Hornchurch 3
(Poleon 45′ pen, McQueen 90+3′, Ling 117′)
United 2
(Moore 6′, 78′)
united SUFFERED MORE PLAY-OFF FINAL HEARTBREAK, AS A LATE WINNER SAW HORNCHURCH SECURE PROMOTION TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Twice Deon Moore put his side ahead, but having drawn level twice through goals from Dom Poleon and Darren McQueen – the latter in stoppage time – the Urchins sealed their place in non-League football’s top tier thanks to Sam Ling’s late extra-time winner.
Unsurprisingly, Gulls boss Jimmy Ball opted for an unchanged matchday squad following the 4-2 semi-final success over Dorking, with Munashe Sundire recovering from the second half injury that forced his early exit last weekend.
The match was only six minutes old when The Gulls were ahead, as a ball over the top caught the home defence out, with Moore sending an emphatic volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.
Torquay held that lead until the final minute of the first half, when a foul from Seb Stacey on Charlie Pegrum inside the box forced the referee to point to the penalty spot.
The majority of the second half saw United boss the territorial stakes, and when United went ahead for a second time in the 78th minute, it looked like this time they had done enough.
Substitute Callum Dolan’s low cross-field ball found Moore on the run perfectly, and after driving into the penalty area, Moore’s low finish across goal made it 2-1 with time running out.
Sadly though, the lead was given up in injury time.
A back-heel caught Torquay’s defenders out, and with Darren McQueen darting into the box, his close range effort was adjudged to have crossed the line before Stacey could claw it off line, sending teh match into extra-time.
Again, United bossed proceedings, but with just three minutes of the season remaining, there was despair for the Yellow Army.
A ball into the box couldn’t be cleared, and knowing there was little time remaining, Ling’s opportunistic volley found the far corner of the net to decide the Promotion Final.
After a season of blood, sweat and tears that promised so much for so long, falling at the final hurdle is undoubtedly hard to take, however under the leadership of Ball, there are plenty of reasons to suggest that next year will finally be the one they take that final step.
Thanks for your support, Yellow Army – see you in the summer.
UNITED: 15. Seb Stacey, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 6. Munashe Sundire, 8. Jordan Young (10. Callum Dolan, 70′), 11. Dylan Morgan (27. Matt Jay, 86′), 18. Matt Worthington (c) (28. Will Tizzard, 90+7′), 19. Deon Moore (16. Ed Palmer, 118′), 20. Dan Hayfield (22. Reece Evans, ET HT), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (7. Louis Dennis, 61′).
SUBS NOT USED: 1. James Hamon (GK).
Yellow Card: Dyer 113′
