Torquay reach National League South play-off final
Deon Moore has scored his six goals in his past four games for Torquay United
- Published
Torquay United are through to the National League South play-off final after beating Dorking Wanderers 4-2 in their semi-final at Plainmoor.
The Gulls will face Hornchurch or Weston-super-Mare in the final on Saturday 9 May for a place in the National League.
The Gulls - who finished the season in third place - progress one stage further than last season when they lost 1-0 to Boreham Wood in the last four.
It means Torquay - who had led the league in February before a poor run of results that cost Paul Wotton his job as manager - could still go up after a sixth win in their past seven games under new boss Jimmy Ball.
But Dorking will play a third successive season in the sixth tier following their relegation from the National League in 2024.
Jordan Young's first-half goal was just his second since the end of January
Jordan Young almost gave the Gulls a sixth-minute lead when his free-kick went just wide.
The Gulls continued to pile on the early pressure - Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton forced an excellent save from Harrison Foulkes, Sam Dreyer hit the bar from the resulting corner and Jordan Dyer had a 21st-minute goal disallowed for offside.
But seconds later later Deon Moore broke the deadlock as the Torquay striker fired home a Lo-Everton pass.
Ten minutes later, Torquay top scorer Young doubled the lead for his 17th goal of the season as he reacted quickest after Dylan Morgan had seen his chance blocked after rounding the goalkeeper.
Dorking - who beat Maidenhead United 2-0 on Wednesday night to reach the semi-final - struggled to impose themselves on the game as Young headed wide for the Gulls seven minutes into the second half.
Seven minutes later the tie was over as Morgan fired against the Dorking post and Moore - a free-agent signing in March - reacted quickest to make it 3-0.
Charlie Carter forced a good save from Torquay's Seb Stacey five minutes later with a rare Dorking attack.
Lo-Everton fired an effort wide with 14 minutes to go as Torquay's confidence flowed before Young got a fourth goal a minute later - Lo-Everton superbly passed to the striker, who beat his marker before firing home.
But Dorking did not give up - Paul McCallum had a header well saved with eight minutes left and from the resulting corner George Knight headed in a consolation goal.
And the visitors' endeavours were further rewarded when they got a second in the 89th minute as Alfie Rutherford's defected effort wrong-footed Stacey.
"When you work a week on a plan to exploit another team and it works really, really well it's always pleasing," Torquay manager Jimmy Ball told BBC Radio Devon.
"The players have to execute what you're asking them to execute, they have to believe in it and follow it, and they did to a man - from a managerial point of view, that is pleasing.
"Dorking were a really, really good side with some fantastic players but I think we got the better of them today in all areas."
Moore - Ball's first signing as Torquay manager in late March - impressed throughout and the Gulls boss was keen to praise his in-form striker.
"When I brought him in, that's what I knew he was capable of," Ball said.
"He's playing a bit angry, which is great, he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder, a point to prove, and there's nothing better than that.
"We've got to keep that mentality and that's going to be the goal going forward this week."
