I'll predict a 2-1 win and one of those will be scored by Dennon Lewis

I am very concerned about the defence for this coming season again. 

The first game of the season seemed like a re-run of the last 2 seasons writ large. Conceding 2 goals off of speculative punts up field when we had 70% possession and should have scored 5 against over matched opposition, ending in a draw. The score draws killed us last season against overmatched opposition.

Hopefully Storey can shore things up a bit back there as he looked decent when I saw him as a "trialist". But its been proven that teams like this will just launch it long and direct when they win the ball back, knowing we often cannot defend properly running back towards our own goal. 

I will go for a 3-2 win here.

We need Pybus back as a DCM urgently, just patch him up and get him playing is my view. We need an experienced decent DCM in that role in front of the back 3. Its really important when you are possession based, committing bodies forward, and have those key moments when you need to make the right decisions defensively. Its a position you cannot put makeshifts in, we would not put makeshifts in as strikers, so why are we doing with a position as important as DCM? 

Dorking (1) 2 Hampton (0)1 Carter, Prior

1,501 (95 from the Thames)

@jacksonfairweather I do agree that there is some concern, I don't feel it has been as bad as the last three seasons (that first season in NL we were hemorrhaging goals to the opposition). The goals were from errors not poor overall playing. From what I can tell the back, is looking stronger this season than in past seasons. Pybus, with no insider knowledge, is struggling to not only get over his injury, but getting back in shape, and I think there is a mental component that is hindering him. Pybus is definitely a level above, and would be great with Camp, Annsley/Craig, and JNW. 

I'm going with 2-0 with goals by Dennon and Alfie.

Totally random unconnected observation, but just seen that Worthing were allocated 600 tickets for their game at Horsham tomorrow, have sold them all out, and the game is segregated. Don't think a game at Horsham's new ground has been segregated before?

I am full of early season optimism and with Jimmy back down the right hopefully some of that possession can be turned into goals. 4-1 win. Lewis and Muitt to score. 

@dorking-eagle Interesting one David. If that's the case then I'd imagine the same for us with only 600 tickets. Of course many can just as easily buy in the Horsham areas - especially as the addresses can be so close? Is there capacity 3,000 and what's thier average been?

Hope we aren’t segregated at Horsham but guess they’ll want to keep on top of any anti social behaviour with the bigger gates. 

As for today I think 3-1 home win. Goals for Alfie, Dennon and Taylor 

Posted by: @dorking-eagle

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Totally random unconnected observation, but just seen that Worthing were allocated 600 tickets for their game at Horsham tomorrow, have sold them all out, and the game is segregated. Don't think a game at Horsham's new ground has been segregated before?

I may be wrong, but I think the Barnsley game was segregated, and that was a capacity 3000 crowd (couldn't get a ticket). I am actually going to the Worthing game (I lived in Horsham for 35 years) so will let you know how it works. Club said home tickets almost sold out too. My understanding is the Torquay home game is to be segregated too.

Horsham averaged 1274 last year, but would expect much higher this year.

That first goal by Hampton was a wow moment. 

Channel ball from inside their own half, ends up being a 2v1 for them and a goal (not Camp's fault). 

Does the team ever practice shape on the field of play? Do they ever practice defensive shape on the field? Please do not answer as the answer is clear at this point. 

Does anyone at the club actually work on defence? Amazing stuff. Especially after the 2-2 draw we had in game 1, which was again caused by just bread and butter lack of preparation defensively. 

The wages they are paying for these players to go up are being shat down the drain, because no attention at all is being paid to the defence. 

Second goal another counter attack and lob over the keeper, just like last week. Is any work at all being done to stop conceding goals? 

We let in 2 today yet again, against a team that has barely scored a goal in pre season.

And once again it was on the counter, once again we were shit in defence. Surely this is a crisis from a coaching perspective for Dorking, surely its now time to spend an entire week working on defensive shape, and stop being mugged off by counter attacks? 

Players like McManus, Pybus and Annesley may help but there is clearly a lack of coaching and preparation going on here. Every team we play is taking the piss out of us. 

Wtf is going on

@hemelwanderer I take back the optimism from my earlier post. The defense is not looking strong. I was hoping 1st game of the season jitters was the reason for errors. Hard to watch the end.

@robh Didnt go today, going on Tuesday night. Shocked with the start 1 point out of 6. Still very early days of course but a poor start.