All eyes on the Edgeley Park clash as Sutton United close in on National League title

By David Richardson

Stockport County v Torquay United

Today, Kick-Off: 12.15pm

CRUCIAL: Torquay scored in 90th minute against Stockport

PICTURE: Pinnacle

SUTTON United will take a major step towards the Football League if Torquay United fail to win at Stockport County this lunchtime.

The U’s are four points clear of the second-placed Gulls with two matches to play after an impressive 3-0 victory at Maidenhead United yesterday.

Torquay are playing catch-up in front of the BT Sport cameras today at 12.15pm against Stockport, in fourth.

If Gary Johnson’s side were to lose, Sutton could become champions and win promotion to the EFL for the first time in their history with a victory against Hartlepool United next weekend.

A draw would leave Torquay having to match Sutton’s result at home to rock bottom Barnet in their penultimate fixture to send the title race to the final day of the season.

Hartlepool, in third, are unable to win the title despite their 3-1 victory at Aldershot Town yesterday.

Stockport can still finish top but would need to win all three of their remaining games, hope Sutton lose both of theirs and rely on Torquay dropping points.

County are unbeaten in 15 matches with their last defeat at home coming against Sutton at the beginning of February.

Torquay haven’t lost in any of their last ten fixtures – winning eight – and assistant manager Aaron Downes, a Conference champion under Johnson at Cheltenham Town, knows these games are part and parcel of glory.

“It is a big game, one we are relishing,” he said. “We feel confident, fit, healthy, we feel ready for the challenge. It’s something when you start the season you know if you’re going to be successful, you’re going to have these games, and you want them.”

Meanwhile, Sutton manager Matt Gray can sit back and relax knowing they’ve done their bit, for now.

“We managed to get back top of the league on Tuesday night,” he said. “It was important to back that up and put a gap between us and Torquay which we’ve managed to do. We’ll be watching with interest!”