United 3
(De Silva 11′, 65′, Ellis 80′)
Dorking 3
(Wheeler 45+1′, McShane 51′, Muitt 53′)
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An evening of high drama ended with honours-even on Wednesday evening, as United produced another remarkable fightback to secure a 3-3 draw with Dorking.
Winger Dillon De Silva got things going nicely with an early goal, however the Yellow Army’s hopes hit a setback just before the change of ends, as the visitors levelled things up through Nicky Wheeler just before the change of ends. Things got worse following the restart, as Gary Johnson’s side conceded two goals in quick succession following the restart, with James McShane putting his side in front, and Jimmy Muitt then extending it shortly after. A second from De Silva restored faith in the home ranks though, and it was left to Mark Ellis to apply the finishing touch late on to cap yet another Plainmoor comeback.
United’s boss made one change to the line-up that secured that 2-2 FA Cup draw v Derby last time out, with Dean Moxey replaced in the starting XI by his substitute replacement on Sunday, Dylan Crowe.
After a scrappy start to proceedings, a moment of opportunism saw The Gulls get their noses in front in the 11th minute.
Having received the ball just outside the D from visiting goalkeeper Dan Lincoln, Joe Cook’s attempt to get the ball under his control alerted the attentions of De Silva, who pounced on his moment of indecision by robbing him of possession, before drilling a fine effort past the stranded glovesman to make it 1-0.
To their credit, Dorking enjoyed plenty of possession either side of that goal, and Wheeler came close to levelling the scores with a low right-footed effort on 20 minutes, which forced Mark Halstead to palm the 20-yarder round his near-post.
United regrouped though, and on the half-hour, they came within a whisker of making it two.
A neat link-up between De Silva and Goodwin saw the latter power into the right-hand side of the penalty area, before delivering a tempting low ball across the face of goal that Stephen Wearne met at the back stick, however, under pressure from a despairing defender, his close-range effort lacked the power required, with Wanderers gratefully hacking the ball to safety.
Moments later, and Torquay were nearly made to pay for missed opportunity, as a foray down the left wing saw the ball sent deep into a packed goalmouth, with Johnson’s men just about surviving a spell of pinball at close-quarters.
Back came the men in yellow again, and after Wearne’s hanging cross picked out Goodwin inside the box, his flicked header into the path of his strike partner saw the onrushing Jarvis come within inches of diverting the ball past Lincoln from six yards.
Soon after, De Silva dragged a right-footed low drive wide from an acute angle, yet just when it seemed as though United would be celebrating a interval advantage, Dorking drew level in first-half stoppage time.
Having held firm inside the box, the ball broke to Wheeler 30 yards from goal, and with the Wanderers man aware time was against him, he took a moment to size up his options before deciding to send a curling effort towards goal.
The decision duly paid off, as his strike beat Halstead on its way into the back of the net, ensuring parity was restored at the halfway point.
Once things got back underway, a closely-fought encounter resumed where it had left off, with both sides happy to trade proverbial punches, before a swift double-strike saw things swing the away team’s way.
On 51 minutes, a low ball cross towards the near-post saw leading scorer McShane dink the ball over Halstead before volleying home from point-blank range.
Just two minutes later, the match was well and truly turned on its head, as a deep ball into the box found Muitt evade defensive attentions, before the Dorking man hooked the ball home to make it 1-3.
Torquay were stunned, and it took a while for them to respond, yet on 65 minutes, De Silva scored again to drag his team back into contention.
Just seconds after sending a looping header over the crossbar, a long ball over the top saw the on-loan QPR winger wriggle free of a retreating defender, before edging into the area and firing a powerful drive underneath Lincoln to make it 2-3.
The next goal was always going to prove crucial, and ten minutes from time, The Gulls showed that their acts of escapology weren’t confined to television audiences.
A deep delivery into the mixer initially appeared to be favouring the defending team, however with Ellis up in attack, it was his backward-header from the penalty spot that looped up over Lincoln, and under the ‘bar to level things up.
The ensuing mayhem in the dying stages nearly produced the chance of a Gulls winner. Aaron Jarvis and United fans alike were convinced his was brought down in box when reaching for De Silva’s right wing cross in the last minute, before he headed another De Silva cross over the top moments later as the game headed into injury-time.
When referee’s whistle blew for the final time soon after, both sides had to settle for a point apiece, following another whirlwind 90 minutes on the English Riviera.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Dylan Crowe, 4. Tom Lapslie, 8. Asa Hall (c) (14. Brett McGavin, 72′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 12. Stephen Wearne, 16. Shaun Donnellan (7. Ryan Hanson, 73′), 19. Will Goodwin, 26. Lucas Ness, 27. Dillon De Silva, 35. Mark Ellis.
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall, 22. Rhys Lovett (GK)
Yellow Cards: Ness, 75′
Dorking: 1. Dan Lincoln, 3. Bobby-Joe Taylor (35. Archie Proctor, 85′), 4. Sami El-Abd, 6. Niall McManus, 7. Jimmy Muitt (18. Luke Moore, 79′), 9. Ryan Seager, 11. James McShane (c), 16. Nicky Wheeler, 17. Josh Taylor, 20. Dan Gallagher, 33. Joe Cook.
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Ed Harris, 23. Jack Jebb, 29. Alfie Egan.
Yellow Cards: Lincoln, 90+2′
Attendance: 1,805 (49 away)