Massive three points for Torquay United

Torquay United made it three consecutive wins on the road with a battling 1-0 victory at promotion rivals Dorking Wanderers in a game packed with tension.

After victories at Chippenham and Tonbridge, sandwiched by a home draw with Salisbury City, the Gulls, sixth in the National League South, are now level on points with their weekend hosts and Boreham Wood.

Jordan Dyer was the hero in Yellow, scoring the only goal ten minutes from time, and United are within touching distance of Truro (2nd) and Eastbourne (3rd), but there is still a six-point gap to leaders Worthing as we approach the final month of the campaign.

Baked in some delightful Surrey sunshine, United soaked up some early pressure from Dorking, with the highlight being a brave block from Finley Craske to thwart a dangerous moment for the hosts.

Gradually, the Gulls found some attacking fluency, including an audacious long-range free-kick from Jordan Young that flew narrowly over. United then won a succession of corners, resulting in Ozzy Zanzala having a decent pop blocked by the experienced Tony Craig.

United continued to finish a tight first period with a fraction more impetus in their forward department but, in truth, it was 45 minutes dominated by the pressure for points perhaps quashing quality play.

The Gulls resumed with a surge from Young that culminated in a shot deflected wide, as Dorking had to defend more corners before strong work from Craske and Sam Dreyer at the other end repelled the home side.

Matt Jay was a growing influence in the United midfield, picking out a lovely deep cross for Young, who was unfortunate to see his effort rebound clear off the post. Dorking fought back with a corner and they found a rare gap in the United defence to force a solid save from James Hamon.

The Yellow Army raised their noise as the game headed toward a nervy conclusion, Cody Cooke replacing Zanzala for some fresh legs in the United vanguard, and the new man took just a minute to make his presence felt in winning a corner.

Young whipped over a customary delivery with his wand of a left boot and Dorking were in disarray, as Dyer pounced for the scruffiest of goals.

Who cares?

The Gulls still had ten minutes plus stoppage time to protect their lead, a challenge that has not always been successful in this whirlwind of a season. There was a big scare when James Muitt struck the post but United had the added reassurance of a fluttering offside flag.

Dorking, inevitably, threw everything at the Yellows in the final minutes but there was a superb composure about United, and three big points to take back to Devon.