Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Back on the road as we face Chesham United at The Meadow tomorrow. The Generals are a tougher test than when we won there 5-0 last year and they currently sit 15th on 24 points. They have lost their last 4 matches though.
Good news on the injury front for a change as Carter, McShane, Marquez and Francomb are all expected to return. Brennan Camp misses the game through suspension after picking up his 5th league yellow last time out.
Predictions:
Chesham 3-3 Dorking (Prior x 2, McShane)
779 att.
Foulkes
Annesley Storey Norville-Williams
Muitt Taylor Moore Vincent Lewis
McShane Prior
Subs: Craig, Francomb, Gallagher, Pybus, Carter, Hebert, Marquez
First thought was 2-2 , Lewis and Prior
Chesham (0) 1 Dorking W (2) 4 Muitt (2), Prior, Marquez
901 (275 Wanderers)
Its going to be a wet one today, 2-1 win for the Wanderers
Decent amount of possession, tons of crosses, but their keeper claimed everything.
Gutted for Jordan Norville Williams having to go to hospital with a dislocated shoulder.
To be honest Prior didn't look like scoring
Positives - a week until the next game, the team will be stronger in 7 days, maybe a full 90 from Carter next time.
Did actually have two incredible scoring chances in the added time at the end of the 90.
I think the team is capable of a play-off finish, need to get results away from home though as we can't just rely on home wins (for no other reason than an away play-off would undo the hard work of a season)
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
A poor performance today in a scrappy game. Chesham clearly had a game plan and executed it well. I thought Carter looked lively and was arguably our best player in the first half. Lewis and Muitt both had quiet games today, MW said Muitt has been ill the last couple days. Crosses and the majority of our corners seemed to of been put on the GK who was claiming everything, not too sure why we didnt mix it up once we realised this. MW was bang on with his post match interview Chesham deserved the 3 points
Agree with all of that @Hemel Wanderer, the quality of the passing was not up to usual standard today and we didn’t do enough to win. Missed Camp at RB as Annesley cannot get forward and offer a threat unfortunately. An uncharacteristic mistake for the goal from Storey; let’s put that one behind us and move on.
Too much going against us today - let's tally it up
- Players having to play out of position
- Players not yet fit enough coming back from injury
- 2 x 35 yr plus players having to do yet another 90 mins - and it's showing
- Jimmy clearly ill - and half a yard off it
- Missing crucial players - now JNW can be added to that list
So, not great today - but the future is still very bright indeed - we'll have another 'day in the sun'....
Away from is a worry (17th in table and only 9 points from 10 games). Strange, as last season we were the best in the League playing away. If we don't improve the away form we may struggle to make playoffs. Last season home form was generally good, but we struggled with home form at times, but this season it has been excellent (4th in table and 22 points from 9 games).
@crawleysth Yes it's quite the contrast. Anyone any ideas why? So strange.
Last season 7-1 v Hemel - this season 0-2
Last season 4-0 v Chelmsford - this season 1-1 (late equaliser)
Last season 5-0 v Chesham....
I guess with each of these there were individual factors (mostly injuries/fitness/players out of position) but still odd
A really, really poor performance that felt very similar to some of the earlier games this season (Chippenham, Hampton, Hemel). We don't seem to do well on bigger, wider pitches as I don't think we have enough athleticism in our backline (especially without Camp and JNW) and I don't think we have an actual holding midfield player to help with that either.
At the other end of the pitch, we just don't seem to have enough goals in the side. I'm really shocked we haven't looked to bring in cover for Alfie as we do not have any likewise player in the squad and I think that will really hurt us away from home where you need to be able to stretch teams. At Meadowbank it isn't as much of a problem as the wingers often find themselves in scoring positions.
Compare us to Torquay who were already one of the top scorers in the league and they went and signed a young forward on loan from Exeter midweek, and he scored on his debut on Saturday.
I also think we desperately need another winger in the squad. We have been very fortunate that Lewis and Muitt haven't picked up injuries so far this season but as soon as something is wrong with one of them, like Muitt being ill this weekend, then we have no choice but to still play them as there is no option like Briggs, Bowerman or B.Taylor in the squad. The original plan was to have Vincent as one of the wingers with JNW as depth as well but that won't work as Vincent clearly isn't a winger and JNW has to play the left of the 3 role (and is now injured for months anyway).
Eastbourne were probably the best team i've seen visit Meadowbank a couple of weeks ago and they are now off the back of a 6-0 win at the weekend so next weekend isn't going to be any easier. The couple of positives that we do have are Camp being back and the return of Carter, who looked pretty good first half at Chesham.
Some stats from the game:
Possession: Chesham 33% - 67% Dorking
Shots (OT): Chesham 19(7) - 13(5) Dorking
xG: Chesham 2.81 - 1.32 Dorking
Passes: Chesham 241 - 519 Dorking - 2nd most we've attempted this season
Top Performer: Dennon Lewis [8.0] - The algorithm really loves the 'completed dribbles' stat...
For me, that would've been a different game with Camp and JNW playing - we looked disorganised at the back - and slow as soon as he went off. Must also remember that Vincent is NOT a left back.
And you can't blame Moore who's been an absolute warrior for us last few weeks but the thing is, that could never continue at his age and I think it showed too.
With Jimmy off it too, this result was no surprise tbh.
@dorking-eagle Great player for us, seemed to lose his way a little at Farnborough so let's hope we can get him back to his best