Thursday 29 March 2012

GULLS AIMING TO EQUAL RECORD AT UNDERHILL

Torquay United head into Friday night's encounter against Barnet at Underhill seeking a victory, which would maintain their promotion challenge and equal a club record.

Three points against the Bees would increase the gap between themselves and fellow promotion chasers, Shrewsbury Town and Crawley, to four points until 5pm on Saturday at least.

It would also see them equal a club league record of 11 away wins in a season, which was set in Cyril Knowles's first campaign in charge in the 1987-88 season.

The Gulls reached the Division Four Play-Off final during that campaign, which they lost to Swansea City 5-4 over two legs.

However, in the present day, Martin Ling's side are currently second in the League Two table and have automatic promotion firmly in their sights.

Anyone who knows the history of the encounters between these two teams will no doubt be aware of the final day relegation decider that the two sides contested in the 2000-01 season.

Torquay came out on top that day winning 3-2, courtesy of goals from Jason Rees, Kevin Hill and David Graham, with a Stuart Jones penalty save thrown in as well. Similar heroics on Friday night will see the Gulls take a closer step towards the possibility of a fourth automatic promotion, and sixth promotion overall.