Match Preview: Hemel Hempstead (H) - 18th October 2025

By Josh Cole

After the heroics in the FA Cup, AFC Totton return to league action to play against Hemel Hempstead at The Snows Stadium!

Last time out, The Stags produced a monumental display to progress in the FA Cup by beating Truro City in the replay! Read the match report from that game by clicking here.

Tickets can still be purchased for this game so BUY NOW by CLICKING HERE.

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

The Tudors are sat in 6^th place, and that’s one below The Stags. Want to view the league table as it stands? CLICK HERE to see…

They started the season well, going four unbeaten with two wins and two draws. The wins came against Slough (0-1) & Dorking (2-0) whilst the draws were Maidstone (1-1) at home and Maidenhead (2-2) away.

Their first loss of the campaign came against a struggling Dagenham & Redbridge side away from home. That was their only loss of the season, and since then, have been on a very good run of form. They beat Torquay next, then drew to Ebbsfleet & Eastbourne in the league.

Hemel started their FA Cup journey against Bishop’s Stortford in the second qualifying round, which they won 4-1. They beat Farnborough next and returned to FA Cup action against Hereford where they required a replay to progress winning 0-3 away from home to seal the deal.

In their last two games, Hemel Hempstead have won both, beating Chippenham away in the league and getting into the first round proper of the FA Cup by winning 2-1 against Yeovil Town.

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Horsham | Away | ENLS | Won 0-2

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 43’ & Ash Clarke 79’

Vs Frome Town | Home | FA Cup Third Qualifying Round | Won 4-2

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 11’ 66’ 85’ & Ash Clarke 15’

Vs Weston-super-Mare | Home | ENLS | Won 3-1

Goalscorers: Ash Clarke 32’ 70’ & Scott Rendell 60’ PEN

Vs Truro City | Home | FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Tyler Cordner 26’

Vs Truro City | Away | FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay | Drew 1-1 (AFC Totton won 5-3 on pens)

Goalscorer: Tony Lee 14’

LAST FIVE: HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

Vs Farnborough | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0

Goalscorer: Millar Matthews-Lewis 22’

Vs Hereford | Home | FA Cup Third Qualifying Round | Drew 2-2

Goalscorers: Millar Matthews-Lewis 22’ & Kyle Ajayi 43’

Vs Hereford | Away | FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Replay | Won 0-3

Goalscorers: Millar Matthews-Lewis 53’, Finley Wilkinson 92’ & George Williams 95’

Vs Chippenham Town | Away | ENLS | Won 0-1

Goalscorer: Millar Matthews -Lewis 65’

Vs Yeovil Town | Home | FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Kyle Ajayi 39’ & Finley Wilkinson 87’

 
COMPARING THE STATS (all comps)

 
MY OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

DEFENCE: Charlie Rowan

The 27-year-old London-born defender began his career in the academy at Watford and developed a reputation as a calm, ball-playing centre-half. His early promise earned him a loan move to Accrington Stanley in League Two, giving him valuable exposure to senior football before moving on to continue his development in the non-league ranks.

After leaving Watford, Rowan spent time with clubs including Oxford City, Barnet, and Ebbsfleet United, gaining experience across various levels of English football. He later became a consistent performer for Weymouth, where his aerial strength and defensive leadership were key, before joining Hemel Hempstead Town in July 2025.

Rowan’s style is built on physical dominance and intelligent positioning. Strong in the air and composed in possession, he’s equally comfortable clearing his lines or starting attacks from deep. While his no-nonsense defending occasionally leads to bookings, his leadership and reading of the game make him a vital figure for Hemel.

MIDFIELD: George Williams

George Williams is a player who has been familiar with his surroundings at Hemel Hempstead Town FC, with his first taste of action coming from a loan spell from Boreham Wood during the 2022/23 season. Having made a pleasing first impression in this short stint, Williams moved to the Tudors on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023 and has since gone from strength to strength as an attacking midfielder.

His first full season at the club saw Williams deployed as a central attacking midfielder, where he was able to find his eye for goal on 12 occasions in the 2023/24 campaign. There were many instances where ‘Willo’ was the player to turn to, which symbolised his importance to the team and led to another season as a Tudor.

The 2024/25 season saw Williams showcase his exceptional playmaking ability, recording 12 assists and establishing himself as an integral player within the first team. Under the systems of both Bobby Wilkinson and Lee Allinson, Williams shifted to operating as a right winger and thrived with his inviting deliveries into the box and ability to facilitate the play.

Having developed through the youth setup at MK Dons before moving to Fulham, Williams has had experience of international football, with 7 senior appearances for Wales. He continues to look to develop heading into his third full season as a Tudor.

ATTACK: Millar Matthews-Lewis

Matthews-Lewis came up through Luton Town’s youth system, joining at under-14 level and progressing through to their U21s.

In January 2024, he moved on loan to Farnborough from Luton, using that spell to adapt to senior football in the National League South. He impressed sufficiently that Farnborough signed him permanently in July 2024.

Then, when Hemel Hempstead needed attacking firepower in February 2025, Matthews-Lewis went on loan there, making an instant impact, including in high-energy derbies like the one vs St Albans City. Over the 2024/25 season across Farnborough and Hemel Hempstead, he racked up double-digit goal contributions and made 30+ appearances.

Matthews-Lewis is known for his energetic style, creative movement, and eye for goal. He combines strength up front with a hunger to press, link play, and make late runs. Though still young and improving his consistency and decision-making, he offers Hemel a potent attacking outlet. As he settles fully into the Tudors’ setup, he is likely to be one of their primary threats up front this season.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Chay Hathway

Assistant: Dane Johnston

Assistant: Billy Wootten

Fourth Official: Anthony Cross

GO STAGS