Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Another visit to the dreaded Hop Oast Stadium this Good Friday as we face local rivals Horsham and aim to edge closer to the league title. The Hornets have had a good first season at step 2, but currently sit 15th with just 1 win from their last 5 games. They also have a few ex-Wanderers in the form of Isaac Philpot, Charlie Hester-Cook and Lewis Carey.
No weekly update yet but recent updates suggested that we may see the return of Brennan Camp, Dennon Lewis, Niall McManus and possibly even Pat Casey this Easter weekend. Louie Annesley played 90 mins for Gibraltar away in Latvia last night, so you would imagine he would be a doubt to start for this one. Alfie Rutherford and Liam Vincent limped off with injuries against Hemel last weekend so may also be doubts.
Predictions:
Horsham 0-1 Dorking (Carter)
2,118 att.
Foulkes
Camp Craig Norville-Williams
Enslin Pybus Pinchard Pearson
F.Vincent
Prior Carter
Subs: Annesley, Francomb, McManus, Sidwell, Lewis, McCallum, Lawrence
Really not great, but a little perspective.
We still have so many key players missiing, but more than that, those that return are clearly not yet fully fit, certainly in terms of match fitness - and those that have come in on loan cannot possibly fit in consistently given how little time they've been with us.
In reality, only JNW and Charlie were the fully fit players we'd have name in our first XI at the start of the season.
The thing is, it's a bloody miracle we are where we are, and it was only a matter of time before things caught up with us.
Roll on Worthing.
Agree with that overview, a win on Monday transforms the whole position which is really the only positive way to look at the situation.
Terrible penalty decision from a poor referee but it's done now.
Central defence is a problem area with both TC and Annesley injured although I thouhht Knight did well there when he came on quite late. Prior had a decent game as well, so did Frank Vincent, that's as upbeat as I can be,.
Monday is going to be a white knuckle ride but its still a winnable game, and even a draw would keep us in the frame still fighting.
Football has it ups and downs, and it's why we come back again and again.
If we do go up we could have many difficult days next season - some of them a long, long way from home. That is the reality of being the underdog, a situation that taken as a positive the club can thrive at.
Hopefully in todays briefing, Marc looks forwards to the Worthing game and beyond only from a positive outlook, focussing on our strengths, the quality players we do have and the excellent things can do ourselves. Our great support, our sold out stadium and the unity in the squad to get this over the line.
We shouldn't dwell too much on what has gone before or the challenges, we should look at what we do have, the lead we are in and how we can make that count.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
To be honest we have been due a bad day at the office for a while. Even in recent defeats we have played pretty well for large parts of the games without getting the goals. It happens. But yesterday - not for the first time at Horsham - we were very much second best and did not deserve anything out of it. Players out of position and carrying injuries clearly does not help, and we again looked vulnerable on the break. Centre back situation now pretty worrying - although Camp and Francombe are options, as well as Knight.
Still a great position to be in at this stage of the season and our home form will hopefully be enough to see us through.
After all the chat about segregation I didn't notice any trouble, standing almost next to the Horsham fans behind the goal. Refreshing to have a genuine non-league atmosphere, with people there to enjoy the game and support their team. Great little ground too, even if I never want to go there again thanks!
After all the chat about segregation I didn't notice any trouble, standing almost next to the Horsham fans behind the goal. Refreshing to have a genuine non-league atmosphere, with people there to enjoy the game and support their team.
Horsham is a funny place tbh. Was chatting to my son about this as he brought it up - such a strange atmosphere, bit like Dulwich Hamlet (but not as bad), with so many people just chatting and drinking - and not actually really watching the game.
The atmosphere from the home fans was more like a village fete - especially with the style of announcer and no music in the build up (or at half time).
It was so bad that second half I couldn't tell if Horsham were in a dangerous position until they scored, as there was zero crowd reaction leading up to it. Very odd, and not my cup of tea at all. But yes, not a chance of any trouble with that sort of crowd.
And like others, really really hope I never have to go again, both for the above reasons and the obvious!
There must have been a reason for there being no music over the tannoy, it surely can't be like that every game?!!
I put the Horsham fans general non-interest due to them being so mid table that they weren't really fussed.
I don't see Horsham as rivals in any way by the way, they are just a nuisance!
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Did have the feels of a Boxing Day crowd where people came down as there was nothing else to do, been told it was a big game and weren’t particularly interested in it.
If i do go there again , I won’t make the same mistake in standing where I stood as it was right where the Horsham subs warmed up. Was very annoying
Been quite a few times to Horsham in the past, and don't ever remember them playing music to be honest. It is too loud (and repetitive) at Crawley so makes a change.
The worst place for disinterested fans was St Albans. All around me were men drinking Red Squirrel beer, women drinking wine and feral kids running around. Talk was holidays and the local schools. Not an interest in the football at all.
Dulwich was the worst for that, felt like most of the men were more interested in the craft ales on offer and the women were chatting about their kids. Loads of babies in those harness contraptions too.
If St Albans had been raining the last time we went there I reckon the crowd would have been halved, it was just a social hub for most in attendance, sprawled across the terraces like some sort of festival picnic.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
sprawled across the terraces like some sort of festival picnic.
Haha well yesterday there was literally a blanket spread out near the dugouts, with 2 baby ipads propped up for the kids. FFS.
Stats:
Possession: Horsham 37% - 63% Dorking
Shots (OT): