Victory for Torquay United will set up nerve-shredding final day against Wrexham

If, only a month ago, you'd offered Torquay United fans the chance to take the club's National League relegation battle to the last day of the season, they'd have snatched your hand off to a man.

Remarkably, and despite that 5-1 thumping at Chesterfield on Tuesday night, Gary Johnson's Gulls have the chance to do just that at 3pm tomorrow (Saturday, April 22), although only a win at Altrincham will guarantee it.

No matter what happens at York City (v Aldershot Town) and Maidenhead United (v Barnet), victory for United at Moss Lane will set up another of those nerve-shredding last days against Wrexham at Plainmoor.

After 1987, 1993, 2001, 2006, 2016 et al, we should almost be steeled against them by now.  But we're not, are we?

Ahead of already relegated Maidstone, Scunthorpe and Yeovil - who'd ever have predicted that the Iron and the Glovers would be going down? - the table reads (44games): Torquay 46pts (-22), Maidenhead 49 (-15), York 49 (-8), Aldershot 51 (-12).

In the wake of the Chesterfield rout, which ended his side's run of five successive wins, Johnson took the squad north on Thursday, a day earlier than usual.

It didn't work when Paul Buckle, trying to lift his players after the 2008 Play-Off defeat to Exeter City, did something similar before their FA Trophy Final against Ebbsfleet the next week.  Torquay lost tamely at Wembley 1-0.

But that felt like a fag-end occasion.  This is very far from that, and you can be sure that Johnson and assistant Aaron Downes will have considered all rights and wrongs before asking chief executive George Edwards to stump up for an extra night away.

Certainly, no moveable stone is being left unturned.

At their best, especially cutting out some of the hesitant defending which suddenly resurfaced against York (3-2) last Saturday and at Chesterfield, United are well capable of beating Altrincham.  How they do it is almost irrelevant.

Of course, the Yellow Army will have everything crossed that York and/or Maidenhead slip up - the Minstermen go to Notts County on the last day and the Magpies to Gateshead - but none of that will matter if United don't do the business at Moss Lane.

And you can bet that much of those two days away will be spent trying to get midfield 'soldiers' Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie over the injuries which knocked them out of the Chesterfield game.

Oh, and 'good luck' to Wrexham (home to Boreham Wood), as they try to clinch the title and automatic promotion before they come to Plainmoor next weekend!

With their safety assured, Altrincham have faded a little of late.  No wins in six games included losing to FC Halifax Town in the FA Trophy semi-finals on penalties.

United will be hoping they regain some form after this Saturday - their last match is away to Aldershot.

During the course of the season, they've lost three of their best attacking players - Chris Conn-Clarke (Waterford), Marcus Dinanga (Gateshead) - they both scored in the 4-4 draw at Plainmoor in October - and Ryan Colclough (Chesterfield).

Jordan Hulme is now the top scorer with eight goals, although three of them have come in the Trophy, and Phil Parkinson's side, full-time for the first time this season, remain a hard-working proposition, especially at home.

The referee on Saturday is Ed Duckworth from Preston.

The Pro:Direct Academy at South Devon College are through to the final of the English Colleges Men's Premier Cup for a second successive year after a penalty shoot-out win over TNS North Shropshire College.

Goalkeeper Lloyd Marshall saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out after an exciting 1-1 draw at the SDC's 3G centre.

Many of SDC's players also play for United under-18s, and they'd had to pick themselves up from a disappointing 4-1 home defeat by Bridgwater United in the SW Counties Youth League last Saturday.

But they did it to clinch a place in the final against North Wales' Coleg Cambria, whom they beat on their way to winning the competition last year.

The ECFA finals will be held at Accrington Stanley FC on May 2-4.