Friday 6 May 2011

GULLS HEAD NORTH IN PLAY OFF BID

Torquay United head into tomorrow's League Two fixture with Rotherham United needing a win to secure a place in the end of season Play-Offs.

A victory for the Gulls at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield would guarantee their involvement in the Play-Offs at the expense of either Stevenage or Gillingham.

Paul Buckle's Gulls go into the meeting with the Millers high on confidence. They are currently unbeaten in their last six games, which have included four straight draws, and have only lost once in their last 12 matches.

It will also be their 53rd match of the season, but that shouldn't be an issue at all for Buckle's men as a heavy workload is something the Gulls have been used to from the two-year exile in the Blue Square Premier.

Torquay's debut season in the division, the 2007-08 campaign, saw the Gulls play 57 matches in the Conference, FA Trophy, FA Cup and Setanta Shield.

The following season, the 2008-09 campaign, Torquay played 58 games in the same competitions as they clinched their return to the Football League with a glorious 2-0 win over Cambridge United at Wembley, courtesy of goals from Chris Hargreaves and Tim Sills.

With those memories fresh in the mind of Buckle and the players currently at Plainmoor who were involved on those occasions, there is every chance that this scenario can be replicated in League Two in 2011, this time any final appearance will be at Old Trafford, due to the UEFA Champions League Final being staged at Wembley.

Should they go on to win promotion from League Two, the Gulls will have two further trips to Sheffield to look forward to as both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday will be playing in League One next season.