Saturday, 12 September 2026

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DORKING WANDERERS

 1. Jake Wannell's sending off. 

True to form, Torquay United's National League South encounter with Dorking Wanderers lived up to its billed, as both teams scored four goals between them. 

However, the drama didn't stop there. 

The Gulls spent the last 11 minutes of normal time, as well as the seven minutes of injury time added on, playing with ten men after skipper Jake Wannell received a second yellow card, after speaking to referee following a foul on leading scorer Deon Moore. In addition to this, United also played the closing stages with a makeshift centre back pairing after new signing Oladare Olufenwa went off injured to be replaced by Tyler Hill, who later found himself playing alongside central midfielder Dan Hayfield, who entered the fray after Wannell was dismissed. 

After the match, Wannell took to Twitter/X and when describing the incident said: "To clear up the sending off, the ref said five minutes prior that one more tackle on Deon would be a yellow. I simply asked the ref after another foul on Deon I said you told me it would be a booking for there player. Which is apparently dissent. No swearing whatsoever."

2. Deon Moore and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton amongst the goals. 

During a seven day spell which saw the Gulls secure seven points from a possible nine with wins over Folkestone Invicta (3-2) and Maidenhead United (4-0) and a draw with Dorking Wanderers (2-2), Deon Moore and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton found themselves amongst the goals. 

Moore was on target against Folkestone and then opened the scoring against Dorking. Lo-Everton scored United's second against Maidenhead after sub Matt Jay teed him up for a shot from 20 yards, which saw him open his account for the season. He then drilled home a low free-kick to level matters in the 68th minute. 

With Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan having departed, and Louis Dennis seemingly on the verge of his departure, Moore and Lo-Everton seem destined to take on the mantle of being United's main source of goals. 

Don't be surprised to see both hit double figures this season. 

3. Caleb Roberts and Tegan Finn. 

After making their debuts away to Maidenhead United in midweek, the majority of the Plainmoor faithful got their first glimpses of Plymouth Argyle loanees Caleb Roberts and Tegan Finn in the flesh. 

Both were involved the thick of the action in the first half as Roberts had a shot from distance turned behind for a corner by Dorking keeper Glenn Morris in the sixth minute and he later had a shot blocked. 

Finn, meanwhile, played a role in United's opener as his shot was stopped by Morris in the 23rd minute which landed in the path of Deon Moore who duly slotted home. He later had an effort that hit the post, as the Gulls dominated the first half, but still only went in at the break at 1-1. 

In recent seasons, Adam Randell and Will Jenkins-Davies have become key members of the United squad after joining on loan from the Pilgrims. Indeed, Randell went on to captain the club before moving to Bristol City in the summer of 2025, after he returned from a season long loan at Plainmoor in the 2020-21 season.  

Roberts will be with the Gulls until January 2027 and Finn has joined initially for a month. However, don't be surprised to see those deals extended. 

4. Still unbeaten at home. 

United's draw with Dorking keeps their home unbeaten record for 2026-27 intact, but United boss Jimmy Ball will be disappointed that they have only one once in five encounters at Plainmoor. 

In terms of their overall play, the Gulls have created enough chances to win more at one game in front of their own fans, and hopefully they will make that dominance count on a regular basis.