United return home for National League action this weekend, as they face Hemel Hempstead Town at Plainmoor.
Having secured FA Trophy progression at the expense of Frome Town last weekend, Gary Johnson’s side will be looking for a fifth successive victory in all competitions tomorrow against a Tudors side who produced a late fightback to seal a 3-2 success in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Who’s the boss?
Bradley Quinton took over the reigns of the Tudors at the end of December 2022, and led the club to a 15th placed finish in the National League South. Prior to his appointment at Vauxhall Road, Quinton was in charge of Braintree Town, where in his first season he led the Essex club back to the National League.
Brad has also managed Welling United and Enfield Town, where he led the Towners to three Play-Off campaigns as well as taking the club on their best-,ever run in the FA Cup.
How have they been doing?
Hemel Hempstead Town have been the essence of unpredictability so far, with their 21 league outings split evening into 7 wins, 7 draws, and – you’ve guessed it – 7 defeats.
The Tudors began the 2023/24 season in impressive style with a 1-0 home victory against Yeovil Town, before following that up with a 2-1 win away at Welling United. The Tudors then went five games without a win though, with those results being a 2-1 away defeat at Farnborough, a 2-1 home loss to Weymouth and then three consecutive draws, 1-1 at home to Maidstone United, 1-1 at Weston-Super-Mare and 0-0 at home to Truro City.
Having regrouped, Hemel’s current placing of 16th is perhaps misleading, with the team just five points off the Play-Offs, however this will have to reverse their recent form of three defeats on the trot – the latest setback being at bottom side Havant in midweek (2-0).
Player to watch
Having already notched 9 goals in 22 outings this term, Joe Iaciofano remains one of the division’s most reliable goal sources.
Joe came through the youth ranks at Northampton Town, before signing on as a professional at the Cobblers in 2016, though he only managed to play one game for the club. During his time at Sixfields the striker found himself loaned out to Corby Town, Chesham United, where he scored 15 goals in 17 games, Brackley Town, AFC Mansfield & Banbury United.
Upon his release from Northampton the 25 year old joined St Albans City, but in his one season at the club he could only help them to a 19th place finish in the National League South during the curtailed season due to the Covid pandemic, though he did finish as the division’s joint top scorer.
Havant & Waterlooville, who had finished second the National League South in 2019/20 but missed out on promotion through the Play-Offs, were the next team to acquire the services of Iaciofano, before he moved on to his next stop at Oxford City. 28 goals in 61 games for the the Hoops, and a second loan spell at Banbury towards the end of his Oxford contract all came before his arrival at Vauxhall Road in the summer of 2023.
Played for both
United’s Aaron Jarvis started his career at hometown club Basingstoke Town in the 2016/17 season, and in 47 games that campaign scored 14 goals prompting the then League Two Luton Town to sign him on a two year deal, though he only made five appearances for the Hatters, while also being loaned out to Boreham Wood and then Falkirk in the Scottish Championship.
Upon his release from Kenilworth Road Jarvis then joined Sutton United, and it was while at the Surrey club that the striker spent time on loan at Hemel Hempstead scoring one goal in six league games. Scunthorpe United were next team to sign the striker, this time on a two year deal which came to an end following the Iron’s relegation from the EFL into the National League at the conclusion of the 2021/22 season. His contract end at Glanford Park saw the 25 year old come to the attention of Gary Johnson, with the striker signing a deal at Plainmoor, and despite relegation for the Gulls, Jarvis became the first player since Robin Stubbs in the 1965/66 campaign to score two hat-tricks in one season.
Although currently sidelined through injury, Aaron remains The Gulls’ joint-leading scorer with nine goals, alongside strike partner Brad Ash.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 3 – 2 Hemel Hempstead | Pre-Season Friendly | Saturday 12th September 2020
With the pandemic forcing the premature end of 2019/20, Torquay United’s preparations for the 2020/21 National League season finally got underway as Gary Johnson’s side beat Hemel Hempstead 3-2 in a behind-closed-doors warm-up encounter Plainmoor
After a scoreless first-half, Matty Bateman gave the visitors the lead, however United responded promptly via the penalty spot via Danny Wright, before goals from Kyle Cameron and Josh Umerah saw The Gulls race into a 3-1 lead on their return to action. In what was an action-packed second half, a late effort from Kyle O’Connor-Ajayi kept the game competitive, however Torquay held on to secure the win.
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