The scenarios facing Torquay United this weekend

We have reached the climax to an incredible National League South season and the potential outcomes are extraordinary.

After nine hard months of competitive football and 45 league fixtures, six clubs still have a chance of taking the one automatic promotion slot, and Torquay United are bang in the mix.

How Promotion is Decided

The first barometer, obviously, is total points, so the team with the most points will be promoted. Things get a little more complicated if two or more teams are level on points at the end of play on Saturday.

The next deciding factor is goal difference. If teams still can’t be separated, it comes down to who has scored the most goals, but if we still don’t have a clear winner, it will be the team who has won the most games in the league season followed by head-to-head clashes between the relevant clubs (Torquay United have beaten Truro twice in the league).

In the unthinkable scenario that none of the above can sort a clear winner, a winner-takes-all decider will be played at a neutral ground.

Current Standings

Final Day Fixtures Aveley v Bath City Chippenham Town v Hornchurch Dorking Wanderers v Chesham United Eastbourne Borough v Weston-super-Mare Enfield v Worthing Farnborough v Maidstone United Hemel Hempstead Town v Torquay United Slough Town v Hampton & Richmond Tonbridge Angels v Boreham Wood Truro v St Albans Welling United v Salisbury Weymouth v Chelmsford

What Can Happen

Level on points with Truro City but two goals behind on the metric of goal difference and having scored a goal less over the course of the season, Torquay United know that they almost certainly must win at Hemel Hempstead to have a chance of going up.

A draw might work, but only if Truro lose and both Eastbourne and Worthing fail to win.

Truro are at home to St Albans and remember St Albans desperately need something from the game, as they currently sit in the final relegation slot, behind Salisbury on goal difference, so survival is potentially in their hands.

But, if Truro win, the Gulls must also win, and by two goals more that the Cornishmen. For example, a 1-0 victory for Truro and a 3-0 win for United would leave the two clubs level on points and level on goal difference, but the Gulls would go up by virtue of scoring one more goal over the course of the season.

In the event that both Truro and Torquay both fail to win, the door opens for Eastbourne and Worthing, who are only a point behind. And, if Truro and Torquay both lose, Eastbourne and Worthing fail to win, victories for either Boreham Wood (5th) and Dorking (6th) could see them take top spot with a victory, as both of these clubs have the best goal difference of the top six.

Good luck to TUFC, and to the internet connections at grounds across the division!

Play-Off Dates
Eliminator A (5th v 6th) – Tuesday, April 29
Eliminator B – (4th v 7th) – Wednesday, April 30
Semi-Final (2nd v Eliminator A Winner) – Saturday, May 3
Semi-Final (3rd v Eliminator B Winner) – Sunday, May 4
Promotion Final – Sunday, May 18