Torquay United take on Aldershot at Plainmoor on Monday

Gulls set to fly high

Monday March 3, 2008

Torquay v Aldershot (19.45, Live on Setanta 1)

No prices at time of writing.

It's a huge encounter between Torquay and Aldershot at Plainmoor on Monday night. Going into the weekend there were five points between the two sides. It really could be a title decider and Blue Square have cut Aldershot's odds to 8/11 and Torquay are out to 13/8 following the Gulls' midweek 1-1 draw at home to Altrincham. Both teams play on Saturday before Monday's clash and despite the Shots' title odds shortening, I expect Torquay to be favourites for this game, around about the 5/4 / 11/8 mark. But you also can't discount Aldershot, who will be around 7/4.

A draw would be quite good for Gary Waddock's side and would maintain the distance back to Torquay. I think Paul Buckle will be sending his team out with instructions that if they do lose it's all over so it could be a very tight, intriguing, tactical affair down at Plainmoor.

On the relegation front, I think it's very much safe to say that Droylsden (1/100) are doomed at the moment but then if you look at Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria, they probably won't have given up the ghost themselves although they are heavy odds-on to go down (Stafford 1/16 and Northwich 1/25). The gap to the teams above them is quite difficult to bridge, although Stafford face fourth-bottom Farsley at the weekend. They will need to put together four or five wins on the trot to even trouble those other teams above them but it's opened up a very interesting race for that last relegation spot. It could be any one of five teams - Farsley Celtic (4/6), Weymouth (7/2), Altrincham (Evens), Halifax (20/1) and Rushden & Diamonds (50/1).