TORQUAY UNITED IN THE PLAY-OFFS: PART THREE

 2010-11

Two years after their return to the Football League, the Gulls would be involved in the League Two Play-offs, following a seventh-place finish during the 2010-11 league campaign.

In the semi-finals, United faced a Shrewsbury Town side who they had beaten 5-0 at Plainmoor a couple of months earlier in which Jake Robinson had netted a brace for the Gulls while on loan from the Shrews. Robinson lined up for United again in the first leg at home, but he wasn’t on target on this occasion as efforts from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O’Kane secured a 2-0 win for United. A goalless draw in the return fixture at the Greenhous Meadow set up a meeting with Stevenage at Old Trafford.

Due to Wembley hosting the 2011 UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Barcelona, both the League Two final between the Gulls and Stevenage and the League One final between Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town were switched to Old Trafford. 20 years beforehand, Manchester United had beaten Barcelona in the 1991 European Cup Winner’s Cup final and Torquay had beaten Blackpool in the Fourth Division Play-off final – the question was could lightning strike twice?

Sadly, both the United’s of Torquay and Manchester lost their respective finals 1-0 and 3-1 – and the Gulls’ defeat proved to be Paul Buckle’s final game as manager as he departed Plainmoor for Bristol Rovers.

Shrewsbury Town W 2-0               Chris Zebroski, Eunan O’Kane

Shrewsbury Town A D 0-0

Stevenage N L 0-1

2011-12: 

Despite Paul Buckle’s move to the Memorial Stadium, the Gulls regrouped and rebuilt under his successor as they reached the Play-offs again in the 2011-12 season, after missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the campaign. However, United fell short in the semi-final with Cheltenham Town as they lost 2-0 at Whaddon Road in the first leg before slipping to a 2-1 defeat in the second leg at Plainmoor, with Taiwo Atieno netting what proved to be a mere consolation goal.

 Cheltenham Town A L 0-2

Cheltenham Town H L 1-2            Taiwo Atieno

2020-21: 

United were relegated back to the National League at the end of the 2013-14, season and four years later they were relegated again - this time to National League South in 2017-18. 

However, the appointment of Gary Johnson as manager in September 2018 led to a revival in the Gulls' fortunes - as they won promotion to National League South at the first attempt in 2018-19 as champions. 

Two years down the line, after missing out on the National League title at the expense of Sutton United, a new play-off format awaited the Gulls in the Covid-19 impacted 2020-21 campaign.

A one-off home tie with Notts County awaited United after the Magpies won their 5^th versus 6^th play-off eliminator with Chesterfield.

 Returning striker Danny Wright gave Torquay a dream start with just 30 seconds on the clock as Dean Moxey throw to Joe Lewis, and his curling cross found Wright eight yards out. The header was helped in by a deflection off County's Adam Chicksen, but it sent a sun-soaked Plainmoor crowd into raptures.

Wright's return was a closely-guarded secret in the run-up to the game, and he couldn't have hoped for a greater impact.

Torquay continued on the front foot and pushed forward at every opportunity and visiting keeper Sam Slocombe needed to be quick off his line to deny the impressive Lemonheigh-Evans as Torquay pushed on in search of a second goal.

However, County levelled matters before the break when Ruben Rodrigues headed home at the near post.

Wright restored the Gulls’ lead in the opening minutes of the second half, sweeping in a Randell cross, but Adam Chicksen quickly levelled the scores again.

With no further score in the 90 minutes, the game went into extra time.

United skipper Asa Hall gave the home side the lead for the third time with a stooping header in the 100th minute, and in stoppage time at the end of the first period Dean Moxey scored United's fourth from the penalty spot to seal the Gulls’ passage to the final at Ashton Gate against Hartlepool United.

Torquay were livid when they controversially had a seventh-minute goal ruled out for a push after Cameron had got his head on the end of Adam Randell's floated free-kick, with replays not immediately picking up the infringement that referee Simon Mather spotted.

That seemed to galvanise Pools as Armstrong had two chances to put his side ahead soon after, first seeing his close-range effort deflected over by Joe Lewis before he had a header pushed wide by a diving Covolan.

It was Armstrong - who was a thorn in Torquay's side for much of the first half - who provided the breakthrough as the forward excellently controlled Rhys Oates' shot on the edge of the six-yard box and had the strength to turn Sam Sherring and blast in off the underside of the crossbar.

