchester United, Preston North End, Yeovil Town, and Weymouth.
Upon retiring from his playing career, Gwinnett returned to Exeter City, initially as Youth Football Director and then became Goalkeeper Coach prior to a spell as First Team Coach. He worked alongside Paul Tisdale at MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage, before moving on to Barnet.
How have they been doing?
Coming into the fixture this weekend United’s hosts will be confident following a recent spell of good form, which has seen the Beavers win their previous four matches, with victories over Worthing (4-1), Taunton Town (1-0), Dartford (4-3) and Havant & Waterlooville (2-1). Their last league defeat was registered against Yeovil on 23rd September with a narrow 2-1 defeat to the current league leaders.
The Middlesex side currently occupy 9th place in the Vanarama National League South on 21 points, one point outside of the play-off places. Following their opening 14 games the Beavers have won 6, drawn 3 and lost 5, with only one of their defeats having come at home so far this season.
Player to Watch
Ben Seymour is the Beavers current top marksman with 6 goals in his 16 appearances so far this season – with the 24-year-old having scored two of these in the side’s 4-1 victory against Worthing on Tuesday night. He has a dual role at the Club as both a player and a coach.
Hampton & Richmond’s number 9 arrived at the Beveree Stadium from Plymouth Parkway ahead of the current campaign after the 2022/23 season saw the striker total 27 goals in all competitions for Parkway. Seymour began his career in Exeter City’s Academy, beginning in their Under-9s side and went on to progress into the first team, registering 71 appearances and 3 goals for the Grecians before being released by the club in May 2022.
During his time with City, the forward enjoyed a number of loan spells in a bid to gain further experience. Seymour spent time at a number of Club’s within the region including Weston-super-Mare, Bideford, Gloucester City, Yeovil Town, Bath City, and notably Dorchester Town where the young striker scored 14 goals in 26 appearances.
Played for Both
Lucas Ness enjoyed a successful loan spell at Hampton & Richmond Borough in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, where the defender went on to make 13 appearances in the National League South. After agreeing a new two-year deal with current club Charlton Athletic in May 2022, it was in October 2022 that Ness arrived at Plainmoor.
After impressing during his short stint on the English Riviera where he made 8 appearances, Ness was recalled to Charlton before being handed his League One debut for the Addicks the following day. The 21-year-old’s first team debut came in the Papa John’s Trophy two years earlier in September 2020, after the young defender arrived at The Valley from Metropolitan Police following a successful trial period. Ness currently appears regularly for the Addicks first team and has made 10 appearances for the side in all competitions so far this season.
Previous Encounter
Hampton & Richmond 1 – 2 Torquay United, 15th October 2022, Emirates FA Cup 4Q.
It was little over a year ago United met Hampton & Richmond twice within a matter of days, as the sides battled for a place in the First Round Proper of the Emirates FA Cup. Goals from Brett McGavin and Shaun Donnellan saw Gary Johnson’s side come from behind to force a replay with a 2-2 draw at Plainmoor. At the Beveree Stadium, it was ten-man United who came from behind for a second time to set up a First Round Proper tie against Derby County at Plainmoor.
It was a gritty 2-1 win at Hampton and Richmond for United. After a Tommy Block strike gave the hosts the advantage just before half time, The Gulls levelled things up just after the interval through Dean Moxey. Things looked bleak when Dillon De Silva received his marching orders just past the hour mark, but Gary Johnson’s men responded manfully to the setback, with Aaron Jarvis heading home minutes later to clinch victory.
United were certainly in the ascendency early on with chances for Jarvis and Donnellan going just wide, before skipper Asa Hall saw an effort go over goal. On 40 minutes United goalkeeper Rhys Lovett was powerless to stop the hosts from taking the lead. A determined run from Alfy Whittingham saw him cut into the area, before his ball across the box was bundled home by Block.
Nine minutes after the interval however, United were back on level terms. After goalkeeper Matteo Salamon was left with no choice but to pick up a back-pass, from the indirect free-kick, it was Dean Moxey who drilled home to restore parity.
Fresh from sparking his side’s pathway back into the game, two bookings within five minutes signalled De Silva’s early departure, and United were down to ten men and staring down the barrel once again.
Johnson’s side answered another difficult question with an emphatic answer though. After winning a corner, McGavin floated a perfect flag-kick onto the head of the rising Jarvis, who beat Salamon to the ball, and planted a firm header into the back of the net, 2-1 United.
Vanarama National League South | Hampton & Richmond v Torquay United | 28/10/23 | KO: 3pm | Tickets | Official TUFC Radio