Table Position: 13th
Top Scorers: Josh Castiglione and Luke Holness (5)
Manager: Brad Quinton
Nickname: The Tudors
2022/23 average attendance: 503
This Saturday, Concord Rangers have the chance to record the double over a team for the first time this season as the Beach Boys travel to Hertfordshire to take on Hemel Hempstead Town.
The reverse fixture in December saw the Beach Boys edge to a slender 2-1 victory over the Tudors thanks to goals from former Hemel striker Mo Bettamer and winger Nana Kyei.
However repeating this feat is unlikely to be easy as Hertfordshire hasn't proved to be happy hunting ground for Rangers this term with the Beach Boys losing all three of their trips to county this campaign; losing 2-0, 1-0 and 4-2 to Berkhamsted, St Albans City and Cheshunt respectively.
As well as this Rob Small's men will have to get over the heartbreak of Tuesday night's Essex Senior Cup final defeat to Braintree Town - a game that finished 2-0 to the Iron.
Despite this there is still reason for Concord fans to be confident ahead of this fixture as Rangers are currently four games unbeaten on the road in all competitions; drawing at Tonbridge Angels and Chippenham Town and beating Canvey Island and Welling United.
Hemel are also in good form with the Tudors enjoying a fine start to 2023 which has seen them steer well clear of the relegation zone and within touching distance of the top half of the table.
Since the turn of the year Brad Quinton's outfit have only lost once at Vauxhall Road - a 3-0 defeat against promotion hopefuls Oxford City.
Last time out the Tudors picked up a fine three points on their travels with Hemel defeating Taunton Town 2-1 last Saturday.
The head-to-head record between the two clubs suggest that it really could go either way. Concord have only lost two of the last ten games between the sides, but Hemel are five games unbeaten on home turf against the Beach Boys - a record that stretches back until 2015.
Key Player
Charlee Hughes
Hemel's top scorer last season Charlee Hughes may not have been quite as prolific this campaign with just three goals to his name but the 26 year old has impressed lately with two goals in as many games.
Hughes opened the scoring for Hemel in their win at Taunton last weekend and he also scored in their score draw with Braintree Town four days earlier.
Last term saw Hughes enjoy playing against Essex clubs with the striker bagging at home to Billericay Town and Chelmsford City - something he'll be hoping to repeat when Concord come to town tomorrow afternoon.
Previously in his career Hughes has represented Wealdstone and Maldon & Tiptree.
They've played for both
Tosan Popo
Experienced defender Tosan Popo is now in his third spell at the Aspect Arena having re-joined the Beach Boys from Hemel in the summer of 2020.
So far this season Popo has been a regular for Concord, making 39 appearances in all competitions - more than any other member of the squad.
Popo spent the 2019/20 season at Vauxhall Road scoring one goal which coincidentally came against Concord when the Beach Boys breezed to a 3-1 win over the Tudors on Canvey Island.
Popo has also appeared for fellow National League South outfit Chelmsford City.
Mo Bettamer
Concord's top scorer so far this campaign Mo Bettamer has netted ten goals in league and cup - one of which came against his former club Hemel in December.
In 2019 the Libya international had a brief loan spell at Vauxhall Road from Barnet during which time he made four appearances.
Bettamer is in good form to score against his former club once more with the Hayes & Yeading loanee scoring two goals in as many league games with the 29 year old being on target against Welling and Chelmsford earlier this month.
Form
Hemel Hempstead
L - 0-1 vs Bath City (H)
L - 0-3 vs Oxford City (H)
D - 1-1 vs Braintree Town (H)
W - 2-1 vs Taunton Town (A)
Concord Rangers
L - 0-2 vs Slough Town (H)
W - 1-0 vs Welling United (A)
L - 1-2 vs Chelmsford City (H)
L - 0-2 vs Braintree Town (N) - Essex Senior Cup
Head-to-head
03/12/2022: Concord Rangers 2-1 Hemel Hempstead
19/02/2022: Hemel Hempstead 3-1 Concord Rangers
04/09/2021: Concord Rangers 1-0 Hemel Hempstead
22/02/2020: Hemel Hempstead 1-0 Concord Rangers
02/11/2019: Concord Rangers 3-1 Hemel Hempstead
By Nathan Williams
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