Hartlepool vs Torquay United Prediction & Betting Tips - National League

Prediction published on 18/06/2021, 08:42  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 18/06/2021 at 11:20 in Football Predictions

Torquay United and Hartlepool are set to face off in the National League Playoff final this Sunday, with a place in League Two up for grabs. Hartlepool saw off Bromley to set up a clash against Stockport County, where they went as the underdogs, but won that too. Rhys Oates is proving to be the hero for Hartlepool in the playoffs; he’s scored three times in the two matches so far and his solitary strike was all they needed against Stockport. That win sees them go to this game on three straight wins, having also thumped Weymouth 4-0 earlier. With 15 goals in the regular season, Oates has proven to be key for Hartlepool and he will be the man relied upon here again. They will however be concerned by the fact they’ve managed just three clean sheets in their last 10 matches.

Torquay finished second in the regular season, two places and four points better than Hartlepool. They got a bye to the playoff semi finals and they were pushed to extra time by Notts County before winning 4-2. Danny Wright scored early in the game by they were pegged back minutes to the break before he completed his brace early in the second half but his 48th minute strike lasted just three minutes. At 90 minutes the game was locked at 2-2 before Torquay won in extra time. That was their first win in five matches, having finished the regular season with four straight draws. They are unbeaten in their last 14 matches but their run towards the end of the season should be a concern. They’ve failed to score in two of the last five matches and have conceded two in three of the last five.