The Gulls were lucky not to be two goals down in the final seconds of the half as Oates found himself unmarked from a corner and saw a powerful header parried over the bar by Covolan.

Cameron had another goal chalked off after an hour, this time being adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper James as he went for the ball, and it seemed as though it would not be Torquay's day as Hartlepool almost scored a second in the final five minutes as Mark Shelton and Gavan Holohan had shots blocked.

Torquay threw everything at their opponents in the final minutes and Billy Waters missed a close-range effort in the 89th minute before Covolan came up in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Torquay's final corner.

Although it was initially cleared, Covolan stayed up field and when the ball was played back in, he rose highest to head past James and send the game into an extra 30 minutes.

Waters had a couple of efforts blocked in the first period of extra time as his Torquay team-mate Jake Andrews was stretchered off with a serious-looking leg injury, but with both sides tiring chances were few and far between before Danny Elliott had a shot blocked for Pools in the final minute as the game went to penalties.

Johnson’s men were hoping to emulate the Class of 1990-91 who won promotion to Division Three at Wembley on penalties. Sadly, this time though, the shoot-out went against them.

Neither side started the penalty kick contest well.

Nicky Featherstone saw his saved by Covolan, before Waters slipped and saw his effort go wide.

Armstrong, a scorer in normal time, also saw his effort palmed away by Covolan, before Wright struck the upright.

Mark Shelton was the first to succeed, and Hall followed suit. Jamie Sterry scored, then Lewis matched him.

Luke Molyneux put his away, as did Little, so we moved to sudden death. Danny Elliot sent Covolan the wrong way, and Lemonheigh-Evans coolly slotted his in to draw level again.

Hartlepool had the advantage of going first, and when Ryan Donaldson scored, the pressure on Matt Buse was immense. Sadly, he missed, hitting the bar, leaving Hartlepool to celebrate.

2024-25: 

Two years after losing to Hartlepool at Ashton Gate, the Gulls were relegated back to the National League South and were placed in Administration by then chairman Clarke Osborne a year later.

The club were rescued from Administration the Bryn Consortium, set about rebuilding the club. They appointed Neil Warnock as a football advisor, with former Plymouth Argyle skipper Paul Wotton joining the club from Truro City to become the club’s new manager.

With only one player under contract, Wotton set about building a hardworking side who were tough to beat, but added more flair to his squad over the course of the campaign.

On the final day of the National League South campaign, the Gulls travelled to Hemel Hempstead Town needing to better the result of Wotton’s former club Truro to clinch the title, and a return to the National League after two years away.

Despite United winning 4-1 against the Tudors, with Cody Cooke netting a hat-trick and Jordan Young also finding the target, they ended up finishing second on goal difference – and Boreham Wood awaited them in the play-offs at Plainmoor.

Unfortunately, the Gulls found the Wood too strong an opponent, as they lost 1-0 courtesy of Matthew Rush’s 59^th minute effort for the visitors. 

2024-25

Boreham Wood H L 0-1

TORQUAY UNITED IN THE PLAY-OFFS: PART TWO

 1997-98

United’s next foray into the Play-offs came in the 1997-98 season when Kevin Hodges successfully made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear – just under two years after the Gulls had retained their league status by virtue of Stevenage’s Broadhall Way home not meeting league standards.

A club record winning run of eight matches from January to March 1998 had lifted Torquay towards automatic promotion. Unfortunately, a stuttering run of results which followed left United needing a point from their final day trip to Leyton Orient. Sadly, the Gulls fell to a 2-1 defeat – which also saw goalkeeper Kenny Veysey sent off.

This set up a two-legged Play-off semi-final with Scarborough, and a 3-1 win in the first leg at the Seadogs’ McCain Stadium home put United firmly in control of the tie. What followed in the return meeting proved to be one of the most memorable matches ever witnessed at Plainmoor.

Two virtuoso goals from Rodney Jack in the opening ten minutes saw United race into a two-goal lead. Jason Rockett then replied for Scarborough before player-coach Steve McCall to display the kind of ability that saw him win the UEFA Cup with Ipswich Town in 1981. McCall scored United’s third with a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area to restore United’s two-goal cushion on the night. Paul Gibbs later added a fourth in the second half – which proved to be the final nail in Scarborough’s coffin as United headed to Wembley to face Colchester United.

However, a controversial penalty awarded for a ‘handball’ against Jon Gittens condemned the Gulls to a narrow defeat, which proved to be Hodges’ final game in charge before his departure to Plymouth Argyle.

