Torquay United one win away from safety

Torquay United are almost certainly just one win away from guaranteeing their place in the National League South for next season.

And, best of all, they have actually found a bit of decent form when it really matters.

Goals from Arkell Jude-Boyd and Brad Ash gave United a 2-1 victory away to Truro City on Monday and the Gulls also deserved a lot more from the 1-0 weekend defeat at Welling on the weekend, playing most of the game with ten men after an irresponsible red card for Ross Marshall.

United enter the final three games with a five-point cushion above the relegation zone and, after the trip to play-off hunting Bath City on Saturday, it is Taunton away on Tuesday and Havant & Waterlooville at home on the final day.

Those last two opponents currently sit in the bottom four, win one of those games and it should be job done, but interim boss Aaron Downes is still understandably cautious, despite his delight at the win over Truro, United first away victory in 2024.  

“I am really proud of the players,” he said. “We were superb in the first half and were good value for the 2-0 lead at half-time. We dominated territory and possession.

“Our work-rate was superb and I’m really proud of them to back that up after playing with ten men for so long on Saturday. The whole team put in a really good performance.

“I’m gutted we didn’t keep a clean sheet but it’s all about results at this stage of the season. The three points are massive and we finally get to send our fans home happy from an away game.

“They have been phenomenal all season and we’ve not given enough back to them. They were really loud, really proud and we’ve got three really important points. We’ve accounted ourselves very well as a football club and we need to make sure this happens more often.

“We will be ready to go again on Saturday and if we find the same performance, I’ve got no doubt we can get another result at Bath City.”