A round-up of the weekend action from the play-offs that will affect the Shrimpers next season, and what's coming up this week.
O'Kane and Davis: Battling at Plainmoor
Torquay beat Shrewsbury 2-0 in the League Two play-off semi-final first leg at Plainmoor on Saturday night.
First-half goals from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O'Kane put the Gulls in charge ahead of the second leg at the Greenhous Meadow next Friday night.
Striker Zebroski opened the scoring with a neat finish in the 29th minute after good work from Gavin Tomlin, and O'Kane added a second on the stroke of half-time.
The midfielder hit a low shot from 20 yards and, despite his effort lacking power, the ball flew into the corner past Shrewsbury goalkeeper Benjamin Smith.
Paul Buckle's men will feel they have taken a significant step towards reaching the final at Old Trafford after an impressive, fully-deserved victory.
Shrewsbury were second-best throughout and face a big task to try and turn round the tie in the second leg on Friday.
Graham Turner's side created precious few genuine goalscoring opportunities but they threatened first when James Collins hit a 20-yard shot which Torquay stopper Scott Bevan held comfortably.
Yet the Gulls always looked more dangerous in attack and almost led in the seventh minute when Tomlin crossed for Billy Kee, who headed wide from just six yards out.
Zebroski was then afforded the time and space to hit a long-range piledriver from 30 yards which flashed just past Smith's left-hand post in the 15th minute.
Shrewsbury forward Matt Harrold then fired wide from 25 yards before the hosts were dealt a blow in the 25th minute.
Defender Ian Sharps succumbed to injury and was replaced by Niall Canavan.
James Collins then drove wide from 12 yards before the opening goal arrived in the 29th minute when Tomlin did superbly well to create space down the right flank.
He turned his marker and played a low cross into the feet of Zebroski, who took one touch to control the ball and another to rifle home a low shot from eight yards out.
Torquay almost claimed a second moments later as Jake Robinson's 20-yard strike was parried by Smith and, with the hosts in the ascendancy, they scored again in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half.
Jake Robinson, who is on loan at Plainmoor from Shrewsbury but is eligible to play against them in the play-offs, embarked on a strong run down the left flank.
He laid the ball back to O'Kane, who hit a low right-footed shot from 20 yards which Smith perhaps should have saved.
Kevin Nicholson almost added a third for the Gulls in the 59th minute but Smith made a smart stop and then also denied Tomlin to keep the score down ahead of the second leg at Shrewsbury this week.
Beeb highlights:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9486882.stm
Boro & Stanley: Handbags at ten paces
Stevenage beat Accrington 2-0 in their League Two play-off semi-final first leg at the Lamex Stadium.
Accrington came into the game on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run which stretched back to mid-March, but they never reached their best form and were comfortably dealt with by Graham Westley's disciplined side.
Stacy Long opened the scoring with a deflected effort from the edge of the box before Joel Byrom profited from poor defending to prod in the second.
Stevenage are now favourites to book a place at Old Trafford but John Coleman's side have only lost three times at home all season and could be a different proposition on their weathered Crown Ground pitch.
Westley's side beat Newcastle in the FA Cup earlier this season and could cap a remarkable first year in the Football League with promotion.
Stanley winger Jimmy Ryan has been linked with an improbable summer move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza in recent weeks and had the first effort but his stinging volley was well blocked by Ronnie Henry.
Long then had the first sighter for the hosts, cutting in from the left to send a curling effort just wide of Alex Cisak's far post.
Stevenage captain Mark Roberts hooked an effort over from a corner before the home side took the lead in the 24th minute.
Henry's throw-in was held up well by striker Craig Reid and laid back to the edge of the area for Long to drive in a shot which was deflected past the dive of Cisak.
Darius Charles came close to a spectacular second when his volley from fully 25 yards looped over Cisak but came back off the inside of the post.
Stevenage were well on top and doubled their lead just before the break through Byrom.
Henry crossed from the right, Charles won the knock-down and midfielder Byrom was brave to get to the bouncing ball before a hesitant Cisak and loop a shot into the vacant net.
Stanley knew they had to breach the best defence in the division to claw their way back into contention after the break but, despite the superb support of their travelling fans, they struggled to make an impression.
Ryan and Terry Gornell combined well to get in behind on a rare attack but Stevenage easily cleared while Long threatened at the other end with a long-range hit which was held by Cisak.
Stanley's Sean McConville was then played in on goal by an errant backpass from Scott Laird but the winger hesitated as he tried to round Chris Day in the Stevenage goal and Ryan eventually fluffed the chance into the side-netting.
It was a dreadful miss and the visitors were then lucky not to be reduced to 10 men after Luke Joyce cynically scythed down Long as Stevenage mounted a three on one counter-attack.
Joyce escaped with a booking as both sides struggled to create much in the closing stages and Stevenage closed out the win.
Beeb Highlights:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13417537.stm
(Thanks to www.teamtalk.com for the use of their reports.)
Remaining Fixtures
League Two Play-Offs
Leg Two
Friday, May 20th: Accrington Stanley v Stevenage, 19:45; Shrewsbury Town v Torquay United, 19:45.
The Final
Saturday, May 28th: Torquay United or Shrewsbury Town v Stevenage or Accrington Stanley (at Old Trafford, k-o 15.00.)
Blue Square Conference Play-Offs
Kaid Mohamed smashed a hat-trick as AFC Wimbledon cruised into the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final with a stunning 8-1 aggregate victory.
Fleetwood were on the back foot after losing the first leg 2-0 but Welshman Mohamed made it an uphill task, hitting home from 12 yards inside 27 seconds.
Top scorer Danny Kedwell struck a second before Mohamed scored again.
Gareth Seddon pulled one back, Mohammed completing his treble before late goals for Chris Jolley and James Mulley.
(For a full report go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/9475891.stm)
Luton Town secured their place in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final with a 5-1 aggregate win over Wrexham after their 2-1 victory on Tuesday night.
The Dragons started their second leg clash 3-0 down but were almost immediately back in the tie as Andy Mangan netted the first goal after just eight minutes via a neat finish from inside the box.
Adrian Cieslewicz set up the striker, who beat Mark Tyler in the Luton goal.
Wrexham then had a great chance to extend their lead after Dan Gleeson had handballed in the area but Tyler easily saved a weak penalty by Gareth Taylor.
The Hatters then made their opponents pay for their profligacy as they were soon back in the ascendancy; leveling the score with 29 minutes on the clock; Ed Asafu-Adjaye setting up Zdenek Kroca, who headed home with keeper Chris Maxwell caught off his line.
Both sides had chances to find a second with Wrexham battling hard to give themselves hope of overturning their first-leg deficit.
But it wasn't to be as Jason Walker smashed home into the top left corner of the goal.
The Final
Saturday, May 21st: AFC Wimbledon v Luton Town (at the City of Manchester Stadium, k-o 15.00.)
League One Play-Off Reports (has Clarkey done enough?):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/default.stm
Championship Play-Off Reports:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/default.stm
For our lads, we could be in Scotland the next time we play, but should the Trust hand over the dosh to confirm it, last day of voting:
http://www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp
Before voting here's the full article if you missed it first time round, beat the Echo by a day!:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edz3/
shrimpers_trust_asked_to_make_contribution_
to_preseason_scottish_tour_677456/index.shtml
A review of the League One relegated teams throughout the week.