Following Wednesday night’s win over Maidenhead United at Meadowbank, the Wanderers returned to Plainmoor for the second time in just 40 days to face Torquay United in the National League South Playoff Semi Final.
In the last playoff campaign, both the Wanderers and the Gulls fell to defeat at the hands of Boreham Wood, with the latter losing at this stage of the competition at this very ground last year. The Wanderers were looking to nullify an attack that accumulated 15 goals in their last five matches of the regular season. To do this, Marc White named an unchanged eleven that sealed victory in our eliminator fixture on Wednesday.
The hosts thought they had the lead only five minutes into proceedings. Jordan Young’s curling free kick flew inches wide, yet the net bulged as it hit the pole behind the goal. Torquay fans were in delirium momentarily; however, it was brought to an abrupt end when Harrison Foulkes set up for a goal kick.
The Wanderers also had a chance to open the scoring inside the opening ten minutes of the semi final. Dennon Lewis stormed down the left flank and crossed a ball over all the shirts in the box. The ball made its way to the feet of Kai Enslin, whose effort was blocked well by Sam Dreyer, preventing any danger.
The Torquay support was making Plainmoor a tough place for the Wanderers to get out of their own half. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was able to cut in from the left-hand side and fire a shot towards Foulkes, who was able to match the effort and get down low to palm it away for a corner.
After an onslaught of Torquay pressure, Jimmy Ball’s side managed to break the deadlock. Lo-Everton caused more problems down the left-hand side and was able to deliver a cross which flew all the way to the back post, finding Deon Moore, who was able to compose himself and thump the ball past Foulkes, giving the Gulls the lead in the semi final. 21’ 1-0
Ten minutes later, Torquay were able to double the advantage, handing a killer blow to the Wanderers before the break. In similar fashion to the opener, Lo-Everton created space to cross the ball to Morgan, who rounded Foulkes and saw his effort blocked. The ball then made its way to Jordan Young, who was able to drill his effort through an unsettled Foulkes, standing the Yellows in good stead to book a ticket to the final. 31’ 2-0
The Wanderers were in desperate need of a confidence booster going into the second half. MK Dons loanee Seb Stacey was able to deny both Alfie Rutherford and Harry Pinchard to prevent the Wanderers from getting a foot back in the game as the half drew to a close.
HALF TIME: Torquay United 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
Fortune did not seem to be in favour of the Wanderers on the afternoon, and that was shown when Torquay were able to add a third. Dylan Morgan was able to find more enjoyment down the left-hand side, and he was able to cut inside and strike his effort off the upright. The ball ricocheted kindly to Deon Moore, who was able to slot home calmly and put a spot in the National League South playoff final further out of reach for the Wanderers. 59’ 3-0
The Wanderers were still showing fight on the South Coast in a bid to reduce the three-goal deficit. Liam Vincent was able to drive down the left and find Paul McCallum in the Torquay box. He was able to lay it to the skipper, whose effort travelled through a sea of yellow shirts before Carter was denied by Seb Stacey.
The game had been thrown wide open with the Wanderers’ attempts to rectify being three goals down. Space opened up for the Gulls, who were able to pick out talisman Jordan Young, who was able to add a fourth goal to their tally, slotting the ball past Foulkes to put the game to bed in essence. It wouldn’t be made any easier for the visitors after this, as brace scorer Jordan Young was replaced by Callum Dolan, who was able to score two in the same fixture back in March. 77’ 4-0
Paul McCallum saw his headed effort saved by Seb Stacey not long after this. The resulting corner was swung in by Dennon Lewis, and amidst all the red and yellow shirts queueing up in the six-yard box, George Knight was able to rise highest and prod the ball home, extinguishing the hosts’ clean sheet and grabbing what seemed to be a consolation for the Wanderers. 82’ 4-1
The deficit was reduced yet again just before added time. Some brilliant work between Dennon Lewis and Dan Pybus allowed the latter to tee up Alfie Rutherford on the edge of the box. The striker’s low drive took a small deflection, rooting Seb Stacey and restoring a glimmer of hope for the Wanderers as it rippled the net. 89’ 4-2
Despite a positive end to the game, the Wanderers were unable to complete the unimaginable, bringing an end to the campaign.
FULL TIME: Torquay United 4-2 Dorking Wanderers
A massive credit to the 412 Wanderers fans who made the journey down to TQ1 at such short notice, and to all the supporters who have travelled home and away all season; your support is hugely appreciated, and we look forward to seeing you all again very soon.