1. An excellent team display.
First of all, I would like to congratulate the team in what was a tremendous team display and arguably United's best display of the season, and also arguably one of their finest performances during their tenure in National League South.
The Gulls went into the play-offs off the back of winning four of out of their last five National League South fixtures, and their display against Dorking at Plainmoor shows that they have taken the momentum from those matches into their play-off campaign.
Now they just need to do it all again in the final against Hornchurch.
2. Moore and Moore from Deon.
The goals continue to flow for striker Deon Moore as he took his tally for the season to six with a brace against Dorking Wanderers.
Moore had netted his fourth of the season in their final day win over Tonbridge Angels, which sealed the Gulls' place in the play-offs, and he once again amongst the goals as the Gulls emerged as emphatic winners.
He opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Sonny Blu Lo-Everton made a bursting run into the box before finding Moore who slotted home what was his fifth of the campaign. In the second half, he completed his double on 59 minutes with Lo-Everton the architect again as he teed up Dylan Morgan for a shot that hit the post and Moore was on hand to pounce on the rebound.
As well as his goals, Moore's hold up play was also good and made a number of dangerous runs which stretched the Dorking defence, which helped him earn your correspondent's choice as man of the match.
3. Matt Worthington.
Gulls' boss Jimmy Ball has known skipper Matt Worthington since he signed him as an academy player with Portsmouth as a youngster. Since Ball arrived at Plainmoor he has looked to make Worthington into more of an attacking minded central midfielder who affects the game higher up the pitch, instead of one who drops deep to receive the ball off his defenders.
This approach has resulted in Worthington producing more dynamic performances, and his display against Dorking as he teed up Dylan Morgan for a shot that drew a stunning one-handed save from Harrison Foulkes on 16 minutes.
He later had headed home what looked liked United's opener on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. However, the Gulls didn't have to wait long until they broke the deadlock as Deon Moore opened the scoring for United moments later.
4. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton a major creative influence.
Playing in the number ten role just behind Deon Moore, the Gulls' newly crowned player of the year Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was arguably United's greatest creative force against Dorking Wanderers.
Manager Jimmy Ball's gameplan allowed Lo-Everton to get on the ball and affect the game, which was something that he did to good effect.
In addition to providing the assist for Deon Moore's opener, Lo-Everton also teed up Jordan Young for the Gulls' fourth of the afternoon on 77 minutes, and started the move that led to United's third and Moore's second.
The only thing that could be argued that was missing from his display was a goal of his own.
5. Monashe Sundire's unsung role.
Monashe Sundire's time at Plainmoor has been very stop-start due to injury, and due to an unfortunate collision with Dan Hayfield, he was substituted on 58 minutes and was replaced by Will Tizzard.
Sundire was brought into the side by Jimmy Ball to man mark Dorking skipper Charlie Carter, who went into the game as their joint-top scorer with 11 goals from the centre of midfield. The Zimbabwean-born midfielder successfully nullified Carter, and also helped give the likes of Jordan Young, Matt Worthington, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Dylan Morgan greater licence to get forward.
6. Jordan Young takes his tally to 18 for the campaign.
For three seasons in a row, Jordan Young has hit double figures for goals in National League South, scoring 16 for Yeovil Town in 2023-24 and 11 and 18 for the Gulls in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns.
Another brace against Hornchurch in next week's play-off final would take his current tally to 20, which is something that would please manager Jimmy Ball greatly, as he has demanded that the Gulls are more front footed and ruthless in front of goal since his appointment.
