That's a champions performance right there today, utter determination despite playing against hoofball, quality fought through by the end

So proud

Get well soon Alfie

Superb win and comeback. Results went our way to a degree aswell. We’re on our way..🤞

Brilliant result today, and others too going our way. Feels a big one. 

Fully deserved the win but could have gone either way. A bit like Torquay, we controlled most of the game but they carved out some good chances. Thought Sidwell did well when he came on to support Pinchard in midfield and Charlie looked back to his best again. Come on boys!  

Fair play to the gaffer by the way...starting with:

Pearson, Rutherford, McCallum AND Carter is an absolute statement of attacking intent!!

And then King Jason of Prior comes on later in the game too

One team rightly deserved the win today just for laying it all out and throwing the kitchen sink at it

I actually saw a Hemel fan on X say they played us off the park , staggering.

Was a really worried for Alfie when he punched the floor in frustration at the injury- but he looked ok when he went off. Marc said he felt something. 

Did P Mac get booked for time wasting with his throw that went into the crowd ? 

They were probably the most competitive team we have faced at Meadowbank in months. Worked hard, constantly closed us down and dangerous on the counter attack. Nevertheless I still don't really think they attacked us enough in the final third to deserve a win, but that last minute goal line clearance was mighty close.

Fine margins and all that.

I thought yesterday was a really interesting game. Agree with the last post — Hemel were one of the best sides we’ve seen at Meadowbank this season. Defensively they were excellent, really well organised. Definitely a team you’d want to avoid in the playoffs.

As for the game itself, I’m still not sure what happened for their first goal. It looked a bit of a shambles at the back from where I was standing. And I actually thought the penalty decision was pretty generous. It felt like one of those where the ref gives it because he’s got a nagging doubt about an earlier one he didn’t give. For me, when Enslin beat his man and got brought down, that was a much stronger shout. Plus there were a couple of handball appeals that looked more convincing too.

All in all though, good fun — and thanks for the three points.

I don't think Hemel were one of the best footballing sides, but agree they were good defensively (especially their left back) and always looked dangerous on the break - eg from our corners. Needs tightening up for me. 

The highlights confirmed first impression of two mistakes: one from Pybus not getting anywhere near putting in an aerial challenge and then from Jordan, who seemed to completely miskick a straightforward clearance. He made up for it with that header off the line though at the death.

Penalty looked fair enough: definitely inside the box and one of those ones where two players go to kick the ball and the one who is slightly second to it makes contact. Innocuous but a foul. They would be given in the centre circle so I guess should be in the penalty area, even if they seem a bit harsh. If the player gets a shot / cross off then takes contact, they rarely get given, for reasons I don't really understand.  Great peno from Jason though.   

Posted by: @baggy

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Jordan, who seemed to completely miskick a straightforward clearance.

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Seemed to get his foot stuck in our 'shit pitch' (as Marc put it) - you can see the rubber pellets fly up

Bit of a strange game - thought we were terrible first half with very little quality in the final third. Hemel clearly a very well organised team who, like Chesham and Hornchurch, don't have a ton of individual quality in their side but are very well drilled and work hard.

Second half was much better as we controlled the ball a lot more and actually created some chances. That being said, Hemel had by far the better chances in the game and they were unfortunate to not get at least a point from the game.

Tough week for Norville-Williams as he was arguably at fault for all 3 goals we conceded but a decent all round performace in both matches and a brilliant goal line clearance at the end more than made up for it. Also a tough first half for Pybus who struggled with the balls over the top of him, but credit to the management team for getting Sidwell on, as he has deserved some minutes and was excellent second half.

Sounds like Alfie is the same nerve issue he has been having so hopefully he won't be out for that long. It will be interesting to see if Annesley is back for Horsham or not as he is playing away in Estonia tomorrow night. That could be a very big loss if he does miss that one as well.

Stats:

Possession: Dorking 65% - 35% Hemel - Highest since November

Shots (OT): Dorking 13 (7) - 12 (3) Hemel

xG: Dorking 1.97 - 1.53 Hemel

Passes: Dorking 471 - 241 Hemel

Duels: Dorking 55% - 45% Hemel

Top Performers: Charlie Carter / Paul McCallum [7.9]

Interesting stats. I guess the high possession figure shows that they sat back after scoring early and tried to play on the break - which worked pretty well for most of the game.  Slightly surprised by the XG figures - they had some big big chances in both halves - especially that one at the end.  Despite all that possession, we didn't get enough shots off probably, or create clear cut openings: I can only remember PMac header at end of first half and Charlie being unlucky when keeper deflected his shot on to the bar. Camp should be back for Friday though, and I would be surprised if Annesley didn't play some of it at least.