Going ‘under the radar’ in the Gulls’ promotion push

Everyone got their slide-rules and crystal balls out? Of course we have – it’s what Torquay United fans do at this time of year!

Any Plainmoor diehard will tell you that the Gulls simply don’t ‘do’ mid-table.

And here we go, after yet another mind-boggling 12 months, into the last five games of what’s being billed as the tightest promotion race in English football (writes Dave Thomas).

You can see how things stand, and find those all-important remaining fixtures, in the TW.

Most of the attention, understandably, is on the top four or five clubs. But here are a couple of ‘under the radar’ factors that could have a huge influence on how things might go.

First, don’t rule out Weston-super-Mare.

The Seagulls, ambitious and well-funded, are out of the title race in eighth place, eleven points behind leaders Woking.

But they can definitely make the Play-Offs and, after a costly lean spell over Christmas and New Year, Scott Bartlett’s side is back in form – five wins and one defeat in nine games.

Crucially, they still have to play Maidstone United (6th) and Truro City (3rd) at home and Eastbourne Borough (5th) away on the last day of the season.

Second, keep an eye on St Albans City.

St Albans, you ask? Why, they’re in 21st place and deep in relegation trouble.

Yes, they may be down, but they’re far from out.

Under experienced manager Ian Culverhouse, Saints have also found a bit of form at the right time, and they can definitely still stay up.

St Albans have the support to make things uncomfortable for any visitors, and look at their remaining games.

Dorking (2nd) and Eastbourne go to Clarence Park over the next two weekends, then City have two local derbies against Enfield (A) and Hemel Hempstead (H) before a trip to Truro on the last day.

Not only will Culverhouse and his squad believe they can haul themselves out of trouble, but (fingers crossed!) they can also do plenty of collateral damage to several of Torquay’s rivals.

It may still be Worthing’s title to lose, although their surprisingly skinny goal-difference may come back to haunt them.

But their run-in, including Truro (H) and Eastbourne (A) and Dorking (H) over Easter, is intriguing, to put it mildly.

What of the Gulls?

Well, they may not have the attacking flair of the side that won this championship by ten points under Gary Johnson six years ago.

But Paul Wotton’s men, most of them so hastily assembled over a few brief weeks last summer, simply won’t go away.

United have lost fewer games than anyone else in the division, an underrated fact at this stage of hostilities, and they’re in form.

Although we should know by now to take nothing for granted in this craziest of divisions, all United’s rivals would also swap their run-ins for the Gulls’.

And, of course, there’s that amazing support to help them through the odd wobbly spell.

So Torquay fans, strap yourselves in and, er, don’t book any holidays in May just yet..!