2007-08

Ten years later, a new look Torquay United under Paul Buckle who were looking to bounce back to the Football League at the first attempt headed into the Conference play-offs, where local rivals Exeter City lay in wait.

After a 2-1 win in the first leg at St James Park, with Tim Sills and Chris Zebroski finding the target, the footballing gods appeared to be smiling on the Gulls in the return clash at Plainmoor.

Long-serving United midfielder Kevin Hill was recalled to the Torquay side for a match that would see him equal Dennis Lewis’ long-standing club appearance record of 473. When Hill struck from the edge of the penalty area in the 58th minute to put the Gulls 3-1 ahead on aggregate – the stage seemed set for a perfect ending.

However, the Grecians clearly didn’t read the script as they hit back through Ryan Harley, Ben Watson, a penalty from Richard Logan and an injury time effort from Wayne Carlisle, who would join the Gulls in the summer, saw them overturn their two-goal deficit to win 4-1 on the day and 5-3 on aggregate.

Exeter City A W 2-1         Tim Sills, Chris Zebroski

Exeter City H L 1-4           Kevin Hill

2008-09

Nevertheless, United would have a chance to go one better a year later as they reached the Play-offs again – this time Histon were their opponents. A 2-0 win in the first leg with goals from Tim Sills and Nicky Wroe was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Histon’s Glassworld Stadium home and set a final clash with Cambridge United.

United headed into the final with a goalkeeper with a broken jaw in Michael Poke, a centre back in Chris Todd who was still in remission following a diagnosis from Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia earlier in the season and a centre forward in Tim Sills who was nursing a fractured cheekbone, which saw him take to the field in a ‘Zorro’ mask.

On 35 minutes, the Gulls were in front when skipper Chris Hargreaves lashed home a shot from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Elliot Benyon. In the second half, Cambridge were reduced to ten men when Phil Bolland was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 70th minute.

Then, four minutes later, came the pivotal moment in the match. Following some good build-up play between Nicky Wroe and Benyon, Wayne Carlisle raced down the right hand side and picked out Sills, who headed home United’s second and decisive goal which will be forever immortalised by the commentary of Setanta Sport’s Steve Bower: ‘Carlisle, he checks instead, he’s looking for Benyon…Sills!’ 

The Gulls return to the Football League was complete.  

Histon H W 2-0                 Tim Sills, Nicky Wroe

Histon A L 0-1

Cambridge United N W 2-0          Chris Hargreaves, Tim Sills

ON THIS DAY: CARLISLE UNITED 1 TORQUAY UNITED 2006

 At the end of the 2004-05 season, the Gulls said goodbye to midfield maestro Alex Russell and leading scorer Bayo Akinfenwa, who signed for Bristol City and Swansea City respectively, whilst the team-mates they left behind said hello again to League Two.

With many members of the side that were part of United’s promotion winning triumph against Southend two years earlier still with the club, there was some optimism that Torquay could challenge for an immediate return to League One.

However, Leroy Rosenior was unable reproduce the magic of their previous spell in the Division. Despite a good FA Cup run, which saw United reach the third round for the first time in six years where they were beaten by Birmingham City, then of the Premiership, after a replay, Rosenior left the club at the end of January 2006.

Former Exeter City manager John Cornforth then stepped in as Caretaker Manager before taking on the managerial reigns on a permanent basis.

Unfortunately, Cornforth was unable to halt the Gulls’ slide towards what would have been a second successive relegation and Atkins was drafted in as a consultant by Chairman Mike Bateson in a similar manner to the roles Neil Warnock and Colin Lee performed in 1993 and 2001 respectively.

With six games remaining, Cornforth was dismissed and Atkins took charge for the Gulls’ final six matches of the season in what Bateson described as the ‘final roll of the dice.’

After losing their first game of Atkins’ reign against Cheltenham Town, Torquay then recorded three successive wins against Macclesfield Town (a), Wrexham (h) and Stockport County (h) before their penultimate league game of the season away at Carlisle United.

In the 1992-93 season, the Gulls had beaten the Cumbrians to retain their status as a Football League club; could lightning strike twice?

It would be a slightly harder task this time, as Carlisle were searching for a victory that would see them clinch the League Two title.

The Gulls went into the game on the back of an emphatic 4-0 home win over Stockport County, whilst the Cumbrians were eager to get their hands on the league title in front of a crowd of just under 14,000.

