Hampton & Richmond head to Devon for what is expected to be an electric atmosphere at Plainmoor Stadium as Torquay United looks to rally the South-West amidst financial trouble and the celebrations of Non-League Day. Fans of local clubs such as Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City are being encouraged to put rivalries aside and support Torquay to provide a tough atmosphere on the pitch and financial support off of it.
Where They Stand
The Beavers remain top of the form table despite a 1-1 draw at home to revitalised Welling United. The midweek fixture was one of our games in hand, so the point is another welcome addition to our league total as the run-in edges closer. Hampton & Richmond remain in fourth place, with a chance to leapfrog Braintree if they drop points at home to Yeovil. Meanwhile, Worthing do not play until Sunday, so they will know if they also have the chance to move up the table by dislodging the Beavers if Saturday's result is not favourable to us. Jordan Thomas made his return on Tuesday, playing the last 15 minutes at Beveree, so he is expected to travel once more. Ben Seymour will be hoping to continue his spout of goal involvements, with a goal and an assist in his last two games.
National League South League Table At Start of Matchday
| Position | Games Played | Team | Points |
| 2 | 40 | Chelmsford City |
73 |
| 3 | 39 | Braintree Town | 68 |
| 4 | 38 | Hampton & Richmond | 67 |
| 5 | 39 | Worthing | 65 |
| 6 | 38 | Maidstone | 64 |
Torquay, meanwhile, will be looking to put two straight defeats, by an aggregate of 7-1, behind them when they host the TW12 side. The club has been brandished with a 10-point deduction after it's previous owner stated his intention to enter the club into administration. As a result, the Gulls now find themselves just three points above the relegation zone with seven games left to play. Fans up and down the football pyramid have come out to show their support for the Gulls, as their fans continue to turn up in numbers to support the team. Torquay have conceded 66 goals so far this season, with only Havant & Waterlooville and Dover conceding more.
Torquay United's Last Five Results
| Tonbridge Angels (A) | 4-1 (L) |
| Taunton Town (H) | 0-3 (L) |
| Dartford (H) | 4-1 (W) |
| Weymouth (A) | 1-1 (D) |
| Aveley (H) | 2-2 (D) |
Last Time Out
Hampton & Richmond won five games in a row for the first time since 2018, with a 3-1 win over Torquay United at the Bev.
An own-goal opened the scoring after a Ben Seymour cut-back, Seymour then tucked away a penalty before Mason Bloomfield lobbed the keeper and an Asa Hall Torquay consolation.
The winning streak propelled the Beavers from the relegation zone to play-off spots and kept fans entertained with 14 goals over five matches.
The opening goal came sixteen minutes in, after the unfortunate Torquay midfielder Brett McGavin turned it into his own net from a Seymour cut-back. Seymour then boosted his own goal tally, to seven in all competitions, after being fouled in the box and then tucking away the resulting penalty bottom-left.
After going in 2-0 down at the half, Torquay had to change their keeper in the 54th minute after a clash in the box resulting from a Jake Gray cross.
Seymour could have added his second not long after, just glancing wide with his head following a Mason Bloomfield cross. Ruaridh Donaldson kept fans on the edge of their seats late on with a delightful bit of skill but was chopped down after continuing his run and being played in by Seymour.
Two goals then ensued in the eight minutes added time. The first, Bloomfield delightfully lobbing Torquay’s keeper and the second a consolation by Torquay substitute Asa Hall.
Seymour was awarded man of the match by spectators, who also saw another stonewall performance by Hampton & Richmond’s back line. The attendance totalled 1,469.
Fixture History
It will be a 400-mile round trip for the Beavers, though it is a journey that has never phased them before. The sides have met five times in total in their history, with the TW12 side having had more luck on the road with a win and a draw in their other two matches against Torquay.
Last season, the Beavers suffered a 2-1 defeat in the replay of an FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying tie in 2022. They had held Torquay to a 2-2 draw away at Plainmoor, goals coming from Jake Gray and Temi Babalola.