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FA Trophy Final Betting: Gulls man warns, "Don't write us off yet"

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Richard Hughes, associate editor of NonLeagueToday - and the man behind the Kevin Hill Fan club Torquay Trophy song 'Gulls Flying High' - fights Torquay's corner as they try to find a silver lining after their Blue Square Premier campaign ended in disappointment.

Given Torquay United's disastrous end to the season - you might be forgiven for thinking Ebbsfleet will have the upper hand when these two Blue Square Premier sides meet in the final of the FA Trophy at Wembley. But the Gulls will begin Non League's FA Cup as favourites, even after they were booted out of the play-offs by Exeter so dramatically on Monday night.

The team from the English Riviera will have a lot to prove. Rookie boss Paul Buckle, too, will be desperate for a final-day fillip to repay the fans for backing him to the hilt during a campaign that promised so much, but fizzled out and died at the final hurdle.

Torquay were 3-1 against local rivals Exeter with just 20 minutes left of their play-off semi-final second leg. But four goals later it was all over - and Exeter were through to the final 5-3 winners.
'It was a mad last 18 minutes,' said Buckle as Gulls fans streamed out of Plainmoor, leaving City's traveling faithful to soak up the glory.

'Their goals have come out of nothing but that's the way football can go.
'We were coping but their first goal gave Exeter some momentum.
'It's not easy to go up in this league and you need a bit of luck along the way.
'I've been tested as a manager this season but I am very proud of my players and our supporters.' Hence, it's time to repay those supporters.

Ebbsfleet's almost surreal takeover by the MyFootballClub website has ensured there will be more fans of the former Gravesend and Northfleet club in the ground on Saturday. With 32,000 plus on the board, their faithful is now bigger than Torquay's. What a difference a year can make. If this tie had happened last season, the balance would have been in Torquay's favour.

However, many Gulls fans left it late to buy tickets for the game because it looked as if they might have to choose between the FA Trophy and the play-off final - two games, eight days apart - for families who support a club 220 miles from north west London. The ration books were out in Devon. But with the weight of expectation lifted - and with star man Chris Zebroski set to play his last game for the club, can you look past them?

Tim Sills and Lee Phillips have been solid up front throughout the season, while on-loan Millwall youngster Zebroski, 21, has hit the back of the net 18 times from the right wing. He has been offered a new deal by the New Den crew, having enjoyed his first full season with a club. On such a big stage, his thank you could be dramatic.

Buckle might have got his tactics wrong in the play-offs - he played three at the back for the first time during the campaign in both legs - but I doubt he'll do the same again. Expect a simple 4-4-2 attack plan. And expect goals.

Liam Diash, given the opportunity to pick the team by his on-line bosses, may find his star man - Chris McPhee, who was relegated with the Gulls last season - is not the answer. I predict the Gulls to be flying high come Saturday night - and the Fleet to be heading back to Kent and the rest of the MyFootballClub world, wherever that is, trophy-less!