Carlisle, unsurprisingly, began well as their former Sunderland, Leeds and England Under-21 striker Michael Bridges started finding space and 26-goal leading scorer Karl Hawley, who would later join the Gulls, looked a constant threat in the opening stages.

Nevertheless, United’s defence didn’t cave in and this gave them the platform to take the lead in the eighth minute.

Jo Kuffour proved to be a menace to the Cumbrians with his pace and he drifted towards the right hand side producing a cross which found Kevin Hill, who leapt above the Carlisle defence and headed home to give the Gulls the lead. It was Hill’s ninth goal of the campaign, and his leap to connect with Kuffour’s cross was probably one of the nearest things that you are ever likely to see to human flight – as he seemed to hang in the air momentarily.

Still with the title within their sights, Carlisle continued to apply pressure to the Torquay backline as Bridges forced a save from Gulls’ keeper Andy Marriott and Hawley had a header which glanced wide.

The Cumbrians were playing without any wingers which meant that they were vulnerable to being hit on the counter attack, something right winger Martin ‘Buster’ Phillips and Kuffour looked to exploit and – very often – did.

In the 30^th minute, Kuffour read a flick-on from strike partner Lee Thorpe and crashed a shot against the post with Carlisle goalkeeper Kieren Westwood well beaten.

Eight minutes later, Steve Woods blasted over at the far post after the Cumbrians’ defence had failed to clear a corner from Darren Garner as Torquay continued to press.

They soon got their reward as four minutes before the break a cross from Phillips was nodded into the path of Kuffour by Thorpe, and the diminutive striker found the back of the net with a shot on the turn to score his fourth goal in as many matches to double the Gulls’ lead.

After the break, Carlisle boss Paul Simpson added extra width to his side by bringing on Simon Hackney for Derek Holmes, and pushed Bridges further forward to play in a partnership with Hawley.

The change seemed to work when they forced Torquay into conceding a corner three minutes after the restart. Chris Lumsdon took the flag-kick for the Cumbrians, which their Spanish left-back Zigor Aranalde nodded home past Marriott to reduce their arrears to a single goal.

Now the pressure was on the Gulls to defend as Carlisle pushed forward in numbers in search of an equaliser, but Torquay – inspired by their central defensive pairing of Steve Woods and Craig Taylor – stood firm.

Ten minutes from time, it seemed as though their resistance had been broken when Marriott – under pressure from Cumbrians’ substitute Glen Murray – appeared to have punched the ball into his own net. However, referee Clive Oliver disallowed the goal for an infringement and the Gulls’ side and their travelling supporters breathed a huge sigh of relief.

With five minutes remaining, Carlisle boss Simpson then sent himself on as a substitute in a bid to get something out of the game – but it wasn’t to be and Torquay held on to secure their fourth straight win.

From being in a seemingly impossible situation, the Gulls were now in touching distance of retaining their status as a Football League club.

The Cumbrians had to wait until the following Tuesday to finally get their hands on the League Two title, when they beat Rochdale, whilst Torquay made their own safety mathematically certain with a goalless draw against Boston United at Plainmoor on the following Saturday.

Torquay (4-4-2): Andy Marriott; Matt Villis, Steve Woods, Craig Taylor, Stephen Reed; Martin Phillips (Matt Hockley 75), Darren Garner, Danny Hollands (Morike Sako 90), Kevin Hill; Jo Kuffour (Paul Robinson 84), Lee Thorpe 

This match, along with many others, can be found in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches, which is available here: torquayunitedahistoryin50 — Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches

TORQUAY UNITED IN THE PLAY-OFFS: PART ONE

 As Torquay United approach their National League South play-off semi-final with either Dorking Wanderers or Maidenhead United on Saturday, we will now look at the Gulls complete record in the play-offs from 1987-88 to the present day. 

1987-88

United’s first involvement in the end of season showdown came in the 1987-88 season when - after missing out on automatic promotion from the Fourth Division under the late Cyril Knowles - the Gulls were paired with Scunthorpe United, who they had lost out to on the final day of the campaign.

The first leg went well for Torquay as they won 2-1 with goals from Paul Dobson and Dave Caldwell in what proved to be an ill-tempered affair. Scunthorpe were reduced to ten men in a game that was most notable for Knowles walking away from his dugout to avoid being sent off himself.

