Torquay United win again as flying start continues

Torquay United 1 Dorking Wanderers 0

Torquay United clocked up their third win of the season in front of another big crowd at Plainmoor, claiming the scalp of highly-rated Dorking Wanderers with a performance full of hard work and tough tackling.

Gulls boss Paul Wotton tells his players only maximum effort will do, and United took him at his word in this never-say-die display.

Lirak Hasani’s glorious second-half strike separated the teams, but only Dorking’s Barry Fuller will know how he missed a gift of a header right in front of the Torquay goal with the last touch of the game deep in injury time.

It would have been heartbreaking for the home side if Fuller had found the target, and Dorking went home empty-handed.

Touted by the pundits as favourites to win National League South this season, the visitors lived up to their billing in the first quarter of an hour, passing the ball around Torquay and keeping possession with neat and tidy football.

But Torquay kept their shape and kept their concentration, and gradually Dorking’s passes started to go astray and the home side imposed themselves on the game.

The only goal of the game came in the 55th minute, when man of the match Ed Palmer and midfielder Dan Hayfield combined to set up Lirak Hasani on the edge of the box. Hasani’s sweet strike flew in beyond the reach of Wanderers keeper Harrison Foulkes.

Wotton made good use of his substitutes, although he would prefer not to have had to use Finn Tonks, with the young wing back being pressed into action to replace Matt Carson, who limped off with an injury.

The final minutes were edge-of-the-seat stuff for the home fans, as Dorking launched cross after cross into the penalty area. But with centre back Sam Dreyer and keeper James Hamon outstanding, Torquay held firm.

Fuller’s howler came in the sixth minute of added time, when a cross from the left found him unmarked in the centre of the goal, barely six yards out, but he guided his header wide.

It would have been tough on Torquay, who eased two points ahead of Dorking as a result of the victory.