Plainmoor will be a scene of contrasting emotions this weekend, as Torquay United face up to the painful inevitability of relegation with a visit from National League champions Wrexham. 

The Gulls have fought valiantly over recent weeks to avoid the drop, picking up four wins in April, but a last-minute penalty at Altrincham means Gary Johnson’s men must beat Wrexham and hope for a seven-goal swing in goal difference to catch Maidenhead United in the last ‘survival’ slot. 

Torquay knew they had to win at Altrincham and, after conceding on the stroke of half-time, a double from captain Asa Hall gave the Gulls hope. That hope faded when the home side scored a penalty in the final minute. 

While Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City continue to thrive in the Football League, Torquay will play their football in the National League South next season, the sixth tier of the English game. 

Gary Johnson told the Torbay Weekly: "The club is strong.  It's gone down before, and it can come back up.

"We are gutted for the club, the players and our supporters and my staff. We've got our team together in the last seven or eight games. We used the last day of the transfer window to bring in some good players.

"It was a shame that we didn't have longer with that group of players. We came from 1-0 down, and I thought the boys put in a fantastic stint to go 2-1 up.

"Asa has been our Captain Fantastic and he scored two great goals, and obviously he was unlucky to give the penalty away, and that killed us. They had nothing to lose at 2-1, and we were trying to get the third one for the goal-difference.

"I don't think it's mathematically over, but of course we've got a top team in Wrexham in the last game. It is what it is.  We've just got to make sure that we have our disappointment and we try and get over it, because that's what you're in football to do."

Torquay did receive a boost this week with confirmation from chairman Clarke Osborne that the club will remain full-time in the National League South.