There was no quarter given in the contest between Caldwell and the Iron defence – such was the ill-feeling for the return leg – which was also Scunthorpe’s last ever match at their Old Showground prior to their move to Glanford Park – that Caldwell was left on the bench by Knowles and he required a Police escort for the warm-up!

The return leg ended 1-1, which set up a final between United and Swansea City over two legs – Wembley finals for the Play-offs didn’t start until 1990. After losing 2-1 at the Vetch Field, Torquay could only manage a 3-3 draw in the second leg – which saw them miss out on a return to the third tier for the first time since 1972.

United’s second leg against Swansea was also their record 62nd competitive match of the campaign which restored a lot of pride to the club following their Bryn the Police Dog inspired ‘great escape’ of a year earlier.

Scunthorpe United H W 2-1         Dave Caldwell, Paul Dobson

Scunthorpe United A D 1-1          Mark Loram

Swansea City L 1-2            Jim McNichol   

Swansea City H D 3-3      Jim McNichol 2, Dave Caldwell

1990-91

Three years later in the 1990-91 season, United reached the Play-offs again - after flirting with automatic promotion under Dave Smith before he was replaced by youth team coach John Impey. Impey had been a player in Knowles’ 1987-88 Play-off side and the Gulls secured a Play-off place on the final day with a 2-1 win over York City, which set up a semi-final with Burnley.

Goals from Dean Edwards and Matt Elliott gave Torquay a win over the Clarets at Plainmoor in the first leg, which proved to be enough to seal a return to Wembley for the Gulls – despite Burnley winning the return leg 1-0 at Turf Moor.

United's win also ended any hopes of an all-Lancashire final, as the Gulls’ opponents at Wembley would be Blackpool. Before the match, a minute’s silence was held in the memory of former Tangerines’ striker Stan Mortensen, who famously scored a hat-trick in the ‘Matthews final’ against Bolton Wanderers in 1953, who had recently passed away.

Blackpool soon had their noses in front through Paul Groves – but the Gulls struck back to equalise as Wes Saunders headed home a cross from Mark Loram. Shortly afterwards edged ahead when Dean Edwards converted from the penalty spot. An own goal in the second half from Chris Curran levelled matters on the night, and that was how it finished after 90 minutes, and even after 30 minutes extra time as the final head to penalties.

Mark Loram stepped up to take United’s first spot-kick, which was saved by Blackpool keeper Steve McIlhargey. His opposite number Tony Rodwell then stepped up for the Tangerines, but his effort was saved by United keeper Gareth Howells. Mickey Holmes, Saunders, Paul Holmes and Chris Myers then successfully converted their respective penalties for United as the scores remained level after five spot-kicks – as the final went into sudden death.

Then came a moment of history as Howells took United’s sixth spot-kick, which he fired home to become the first goalkeeper both score and save a penalty at Wembley to put Torquay back in front. It was then down to Blackpool’s leading scorer David Bamber to keep them in it. However, Bamber fluffed his lines and missed the target – thus meaning United were returning to the ‘old’ Third Division for the first time in 19 years.

Nevertheless, the Gulls’ stay in the Third tier proved to be a brief one as they came straight back down again, and they then a second straight relegation under the caretaker manager spell of Neil Warnock in the 1992-93 season.

Burnley H W 2-0               Dean Edwards, Matt Elliott

Burnley A L 0-1

Blackpool N D 2-2 (W 5-4 on penalties)   Wes Saunders, Dean Edwards (pen)

1993-94

In the following campaign – the 1993-94 season – under Don O’Riordan, Warnock’s successor, the Gulls made the Play-offs again after finishing sixth in the ‘new’ Third Division – following the formation of the Premier League in the 1992-93 campaign. This time they would be facing also Lancastrian opponent in the form of Preston North End.

Goals from Duane Darby and Darren Moore gave United a 2-0 lead heading into the return leg at Deepdale, which would also the last game played on Preston’s artificial surface.

Although Preston took an early lead, Gregory Goodridge’s kept United firmly in the driving seat before the game turned ten minutes before half-time when some theatrics from Paul Raynor got Darren Moore sent off – Raynor acted as though he had been struck by Moore, but the replays show that Moore hadn’t made contact with Raynor. The tie then ended up finishing 3-1, forcing the game into extra time. However, just as when it looked as though United had done enough to hold out for a win on away goals, Raynor popped up with the winner – sending Preston through to the final, which they would lose to a Wycombe Wanderers’ side managed by Martin O’Neill.

