The npower League Two Play-Off Final
Saturday, May 28th: Stevenage v Torquay United at Old Trafford, k-o 15.00. (Live on Sky Sports One from 14.30 right before some other game.)
The Theatre of Dreams; for one club at least come Saturday around 17.00
We're fairly split here at S24 Towers on this one, as with most of the fourth tier Stevenage come over as a bunch of thugs who try and con the match officials just once too often, well they certainly did at Roots Hall, we can say that we won 1-0, and also with what we saw against Accrington in the semi-final, Torquay at least try and play football.
However, we quite like the weekend trip to Devon and the land of Basil Fawlty, not that that will bother the Gulls faithful, who even with final league positions in mind I would consider slight favourites, if there's a strong referee that is, oh bad luck lads, it's 'Deadly' Darren Deadman!
One thing the Shrimpers can look back on with pride after all the troubles still saw us finish safely in mid-table, we took four points off both Stevenage and Torquay!
Ashton: Injury concern for Boro
Anyway, here's the latest team news from the two camps.
Boro's player of the season is still struggling with the calf strain that forced him to miss the second leg of the semi-final triumph over Accrington, with Darren Murphy coming in at the Crown Ground as the only change from the first leg.
Ashton is one of just several players battling knocks although manager Graham Westley expects adrenaline to get them through.
Westley is keeping the identity of those players close to his chest although he is boosted by the return of midfielder John Mousinho after a three-match suspension.
Mousinho missed both legs of the semi-final but comes back into the fold at Old Trafford, although defender Luke Foster serves the final instalment of his four-match ban.
Graham Westley is predicting 'one hell of an encounter'
Stevenage are dreaming of a second promotion in 12 months after gaining a place in the Football League for the first time in their history last season.
Having arrived at the Crown Ground with a 2-0 first-leg advantage courtesy of goals from midfielders Stacy Long and Joel Byrom, Stevenage snatched a late winner through substitute Chris Beardsley.
Westley said: "Torquay are another fabulous side - they're well managed and they play good football. We only got one point out of the two games against them this year, just like we did against Accrington, so we know it's not going to be easy. They've had a fantastic win taking Shrewsbury out in the semi-finals and they're going to be buoyed by that. They've got some great professionals at the club but it's going to be one hell of an encounter and we're looking forward to it. If we get our gameplan right we can win."
Steve Buckle: Could still leave Torquay whatever the result!
Torquay United head into the encounter with a fully-fit squad.
Gulls boss Paul Buckle had no injuries or suspensions to contend with for either leg of his side's semi-final triumph over Shrewsbury and that remains the case at Old Trafford.
Buckle named an unchanged XI for both encounters against Shrews and will likely keep faith the same starting line-up this time around, with just 90 minutes separating Torquay from a place in League One next season.
Buckle spoke to www.torquayunited.com: "Team news is all good. We have one more training season up in Manchester on Friday, which will be a light session and more tactical than anything else. We trained at tempo again on Thursday and I was worried about some of the tackles, but we got through it."
As for the speculation that he could be heading for League Two bound Bristol Rovers in the summer whatever happens at Old Trafford on Saturday, he's ruling nothing out!
Buckle told BBC Radio Bristol: "Four seasons is a long time to be at a club. But I'm enjoying my time and if good things come along on the back of being successful here then that's great. I'm trying to improve, I'm trying to improve the club and I'm massively ambitious. I want to move on in my career. The club know that if an opportunity comes for me that's more appealing than what's here I'm not going to stand here and lie and say I'm not going to consider it or take it."
Guy Branston: Impressed with Boro
Meanwhile, Gulls defender Guy Branston, whose own future is uncertain, believes winning promotion is vital to the future of the south coast club.
He said: "You never know what happens, something like this is so important for Torquay. If we can build on the success of this season, why can't we be up there with Plymouth and Exeter? The club have got good plans in place for the future." (Er, Plymouth were relegated Guy.)
And Branston himself believes the Boro are favouries: "It is a one-off game. No matter what anyone says about Stevenage, they are a big club at Conference and League Two level and they want to progress. Their manager (Graham Westley) is so ambitious it's frightening and anyone who is ambitious is well liked by me. They are a big, big club and the pressure is on them. We are a raggedy bunch of lads who are put together on a shoestring and the undervalued lot of the division. They will be more nervous."
He would say that, wouldn't he. (Stevenage a big, big club!)
Then again, young Guy fancies himself: "I am not looking for a short-term fix, I am looking for a long-term one. If it is not sorted as soon as possible after the season ends then obviously I will have to look elsewhere as I have a family to feed and bills to pay. I have spoken to representatives of other clubs and they have shown an interest as I am out of contract and I have had a successful season. Torquay could have signed me in January. I definitely would've signed, but my contract runs out next week. Everyone knows I am out of contract so I should get plenty of interest."
The League Two Play-Off Semi-Finals
Full reports and comments here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/sngl/ed54/gulls_v_boro_at_
old_trafford_as_shrews__stanley_remain_in_league_two_678703/index.shtml
Top Seven
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | EP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [P] Chesterfield | 46 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 59 | 31 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 85 | 51 | 86 | +34 | ||||
| 2 | [P] Bury | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 47 | 27 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 82 | 50 | 81 | +32 | ||||
| 3 | [P] Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 31 | 25 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 69 | 50 | 80 | +19 | ||||
| 4 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 36 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 36 | 31 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 72 | 49 | 79 | +23 | ||||
| 5 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 53 | 24 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 31 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 73 | 55 | 73 | +18 | ||||
| 6 | Stevenage | 46 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 37 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 45 | 69 | +17 | ||||
| 7 | Torquay United (-1) | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 36 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 38 | 31 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 74 | 53 | 68 | +21 | ||||