Tudors all set for key battle to secure play-off place
Hemel Hempstead boss Lee Allinson was left beaming with pride after a 2-1 win at Torquay United on Saturday strengthened the Tudors’ play-off hopes.
Allinson’s men sit fourth in the table ahead of Saturday’s final game at home to Salisbury, and whilst only two points separate them from eighth-placed Maidenhead, Hemel look strong favourites to remain in the play-off places, although position will also be important when it comes to who plays who and when.
Mauro Vilhete and Remaye Campbell scored the goals on the south coast as Hemel leapfrogged Torquay in the standings – the win being crucial as even a draw would have seen Hemel outside the top seven.
Allinson told the club’s media after the game: “I think it just epitomises everything we've done all season. Just the the work rate and desire – their manager said to me afterwards that we deserved it because of heart, desire, work rate, everything else.
"It was a fantastic result for the football club. To be mixing it with these types of teams is a credit to us a club – we’ve prepared properly, travelled down last night and were trying to get everything right and help us put a performance in like that.
"But nothing’s achieved, nothing’s done, we remain humble. It’s another three points and we have to keep moving forward, it’s as simple as that.
"The rest we had before this was a big factor. You can’t do Bath on a Tuesday night, Weston on a Tuesday night, players walking in at 4am and expect them to recover properly as we don’t have the facilities for that and are not full-time.
"But we knew with this group they’d find a way because that’s what they are. They’re a very special group from the minute they walked through the door and they deserve all the plaudits today because they were magnificent, and to come to Torquay United with 4,000 fans behind them and be the better side, it’s a credit and a testament to every single one of our players.
"On Saturday, we need a result, nothing is taken for granted. We’ll prepare properly and get ready for a really hard game as Salisbury have nothing to lose and we’ve got everything to lose.”
Saturday’s game with Sailsbury will kick off at 12.30pm.