IN-FORM Sutton United have got Torquay in their sights and promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history remains a real possibility.

The Gulls have enjoyed a lengthy spell as National League leaders this season but Matt Gray’s high-fliers have remained in touching distance of their title rivals.

Sutton beat Bromley 3-2 at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday night to register a fifth win in a row and it leaves the second placed U’s just one point behind Torquay but with two games in hand.

Gray’s side left it late to close the gap at the top and they also had to twice come from behind to secure their latest victory over local rivals Bromley.

Michael Cheek, the division’s top scorer, put the Ravens ahead only for Craig Eastmond to level for Sutton early in the second half.

Bromley reclaimed the lead but Sutton’s leading scorer Harry Beautyman equalised and Will Randall struck deep into added time to keep the U’s on track for automatic promotion.

Not only did Sutton close in on Torquay going into tomorrow’s home game against Wrexham but they also moved two points clear of third placed Hartlepool United following their 1-1 draw at Halifax Town.

Gray has worked wonders since he became manager in May 2019 following Paul Doswell’s resignation.

Taking up his first managerial position having previously had spells as assistant boss at Eastleigh and in League Two with Aldershot and Crawley, Gray led Sutton to a 15th place finish in 2019-20 when the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic and the table was finalised using a Points Per Game method.

A run of three successive defeats at the start of the current campaign meant Sutton hit the ground running and they haven’t looked back after emerging as genuine contenders.

Having reached the midway point of their season by beating Bromley in midweek, there is still a long way to go.

But Gray admits it would be a huge achievement to take Sutton up to League Two.

“We’re all in it together, pulling in the right direction. Hopefully that will keep breeding in the results we get,” Gray told The Mail.

“Sutton United is, I’d like to think, a big non-league name. It has a great pedigree, rich history, especially with the cup runs. To get into League Two, it would be the biggest thing in the club’s history.

“I’m a young, ambitious manager and want to be a league manager and I would have no more pleasure than making Sutton United a Football League club.”

An excellent home record has helped put Sutton among the pacesetters.

The U’s have taken 26 points from 12 fixtures at Gander Green Lane with only Hartlepool boasting a better record, although Pools have played more home games.

A haul of 20 points from 10 away outings is not a bad return, although Sutton’s heaviest defeat of the season came on the road when they were thrashed 4-0 by tomorrow’s visitors Wrexham at The Racecourse in November.

Sutton are also the second highest scorers in the division behind Torquay, while only Notts County have a better defensive record.

Beautyman is the U’s top scorer with an excellent return of eight goals from 22 games in midfield, including late goals in the last two victories over Bromley and Dagenham.

Sutton last suffered defeat when they lost 1-0 at Hartlepool on January 30, four days after drawing 0-0 with Torquay.