TT BLOG

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Tom looks at the biggest games of the final day

THE FINAL DAY GAMES

6th: DORKING WANDERERS GD +33 PTS 83

V CHESHAM UNITED 14TH (H)

When Dorking owner/manager Marc White joined us on our inaugural It’s All Gone South Podcast back in the summer, he highlighted to us the importance of setting high/ambitious targets. A home play off at a minimum.

Dorking came into this campaign as the favourites for the title, having suffered relegation from the National League and subsequently, their only relegation in his clubs existence.

Despite a strong opening day win away at Truro City, injuries saw them struggle to find early form, including shock defeats to Weymouth & Aveley (as well as defeat at Plainmoor) in their first 10 games. A strong end to the year quickly brought Dorking back into the promotion fray and like many others, to the top of the National League South, albeit briefly.

Despite not losing many games in 2025, Dorking’s habit of conceding late goals from leading positions looks set to cost the Wanderers top spot and potentially a top 3 finish that Marc White is craving.

Dorking will be relying on most above them to lose to stand a chance and with Chesham having nothing to play for, Marc White will be looking at his side to do the business and do all they can to best set themselves for the play offs.

Never write off the Wanderers though. An away run in the play offs might benefit them more being away from their “quality” surface at Meadowbank.

5th: BOREHAM WOOD GD +36 PTS 83

V TONBRIDGE ANGELS 15TH (A)

The second relegated side from the National League last season, Boreham Wood enter the final day with the best goal difference of the title contenders but like Dorking are reliant on other teams above them to lose to stand a chance at the title.

Under returning manager Luke Garrard, Boreham Wood have maintained a strong push for the league’s top honours for most of the season. An 11 game unbeaten run in mid November, including a goalless draw in torrential rain against the Gulls was followed by 4 defeats in their next 5 games. The Wood look have ended the season strong, winning their last 4 games and scored a total of 14 goals.

However defeats to Truro, Weymouth and Maidstone have cost the Wood a better chance at the title and potentially a top 3 finish.

A trip to the Angels awaits the Wood on the final day who have nothing to play for. Ending the season with a 5th consecutive win will be a priority for Luke Garrard ahead of (most likely) the play offs.

4th: WORTHING GD +16 PTS 85

V ENFIELD 19TH (A)

It was all in Worthing’s hands going into the Easter Monday fixtures. The Rebels one point clear, needed a win over fellow promotion rivals Dorking Wanderers would have had them in pole position for this weekend’s fixtures. Thanks to a Covolan error, the Rebels could only muster a 1-1 draw which cost them top spot and saw the West Sussex outfit fall down the 4th place, such are the margins in this season’s NLS Title race.

Worthing have been rightfully praised for the way they play football and were many peoples dark horses for the title this season. Despite the departure of Adam Hinshelwood, new manager Chris Agutter has done incredible work to keep the positive momentum going on the south coast.

The Rebels went on a 12 game unbeaten run from the end of November before a shock 4-0 defeat to Slough in mid February.

Two draws against fellow title challengers in Eastbourne Borough and Dorking Wanderers over the Easter weekend look set to cost the Rebels the title and they face a tricky trip to Enfield, who only require a point to guarantee their NLS safety for another season on a surface less conducive to their playing style.

Worthing’s goal difference is considerably worse than the rest of the top 6 so will require nothing less than victory and hope that Truro, Torquay & Eastbourne all fail to win to stand a chance at promotion. Improbable but not impossible.

3rd: EASTBOURNE BOROUGH GD +24 PTS 85

V WESTON SUPER MARE 8TH

Eastbourne Borough are a team I feel not many people are talking about in this top 6 battle for the title. The East Sussex side are on the verge of an unbeaten home record for the season and find themselves best set to take advantage should us and Truro both fail to win.

3 points against Weston will guarantee Eastbourne finish top of the “home” table for the season and put them in good stead for a home semi-final should they fail to take top spot, but it’s the away form that will haunt the Sports, despite winning one on the road compared to the Gulls, they’ve lost 3 more than United on their travels, including away defeats to Torquay, Maidstone, Boreham Wood & Dorking.

