TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CHESHAM UNITED

 1. Gulls not out of it yet by any means. 

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton has stated previously that he thinks that the 2024-25 National League South title race will be decided on the final day of the campaign, and that could still be the case. 

Although the Gulls' defeat against Chesham United sees them fall to fifth place in the league table, the gap between United and the league's summit remains at three points. However, a greater emphasis is now placed on the Gulls' Good Friday visit to current leaders Truro City, which will be one of four cup finals that United now face.

2. Chesham United.

Chesham didn't endear themselves to the Plainmoor faithful as they set up to stifle the Gulls with their 5-2-3 formation. Interestingly, the Generals left their top two scorers Nathan Minhas (12) and Joe Grant (8) on the bench. 

One of the gripes that the home fans had with Chesham was their time wasting, as evidenced by referee Alex Beckett's booking of Generals' keeper Ben Goode in the 90th minute. Had he booked him earlier in the game, he would have had more control of the proceedings. 

3. The goal. 

There was some debate as to who scored United's goal. Jordan Young's corner caused havoc in the penalty area and Jordan Dyer headed the ball against the bar and bounced on the line. It appeared that Cody Cooke may have got a final touch and the goal was initially given to Cooke, but replays have since shown that Dyer scored his fourth of the campaign.

4. Finley Craske. 

In recent weeks, United right-back Finley Craske has emerged as one of the Gulls' most consistent performers. Whereas as many modern full-backs are strong in an attacking sense in their younger days, Craske is stronger defensively and has improved offensively over the course of the season - in a similar vein to Gary Neville. 

5. Strength in depth. 

One of the positives from yesterday was that Paul Wotton was able to leave out the likes of Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson as well as loan signings goalkeeper Owen Foster and midfielder Cameron Ashia - signed from Hull City and Huddersfield Town respectively. Arguably Wotton now has greater choice and greater strength in depth than at any point during the course of the season, and he has the option to change things where he feels necessary. 

6. Looking ahead. 

Next week's round of National League South fixtures sees Bath City host United's fellow promotion challengers Dorking Wanderers. One of the most intriguing aspects of that game will see United loanee Brad Ash feature for the Romans, as well as former Gull Ollie Tomlinson. Could the duo still have a part to play in United's promotion run-in?

 

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH TITLE RACE REMAINS AS INTRIGUING AS EVER

 As the 2024-25 National League South title race enters its final furlong, the identity of the eventual winner may not be revealed until the final day. 

With five games to go, Torquay United manager Paul Wotton is predicting that the season could go down to the last five minutes of the final game. Nevertheless, Wotton has never mentioned the 'p' word, or the 'c' word over the course of the campaign. I'll let you make your own mind up what those two words are, but I'll give you a hint that it's a policy that Wotton's former boss Paul Sturrock followed during the 2001-02 season during his first spell as Plymouth Argyle manager, which, incidentally, ended very successfully for the Pilgrims. 

Wotton has always made it clear that he never looks further ahead than the next game, and a policy of only controlling what he has control over is probably a sensible one at this moment in time. Nevertheless, with a trip to Hemel Hempstead Town on the final day of the season for United, Wotton's prediction of the campaign being decided in its last five minutes would be keeping with the Gulls' history, which includes several 'final-day deciders' in the South East of England. 

The only one of the Gulls' fellow promotion contenders that they still to have face are Truro City, who they travel to on Good Friday; the same day that league leaders Worthing travel to Eastbourne Borough. The league had been seen as Worthing's to lose, and - in addition to Eastbourne - they still have to face Truro City (away) and Dorking Wanderers (home). They also have the lowest goal difference of the top eight, which could yet prove to be an achilles heel for them. 

Eastbourne and Truro are managed by Adam Murray and John Askey, who both have experience of winning promotions from National League North, Murray with AFC Fylde (2022-23) and Askey with York City (2021-22), and should they achieve another one with the South, it would represent an historic feat. For Askey, it would represent a treble for him, as he also has a promotion from the National League with Macclesfield Town (2017-18) to his name.

As far as the race for the play-offs goes, Weston Super Mare are very much a team to keep an eye on, even though they currently sit outside the top seven. If they can maintain the form that has seen them win five out of their last nine, they look set to be part of the shake-up.  

For all of those interested, be it a vested one or a casual one, the best advice I can give is to 'strap yourself in and enjoy the ride!'