Preston NE H W 2-0        Duane Darby, Darren Moore

Preston NE A L 1-4 AET   Gregory Goodridge

FINAL DAY DECIDERS FOR TORQUAY UNITED IN THE SOUTH EAST

 For Torquay United fans, all road and rail links will be heading to Tonbridge, as the Gulls head into the final day of the 2024-25 National League South campaign knowing that a win will seal a place in the National League South play-offs. 

United are currently fifth in the National League South table and could finish as high as second, if results elsewhere go in the favour. 

However, it isn't the first time that the Gulls have faced a final day decider in the South East of England, and there's a look at the selection of them. 

1. Crystal Palace 1 Torquay United 1, 1st May 1957 - Division Three South

United went into the final day of the 1956-57 season needing a win over Crystal Palace to secure the Division Three South title at the expense of a Ipswich Town side managed by Alf Ramsey. 

After being goalless at half-time, Barry Pierce gave Palace the lead before John 'Jimmy' James equalised for United. James was then denied a late winner by an off the line clearance by future Torquay manager Jack Edwards, as they were forced to settle for second place, as Ipswich beat Southampton 2-0. 

2. Leyton Orient 2    Torquay United 1, 2nd May 1998 - Division Three

A club record run of eight wins between January and March 1998 lifted the Gulls into the automatic promotion contention, but a loss of form saw them stutter before they won 3-1 against Peterborough United in their final home game of the campaign. 

They needed a point in the final game of the season at Leyton Orient and they got off to a bad start as Craig Maskell gave Orient the lead after four minutes. The hosts then doubled their lead from the penalty spot through former Aston Villa and Leicester City manager Dean Smith. 

United fought back, despite seeing goalkeeper Kenny Veysey sent off, as Andy McFarlane pulled one back, but they couldn't find an equaliser, so Lincoln City clinched the third automatic promotion. The Gulls ended up finishing fifth and faced Scarborough, who they beat 7-2 on aggregate before losing 1-0 to Colchester United in the final at Wembley. 

3. Barnet 2    Torquay United 3, 5th May 2001 - Division Three

It was billed as 'loser loses all' contest as Torquay United headed to Underhill to face Barnet with relegation from the Football League awaiting the loser. 

The Gulls started the game attacking down the slope at Underhill and took the lead on ten minutes with a 25 yard strike from Jason Rees. In the 25th minute, Kevin Hill connected with a Paul Holmes corner to head home his tenth goal of the season to give United a two-goal cushion. 

On 40 minutes, the Bees were awarded a penalty when Jimmy Aggrey was adjudged to have handled the ball. Darren Currie stepped to take it, but Gulls' keeper Stuart Jones guessed its direction correctly and saved it - it was his third spot-kick save of the campaign. 

Once Jones had saved the penalty, United got the ball forward to David Graham who slotted home the Gulls' third after being teed up by strike partner Eifion Williams. 

In the second half, an own goal from Ryan Green and a second from Wayne Purser reduced Barnet's arrears, but United dug deep to hang onto their lead and thus retained their Football League status. 

4. Southend United 1    Torquay United 2, 8th May 2004 - Division Three

In their second season under Leroy Rosenior, the Gulls headed to Southend United's Roots Hall on 78 points needing a win to stand a chance of claiming the division's third and final automatic promotion spot ahead of Huddersfield Town, who were on 80 points and were travelling to Cheltenham Town. Victory for the Gulls and a draw for the Terriers would see United promoted at their expense on goal difference.

United got off to a flying start as Steve Woods volleyed home a corner from Alex Russell in the third minute. Eight minutes later, David Graham nodded home a Jo Kuffour cross to score his 23rd goal of the season to double the Gulls' lead. 

Lawrie Dudfield pulled one back for the Shrimpers in the 17th minute and news was also coming through from Cheltenham's Whaddon Road home that Huddersfield were winning 1-0. 

The Gulls managed to maintain their 2-1 lead and with 15 minutes to go, the Robins equalised through Shane Duff, which was how it stayed as United won automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years on goal difference. 

5. Colchester United 2        Torquay United 1, 7th May 2005, League One

Nearly a year to the day since their promotion success, the Gulls headed to Essex in very different circumstances as they needed a point to retain their League One status that they had won 12 months earlier. 

