Dorking Wanderers 0
United 1
(Dyer 81′)
United came out on top in the big NLS showdown on Saturday, as Jordan Dyer’s late winner saw The Gulls clinch a valuable win at Dorking.
With both sides firmly entrenched in bids for National League South promotion, it was eventually Dyer’s goal that proved pivotal, as Paul Wotton’s side clinched an eye-catching double over their much-fancied hosts.
Gulls boss Wotton opted to make three changes for the trip to Surrey, with Finley Craske, Jay Foulston and Oscar Threlkeld restored to the starting eleven in place of Jordan Thomas, Matt Carson and Lirak Hasani.
A closely-fought first half – on a lively artificial surface – brought very little in the way of goalmouth action.
The hosts certainly saw more of the ball early on, however as the match headed towards the interval, United had gained a foothold in the game, although a determined Dorking backline kept their goalkeeper well-protected.
The only real chance of note in the first 45 was a largely ambitious one, as Jordan Young sent a 35-yarder just wide of the woodwork.
Goalless at the break.
The second period was largely the same, with neither side giving their opponent an inch.
United were being made to work for everything, and in the 67th minute their efforts nearly paid off, as Matt Jay found Jordan Dyer at the back-post, only to see the ball rebound off the post.
Such was the well-drilled nature of Torquay’s backline, Dorking were left to feel off scraps in their own bid to find a winner, and as time marched on, you began to sense one goal may decide what was understandably a tight encounter.
When the decisive opportunity came, the men in yellow took it with both hands.
After substitute Cody Cooke did well to win his side a corner with his first touches, Young’s delivery was once again on the money, allowing a stooping Dyer to head home at the back-post to make it 1-0.
Having followed Wotton’s gameplan to perfection for the first 81 minutes, United’s players were in absolutely no mood to give up any chances to Wanderers now, and despite having to withstand more deliveries into the box in four-plus minutes of injury time, everything Dorking could muster was repelled with the minimum of fuss, before the referee’s whistle confirmed a job very well done.
Seven cup finals left.
DORKING: 1. Harrison Foulkes, 5. Tony Craig, 6. Niall McManus (8. Matt Briggs, 65′), 7. Jimmy Muitt, 9. Jason Prior, 10. Alfie Rutherford (39. Rhys Murphy, 55′), 16. Charlie Carter (c) (28. Jack Young, 65′), 17. Josh Taylor, 20. Dan Gallagher (37.George Francomb, 87′), 24. Jordan Norville-Williams, 35. Morgan Williams (18. Luke Moore, 85′).
Yellow Card: Carter 24′, Muitt 58′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske, 3. Jay Foulston (26. Jordan Thomas, 84′), 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young, 17. Offrande Zanzala (19. Cody Cooke, 79′), 18. Oscar Threlkeld, 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Will Jenkins Davies, 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Lirak Hasani, 10. Omar Mussa, 16. Ed Palmer.
Yellow Card: Dreyer 90+1′