It’s home comforts for United, as we reach the final game of the 2023/24 season with the visit of Havant & Waterlooville.
With Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Taunton sealing United’s safety in the National League South for another season, the Gulls come into the last game of the campaign with the chance to end the season on a high against already relegated Havant & Waterlooville.
Who’s the Boss?
Since the departure of Steve King back in December, the Hawks have had the trio of Cliff De Gordon, Ross Betteridge & Richard Pope looking after first team affairs, but they were unable to stop Havant from falling to relegation following a home defeat to Dartford, and then results going against them a few days later, with teams above them winning games in hand to send them down.
How have they been doing?
Following United’s 2-0 win at Westleigh Park back in November. Havant lost their next three before embarking on a three match winning run with wins over Dover (4-3), Hemel Hempstead (2-0) and Taunton (3-0) all at home before ending 2023 with back to back defeats. 2024 began with back to back wins over Farnborough (2-4) and Maidstone (2-1), though was then followed by just one win in their next eight games, that being a home win over high flying Chelmsford City (2-1).
March began with three wins on the trot, but one win in their next seven finally saw the Hawks relegated and they come into today’s final game with a record of ten wins, seven draws and 28 defeats, sitting in 23rd place with 37 points from their 45 games.
Player to Watch
Ryan Seager is a former Southampton youth academy player who came through the ranks at the Saints over 10 years, before in 2014 he was given his first professional contract at St Mary’s where he stayed until 2019. During his time at the Hampshire club, Seager also had loan spells at Crewe, MK Dons, Yeovil Town & Telstar. Upon his release from Southampton, the forward returned to Yeovil for a season, although while at Huish Park he had loan moves to Havant & Waterlooville & Frome Town.
His departure from the Somerset club in 2020 heralded a move to Hungerford Town for two seasons, where he scored 41 goals on 59 games, before he moved to Dorking ahead of their very first season in the National League. Upon leaving the Surrey club in 2023, the 28 year old returned to Westleigh Park, and despite his eleven league goals for the club this season, Seager has been unable to stop the club from their relegation from the National League South.
Played for Both
Dan Butler came through the ranks at Portsmouth and was the club where he signed his first professional contract in 2012. Loans spells at Havant & Waterlooville and Aldershot came, before three years and nearly 50 appearances later Butler signed for United in 2015, where he played over 40 games and scored 2 goals in his time at Plainmoor.
His departure from the English Riviera saw him head to Wales and Newport County, where he [played over 130 game in three years, which then saw a move to Peterborough United for whom the defender made over 100 appearances in a four year stay. Butler joined League One Stevenage in the summer of 2023, and has helped them to a top half finish this season.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 2 – 2 Havant & Waterlooville, 16th October 2022, Emirates FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying.
United and Havant & Waterlooville had to head to Hampshire after their Emirates FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying clash ended in a 2-2 draw at Plainmoor.
Following a goalless first half, United took the lead midway through the second half through Ben Wynter, however it was to prove a short-lived one, with Alex Wall restoring parity shortly after. Jake Andrews then looked set to steal the headlines, as he to crowned his return to action with a late second, before Tommy Wright’s injury-time effort saw both sides have to do it all again, with Havant running out 4-2 winners in the replay.
Vanarama National League South | Torquay United v Havant & Waterlooville | 20/04/24 | KO: 3pm | Ticketing information available HERE | Live commentary via Official TUFC Radio available HERE