Home comforts will play a key advantage for the East Sussex outfit and with Weston Super Mare requiring a miracle overturning a 16 goal deficit to Maidstone, means this game on paper at least have less peril with Weston’s season practically now finished.

Victory will secure a home play off at worst. A draw or defeat could bring others behind them into play and most likely an away play off eliminator round. Eastbourne will want to ensure they do their job on Saturday and wait and see what happens elsewhere in Cornwall & Hertfordshire.

Home advantage would be a big plus in the play offs.

2nd: TORQUAY UNITED GD +28 PTS 86

V HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN 9TH (A)

What a 12 months it’s been at TQ1. After surviving relegation at Taunton Town, the Gulls have undergone quite the transformation, finally outing the previous ownership who did this club wrong for so many years, being taken over by the Bryn Consortium, recruiting Paul Wotton and over 30 players later, find ourselves on the brink of something special.

It’s easy to say Torquay are the biggest club in the league and it should be no surprise to see the Gulls contending for the title, but the fact of the matter is we have come a long way in such a short spell of time, to be involved in a title battle on the last day of the season is testament to the hard work of everyone associated with TUFC to be in this position.

With the highest crowds not just in the league but in recent club history, Torquay fans will be travelling in their masses to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday, with the 2,000 allocation all hoping to witness promotion.

For the Gulls, the equation is simple, win and we guarantee 2nd place and a home play off semi-final (and possible final). If Truro don’t win and we do, the title is coming to Devon.

If Truro win, we have to win and outscore them by 3 goals. Simple. If Torquay don’t win and results all go against us, we could end the season in 6th and face away play off games. It doesn’t bear thinking about.

We can all be proud whatever the result on Saturday and we must treat it as just another game of football. If Truro concede early (or even score early), the lads will quickly know. They know what they need to do. That defeat to Chesham & wasted chances against Weymouth could be sickening in the scheme of things if GD decides the league.

Hemel Hempstead have nothing to play for and look set for a top half finish for the first time in years. Fingers crossed for us; they’re already thinking about their summer holidays!

1st: TRURO CITY GD +30 PTS 86

V ST ALBAN’S CITY 21ST (H)

All eyes lay firmly on Cornwall. The Tinner’s, now back playing in Cornwall have destiny firmly in their hands. With the goal difference better than the Gulls by 2, the Tinners know that a big victory will most likely see the Cornish side become league champions. The Gulls will need a 3 goal swing to overtake the Tinner’s should both sides win.

Whoever scores first will play a huge factor into proceedings on Saturday.

After surviving relegation last season and finding themselves in a farcical situation of having to play home games in Gloucester towards the end of last season on consecutive days, it’s been quite the turnaround and the local community have firmly gotten behind the football club now back playing in Truro.

The guidance of the experienced and highly regarded manager John Askey and the goalscoring prowess of Tyler Harvey has seem them rise to the top of the standings, in thanks mainly to a fantastic run of form from the start of February, tasting defeat just twice to Enfield and the Gulls, registering 11 wins in 17 matches.

A late Tyler Harvey penalty away to Weston Super Mare on Easter Monday cemented top spot going into the final round of fixtures.

St Albans travel to Cornwall knowing victory or a point could be enough to secure safety in the NLS.

St Albans record away against the top 6 shows very tight affairs with draws away to the Gulls & Worthing and narrow defeats to Dorking & Eastbourne, however have failed to record a win on their travels.

Clutching at straws a bit? Maybe, but St Albans will be looking to upset the promotion party and secure their safety in what has been a retched campaign for the Saints after years of pushing for play offs and play off final heartbreak just 2 years ago. Whoever scores first in this game could be key. Up the Saints!

If Truro or anyone else does win the title, then we must dust ourselves down, say well done and focus for the play offs. It is out of our hands on Saturday, just like at Southend away back in 2004. Saturday will be a celebration of all the good work that has gone on at Torquay United this season. 2,000 fans heading to Hertfordshire is quite simply unbelievable and whatever the result, our club is in good hands for generations to come.

Let’s enjoy the day and see what happens. All eyes are on the NLS this weekend. Embrace this title challenge, get the win and hope St Albans can do us the mother of all favours.

Enjoy it, but enjoy it by being disciplined.

We don’t do things easily.

Up the Gulls