Looking forward to getting started for real and seeing new team going for it.  2-1 win for us 

1-2 with goals from Charlie and Alfie 

I did not see the game but very disappointing start to the season. It was clear last season we were shipping too many goals. We have shipped two away against a side that will be at best midtable.

If you are playing both Prior and Rutherford as a pairing you cannot play Carter and Josh Taylor as CM. You need a defensive midfielder in there like a Pybus, a ball winner. Its going to be a long season if we play with that set up. 

Its extremely annoying that Annesley is not available for this easy run of fixtures we have at the start of the season and nor is Pybus. We do not have anyone like him in the squad so its a big loss that we probably wont see him until October at the earliest. 

My takes from today.

Two points dropped we was by far the better side, loads of chances that went missing. Chippenham were a very poor footballing side happy to just sit back and let us knock the ball around rarely threatened us. Dennon Lewis was causing them problems all day down the right. On another day we would of walked away with a comfortable win.

@hemelwanderer

Yep spot on. Far the better side, silly mistakes, crap pitch, windy day, annoyingly difficult opposition who are, I guess, 'anti football' - so yea, point gained I'd say.

Pros:

The fans - 250/300 so not far off half the total crowd - really impressive. 

Effort - especially second half - none of that fading away as the game progresses or nears the end - longer it went on, more likely we looked

Cons:

Too much reliance on crosses again

A disappointing result against a very average team - can’t afford silly mistakes at the back. Lots of possession but enough goal threat for me.  Yes, some half chances but too many poor crosses and too few incisive passes. 

Agree on the need for a holding midfielder. Francomb could do a job there until Pybus is back, which will be quite soon I gather.  Presumably, that means 3 at the back? Will he play Annesley in centre when fit? And where does Lewis fit in when Jimmy is back? I thought he played well, but might be better in a front two, if he gets decent service.  

But it was nice to have a late goal going our way for a change from last season. And fitness levels looked pretty good. 

@adeb 💯 even at 2-0 down it never felt like we was out of it and in getting one goal back we would always go onto score again, so that was positive. Not a fan of the short corners get it in the box as shown with Camps header

I'd say close to 300 were supporting Dorking, they were round the sides too. Including some who made an effort to travel a long way - one group I spoke to who admired my scarf were from Manchester. Do the club reach out to these supporters does anyone know - they really go the extra mile, and I wondered if the club know about all of them?

Game itself was made an uphill task, but DW were on top for the bulk of the game, and eventually got there with persistence and scrappy goals.

Dennon was excellent 2nd half I thought. Would think Muitt goes straight into the team next weekend and Dennon plays elsewhere, maybe where Carter usually plays?

Thought the 7 man bench was a bit light of options today.

Marc's lofty viewpoint made me chuckle, what a ridiculous alternative! The flags just above him were being battered by the wind so Marc must have been blown to bits up there!

Still very optimistic for the season ahead - COYW

@dorking-eagle Would keep Lewis on the right next week he deserves to keep his place after todays performance. Vincent done alright too

Posted by: @baggy

↑

A disappointing result against a very average team - can’t afford silly mistakes at the back. Lots of possession but enough goal threat for me.  Yes, some half chances but too many poor crosses and too few incisive passes. 

Agree on the need for a holding midfielder. Francomb could do a job there until Pybus is back, which will be quite soon I gather.  Presumably, that means 3 at the back? Will he play Annesley in centre when fit? And where does Lewis fit in when Jimmy is back? I thought he played well, but might be better in a front two, if he gets decent service.  

But it was nice to have a late goal going our way for a change from last season. And fitness levels looked pretty good. 

I think you need a defensive midfielder regardless of whether its a back 3 or back 4. 

Marc recognised the tactic of "turnover and then go direct" and the best way to counteract that is have a DM in between the defensive line and the midfield line. So many goals get conceded this way vs opposition that barely has the ball. It needs to be shutdown as its wildly effective. 

Not sure how many games we will see from Annesley given he plays every game for Gibraltar and he has started the season injured. But it will be him in place of TC if its a back 3. 

I can see Lewis coming on for Alfie in the front 2 after 60 minutes with Muitt starting. Or Muitt coming on for Lewis after 60 minutes on the right. Or Muitt coming on at RM, and Lewis moving to the front 2 with Prior after 60. There are a multitude of options. 

Posted by: @jacksonfairweather

↑

There are a multitude of options. 

Exactly this - and this is exactly what we need this season...

I would definitely have Annesley in for Craig as we have really needed a ball playing centre back. Tony's done superbly for us, but is limited in that respect and prevents us playing out through the middle.