Once again Torquay United find themselves facing a final day decider to ensure that they remain in the Football League.
In 1987, 2001 & 2006, the Gulls gained a positive result to retain their league status and now interim manager Alan Knill is faced with the same task in 2013 and a point from their meeting with Bristol Rovers will be enough.
Their first final day escape in 1987 was sealed with a 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra, which will however be remembered as the game when defender Jim McNichol was bitten by Bryn the Police Dog.
This ensured that additional time was added on which allowed the Gulls to equalise through Paul Dobson, thus successfully avoiding the trap door to the Conference as it was Lincoln City and not Torquay who became the first team to be automatically relegated from the Football League.
Fast forward 14 years later and a last day 3-2 victory over Barnet at Underhill seals the Gulls' league in a 'do or die' relegation match, which sees the Bees relegated at Torquay's expense.
Goals from Jason Rees and Kevin Hill gave the Gulls a two-goal cushion before Stuart Jones saved a Darren Currie penalty, which awarded after Jimmy Aggrey was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area by referee Richard Beeby.
David Graham then extended Torquay's lead to three going into the half-time interval before an own goal from Ryan Green and a Wayne Purser effort in the second half from Barnet ensured a tense finish to the game as the Gulls held on to secure the win and their Football League status.
Five years later, a point from their final game at home to Boston United proved to be the climax of their 'great escape' under Ian Atkins following consecutive wins over Macclesfield Town, Wrexham, Stockport County and League Two champions-elect Carlisle United.
Back in the present, consecutive wins over Barnet and Morecambe have eased the fear of relegation at Plainmoor and a minimum of a draw with the Pirates will ensure that the Gulls finish the job.
However, Torquay will be without the services of leading scorer Rene Howe who received his 15th yellow card of the season last Saturday at the Globe Arena against Morecambe.
