Torquay United troubles on the road deepen with Dorking defeat

The away record for Torquay United provides some sorry reading after the opening third of the National League South season.

The Gulls have played seven league games on the road, suffered four defeats, two draws and one solitary victory at struggling Salisbury. Throw into the mix a loss at AFC Totton in the FA Cup, and it is clear where the issues reside.

After a comfortable 3-0 home win over bottom club Chippenham Town in midweek, United travelled to Dorking with renewed hope that they could build some momentum, but that was dashed in the midst of a desperately disappointing first-half showing in Surrey.

Alfie Rutherford, Josh Taylor and Jimmy Muitt all found the net for the dominant hosts, and while United improved after the break, they spurned a late penalty and only had Jordan Young’s last-gasp free-kick to show for their efforts.

The pattern was set inside seven minutes, when Rutherford pinched the ball in midfield, strolled through the United defence and planted a confident finish into the bottom corner, giving James Hamon no chance in the visiting goal.

United were toiling in the autumn sun, Dennon Lewis forcing a top save from Hamon before the lead was doubled on 25 minutes, Taylor firing a terrific finish in off the post to leave the Gulls with a mountain to climb.

The ascent never got going, as Dorking threatened to increase their lead with a number of chances. The Gulls needed half-time, but it failed to arrive soon enough, as Muitt prodded home from a corner.

Unsurprisingly, United boss Paul Wotton rung the changes at the break, whipping off Denzel Akyeampong, Dan Hayfield and Cian Dillon for Matt Jay, Young and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.

The tempo was immediately better but Dorking had a cushion and were content to sit on their lead. A lovely cross from Lo-Everton did find Ed Palmer for a header that almost breached the home defence before Louis Dennis fired narrowly wide.

Sonny Fish entered the fray, quickly followed by Jordan Thomas, as Young forced a decent save from the Dorking custodian.

Stoppage time arrived and some cheer for the Gulls when they were awarded a penalty, but the cheers turned to groans when Dennis fired the spot-kick wide. Young gave the gloomy Yellow Army one moment to enjoy with a fabulous free-kick in the dying seconds, but still a day to forget.