Preview: Tudors prepare for long journey to Truro for FA Trophy clash

Hemel Hempstead Town are gearing up for the long trip down to Truro for their FA Trophy third qualifying round clash tomorrow afternoon.
Hemel Hempstead Town management duo Dean Brennan and Stuart Maynard. Picture (c) Darren KellyHemel Hempstead Town management duo Dean Brennan and Stuart Maynard. Picture (c) Darren Kelly
Hemel Hempstead Town management duo Dean Brennan and Stuart Maynard. Picture (c) Darren Kelly

The Tudors know Truro well from their meetings in the Southern Premier Division last season, and Dean Brennan’s side will be eager to return to winning ways following a 1-0 defeat at Bath City on Tuesday night.

Speaking to club press officer Allan Mitchell, Hemel boss Dean Brennan suggested that he may rotate the side to freshen things up and give some of his players a rest.

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“We’ll pick a side that we feel can win the game,” he said. “We’ve got a strong squad and it’s what a squad is needed for. It’s a good opportunity for our players who haven’t been getting regular football to come back in and hopefully give us a headache.”

Assistant manager Stuart Maynard was quick to dismiss the opinion that a trip to Truro was a bad draw for the Tudors, insisting they will be fully focussed on the job at hand.

“There could be worse draws,” he said. “It’s a team in the league below, they’re in good form - again it’s mainly the journey.

“It’s the preparation that’s going to be the killer because the lads work on Fridays and it’s hard for them to get off to get down there on a Friday.

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“But you look forward to going to play whoever you are drawn against in the Trophy; it’s a great competition and we believe we can beat anyone we play. So we don’t see it as a bad draw.

“Truro are a good team and we respect them, and the lads will go down there and give everything.”

Tudors captain Jordan Parkes has been on sensational form of late, scoring a hat-trick in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Basingstoke Town.

He added: “Our FA Trophy campaign starts with a horrible journey down to Truro. We did well down there last year, beating them 6-0 so hopefully we can do the same.

“If we can put a good run together in Trophy, the final is at Wembley which is everyone’s dream.”

To see Allan Mitchell’s full interview with Brennan and Maynard click here

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