A run of four straight wins over MK Dons, Port Vale, Oldham Athletic and Blackpool had given United a chance of beating the drop, potentially at the expense of either MK Dons or Oldham (United were on 51 points, the Dons on 48 and Oldham on 49). 

The Gulls fell a goal down just before the break as Neil Danns gave the U's the lead and a minute before the end of normal time, Marino Keith doubled Colchester's advantage. 

Left back Craig Woodman pulled one back for Torquay in injury time, but it proved to be in vain as MK Dons beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 and Oldham beat Bradford City 1-0, which saw the Gulls relegated on goal difference.

 6. Hemel Hempstead Town 1    Torquay United 4, 26th April 2025 - National League South

Despite winning hitting four goals past Hemel Hempstead Town, Torquay United will be destined for the National League South play-offs.

Truro’s win over St Albans City put paid to Torquay’s title aspirations, due to their superior goal difference, but Cody Cooke’s hat-trick, following on from Jordan Young’s opener, secured runners-up spot for Paul Wotton’s side, behind Truro City on goal difference, with Hemel’s solitary response coming from Mazeed Ogungbo.        

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

 1. A warning against complacency. 

It is often said that you learn more from a defeat than you do from a victory, which is something that will undoubtably ring true for United manager Jimmy Ball after United's defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town. 

Throughout the match, United looked second best as Hemel saw out the game after Mauro Vilhete's 52nd minute restored their lead after Deon Moore's equaliser on 35 minutes had cancelled out Remaye Campbell's ninth minute opener. 

The likelihood of the Gulls and the Tudors meeting each other again in the play-offs is not beyond the realms of possibility. Therefore United's defeat to Hemel should serve as a warning of what might lie in wait for them in the end of the season showdown. 

By beating the Gulls, the Tudors also became the first team to complete the 'double' over them. 

2. Deon Moore on target. 

United manager Jimmy Ball said he believed that the floodgates would open for striker Deon Moore after he scored his first goals for the Gulls in their 5-1 win away to Slough Town. 

Moore then took his tally to three goals in two games as he raced onto a ball over the top from Callum Dolan before coolly slotting home to score United's equaliser in the 35th minute. 

3. A final day decider coming up. 

Once again in their history, Torquay United will be facing a final-day decider to resolve the outcome of their season. 

The Gulls will make the journey to Kent to Tonbridge Angels needing a win to secure a play-off spot, but results elsewhere will decide where they finish in the top seven. The higher up the table United finish, the better chance they will have of ensuring that they have home advantage in the play-off eliminators, the semi-finals, and possibly even the final itself. 

4. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton wins player of the year. 

Attacking midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton became the latest player to receive United's player of the season award, as he won the award for 2025-26. 

Lo-Everton entered the fray against Hemel Hempstead as a second half substitute and he combined with fellow sub Matt Jay in the 79th minute, which Jay scuffed wide. 

He will surely be pushing for a starting berth against Tonbridge Angels on the final day. 

5. A bumper crowd. 

United's crowd of 4,604 was not only comfortably the highest attendance in National League South, it was also larger than every crowd in the National League - bar the 8,219 who witnessed York City's 3-0 win over Yeovil Town. 

Plainmoor could yet witness a bigger crowd should United play at home in the play-offs. 

PILGRIMS AND GRECIANS CAN STILL ACHIEVE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVES

 In the end, it wasn't the result that either side would necessarily have hoped for at the start of the day. However, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City will still feel that they can achieve their ultimate objectives at the end of the season. 

After a goalless first half, Reece Cole gave the Grecians the lead on 47 minutes before the Pilgrims hit back to equalise with 11 minutes to go through leading Lorent Tolaj. It was then the turn of City's leading Jayden Wareham to restore their lead with a deflected strike in the 84th minute. 

Nevertheless, the drama didn't end there as Malachi Boateng scrambled home a late equaliser in injury time for Argyle to ensure that the spoils were shared. 

The result leaves Argyle four points adrift of the play-offs on 63 points, but three wins from their last four games could be enough to see them sneak into the top six. Their final two league fixtures of 2025-26 are against already relegated Northampton Town and Port Vale. 

Meanwhile, the Grecians are three points away from safety and could do the Pilgrims a favour if they manage to beat Stockport County, one of the sides currently occupying one of the places in the top six, next Saturday. 

Next up is a trip to Burton Albion, who are four points above them, before they host Bradford City, who will surely have a play-off spot wrapped up, on the final day.