It is often that the end of season play-offs are a lottery, but there is one magic word beginning with 'M' that can help clubs negotiate them - momentum.
Very often, history has shown us that the hangover of missing out on automatic promotion can end up being carried over into the end of season showdown by some clubs. It has also shown that other teams who make a late charge to reach them can end up claiming the bounty on offer and go on to win promotion.
This has proved to be the case when Torquay United have enjoyed successful play-off campaigns in the past.
In the 1990-91 season, John Impey took over a side that had dropped into mid-table, after previously leading the Fourth Division table under Dave Smith. The Gulls then went on a six-match unbeaten run, which included a 5-0 win over Aldershot.
A 2-1 final day win against York City sealed United's place in the play-offs, where they would face Burnley over two legs. Goals from Dean Edwards and Matt Elliott secured a 2-1 win over the Clarets at Plainmoor lost the return leg at Turf Moor 1-0 courtesy of a Stewart Evans own goal to set a final with Blackpool at Wembley.
The Tangerines, in their first appearance at Wembley since the 1953 'Matthews' FA Cup final against Bolton Wanderers, took the lead through Paul Groves before Wes Saunders headed home a cross from Mark Loram to equalise. A penalty from Edwards gave the Gulls the lead from the penalty spot, which was later cancelled out by an unfortunate own goal by Chris Curran - ending the game into extra time.
After extra time, the game headed to penalties, which both sides missing their first spot-kicks (Loram for the Gulls and Tony Rodwell for the Tangerines). Each team then converted all four of their next penalties (Micky Holmes, Paul Holmes, Saunders and Chris Myers for the Gulls) - sending the shoot-out to sudden death.
United goalkeeper Gareth Howells then seized the initiative and stepped up to become the first keeper to save and score a penalty at Wembley (he had saved Rodwell's earlier effort for Blackpool). The Tangerines' veteran striker David Bamber then fluffed his lines with Blackpool's next spot-kick, which mean that the Gulls became the first side to win a play-off final on penalties at Wembley.
Eighteen years later, and in a different division, Paul Buckle was looking to mastermind a return to the Football League for the Gulls at the second time of asking in the 2008-09 campaign
United had missed out in the play-offs in 2007-08 in the semi-finals to local rivals Exeter City after spending most of the season battling it out for the title with Aldershot Town.
Whereas the Gulls had lost three of their last four going into the play-offs in 2007-08, which also included three defeats, they were unbeaten in their last four - including a final 2-1 win at Plainmoor against eventual champions Burton Albion - going into the 2008-09 play-offs where Cambridgeshire part-time outfit Histon lay in wait.
Just as in 1990-91, United won their first leg at Plainmoor 2-0, with goals from Tim Sill and Nicky Wroe. Also in keeping with their 1990-91 display, they lost the second leg 1-0 to go through to the final 2-1 on aggregate where Cambridge United awaiting them.
Cambridge themselves had missed out on the title on the final to Burton, and it was the Gulls who took the lead in the first half as captain Chris Hargreaves struck. The U's were later reduced to ten men when Paul Bolland was sent off, and it was then left to Sills to famously head home Wayne Carlisle's to put the icing on the cake for United - as they returned to the Football League.
Parallels can be drawn in 2025-26 with the Gulls' 2008-09 campaign, as they were also looking to win promotion a year on from missing out in the play-offs just as United are now under Jimmy Ball. There is also similarity with the change in manager, with Ball replacing Paul Wotton just as Impey replaced Smith in 1991.
With six games to go, the message that yours truly would have for the Plainmoor faithful - fasten your seal belts because it's going to be quite a ride!
