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Plainmoor: Torquay take on Burton Albion

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Gulls set to fly high

Sunday April 26, 2009

Torquay United v Burton Albion (Live on Setanta 1, all matches kick-off at 16.00)

Prices correct at time of writing (2pm, Wednesday April 22, 2009).

Home evens Draw 23/10 Away 23/10

Burton have been stumbling for some time and could now been caught on the line by Cambridge United after Albion's defeat last week at home to Oxford when they only needed a point for promotion. The sides are separated by three points however Burton face a much trickier clash at Torquay, who themselves are not guaranteed a play-off berth.

Newcastle blew the Premier League title against Manchester United after holding a 12-point lead but this would eclipse it if Burton end up in the play-offs as they were 19 points clear at one stage. Unfortunately for Burton, Torquay need a result to be sure of a play-off spot. I think the Gulls will beat Burton.

Verdict: Home win

Cambridge United v Altrincham

Home 2/9 Draw 9/2 Away 9/1

Cambridge are assured of a play-off spot but are hoping Burton lose and they can land the automatic promotion place. After several seasons of struggle Altrincham are safely in mid-table but I don't think the Robins will lie down. Cambridge are going to have such an incentive, especially if Torquay score first against Burton. I think Cambridge will beat Altrincham and the automatic promotion spot could come down to goal difference. Burton are currently four goals better off than Cambridge. Either way Cambridge will want to show that they are in form if they have to try and win promotion through the play-offs.

Verdict: Home win

Mansfield Town v Stevenage Borough

Home 10/3 Draw 13/5 Away 4/6

Stevenage's vital 3-1 home win over Kidderminster on Tuesday night put their destiny in their own hands as they travel to Mansfield, who have nothing to play for. I think Stevenage will be alright and will be in the play-off shake-up. I reckon Boro will beat Mansfield and will land a top-five finish.

Verdict: Away win

Kidderminster Harriers v Kettering Town

Home 1/2 Draw 14/5 Away 9/2

Kidderminster have been excellent at home this season and entertain Kettering, who have had a good season. Harriers' defeat at Stevenage in midweek could just cost them. Kidderminster actually need a win and because they need a victory a lot depends on what happens in the game between Torquay and Burton. If Burton take the lead and win the league then I think Kidderminster may have a chance, but I'm going for Torquay to win so I think Harriers will miss out.

Verdict: Home win

Oxford United v Northwich Victoria

Home 1/4 Draw 9/2 Away 7/1

Oxford are three points behind Torquay at the moment but their goal difference is only two worse off. The U's are at home to already-relegated Northwich and are obviously kicking themselves about their five-point deduction earlier this season. It's amazing that they still have an opportunity of landing a play-off spot on Sunday. Again this is all going to centre around one result for me because I think Oxford are certainties to beat Northwich. So the U's need Burton to beat Torquay and Kidderminster to fail to win against Kettering and both those scenarios are possible.

Verdict: Home win

Crawley Town v Histon

Home 13/8 Draw 9/4 Away 11/8

Third-placed Histon are all-but assured of a play-off spot and they travel to Crawley on Sunday, who are in ninth place and out of play-off contention. The Stutes will want to go into the play-offs in good form, while Crawley will want to send their fans home happy ahead of next season. Histon beat Weymouth 1-0 in midweek, while Crawley lost 1-0 at Grays. I think this clash will be a stalemate.

Verdict: Draw

Eastbourne Borough v Barrow

No odds available.

Barrow should be safe by the time they travel to Eastbourne if Weymouth slip up in their last two matches. I think they should be ok and the fans will go there in party mood. It's a long way to go and hopefully they can make a weekend of it. They started like a train at the start of the season when they beat Oxford in their first match. They continued with a fine run of games before the travelling caught up with them. They've done well to stay up, that was their objective at the start of the season and they've done it so all credit to them. I'm going for a draw in this clash.

Verdict: Draw

Ebbsfleet United v Salisbury

Home evens Draw 12/5 Away 11/5

Ebbsfleet and Salisbury are safely in mid-table ahead of their meeting. There's not really too much for these two sides to play for. Ebbsfleet could have been sucked into the relegation dogfight but they're too classy for that and I think this club, owned by the fans, has done well and I hope they continue to raise enough money to support what they are doing. It's a refreshing idea that they came up with and I hope it works for them. They'll be playing for the three points but its pride more than anything else. I reckon this will be a draw.

Verdict: Draw

Grays Athletic v Forest Green Rovers

Home 11/10 Draw 12/5 Away 2/1

For a long time this season it looked like Grays and Forest Green could both be relegated but both of them are safe going into the meeting between the two sides on Sunday. We've commented more than once on the absence of striker Stuart Fleetwood for Forest Green, who bagged loads of goals for them last season. But what a campaign for Rovers, they got to the FA Cup third round and were 2-0 up at one stage against Derby early in the game. They were also 2-0 down against Altrincham but won 5-2 and I think they deserve to stay up. Grays just keep defying the odds. I thought they were really going to struggle but kept on picking up points at crucial moments and they've done well to stay up. I think this game will end up all square.

Verdict: Draw

Lewes v York City

No odds available.

If York could have picked the fixtures then they'd have chosen this clash against already-relegated Lewes, who have nothing to play for. City have pulled clear of the relegation zone with home wins over Eastbourne last weekend and Forest Green Rovers in midweek. But they are still not out of trouble and could go into the last match needing a result depending on how their clash at Weymouth on Friday night goes.

Verdict: Away win

Rushden & Diamonds v Woking

Home 8/11 Draw 5/2 Away 3/1

Woking went down in midweek without actually playing and their last game in the Blue Square Premier for the time being at least is at Rushden & Diamonds. They really shouldn't have gone down but ever since the first weekend of the season when they lost to Altrincham I thought they would struggle and no team is too big to go down. But Woking could bounce back next season although questions will be asked after their relegation.

Verdict: Home win

Wrexham v Weymouth

No odds available.

If Weymouth beat York City at home on Friday night, they have a tough trip to Wrexham on Sunday to try and survive. You wouldn't expect Weymouth to win but Wrexham have nothing to play for and if it comes down to one game anything could happen. However, the Terras do have boss Bobby Gould, who is a great manager and motivator.

Verdict: Home win