Three more wins for Torquay United and automatic promotion might still happen

Never say never, especially in the crazy National League South, but in-form Torquay United may have to finish with six successive wins to have a chance of snatching the title and automatic promotion.

In their current run the Gulls (3rd) have already beaten Horsham and then Weston-super-Mare 3-0 and Bath City 4-1 over Easter to lift themselves to within four points of leaders Worthing and Dorking Wanderers.

There are now only three games to go for most of the promotion contenders.

In their present mood Jimmy Ball’s United are perfectly capable of beating Slough away this Saturday, Hemel Hempstead Town at Plainmoor seven days later and then winning away to Tonbridge Angels on the last day (Apr 25).

If they can do it, it would give them 83 points and a goal-difference that only Worthing may better.

Worthing and Dorking are already on 78pts, so of course the championship is out of Torquay’s hands.

But – and it’s a big BUT – the whole promotion battle (Play-Offs top-7) is ridiculously tight.

It’s almost on a par with last year, when six clubs could have won the title going into the last day.

Twelve months on, only ten points cover the leaders down to Weston-super-Mare and Chelmsford City (10/11th), who both have a game in hand.

And the remaining fixtures of all United’s rivals give them hope.

For instance, Worthing still have to go to Maidstone, ninth but well in contention, and host Ebbsfleet (4th).

Dorking have to travel to Weston-super-Mare on the last day.

Ebbsfleet still have Hornchurch (5th) and Worthing on their list, while Hornchurch have Ebbsfleet, Chelmsford and Maidenhead (6th) to come. And so on...

Because games are running out so fast, we’ll know a lot more about the possible permutations after this coming weekend.

The key fixtures are: Worthing v Dagenham, AFC Totton v Dorking, Slough v Torquay, Hornchurch v Ebbsfleet, Chelmsford v Maidenhead, Hemel Hempstead v Eastbourne, Bath v Chesham, Horsham v Maidstone and Weston-super-Mare v Enfield.

Footnote: United’s 4,430 gate against Bath took their total league attendances in 2025-2026 to 74,606 and pushed the average up to 3,391.

It may end up nearer the 3,500 mark after Hemel come to Plainmoor on Saturday week.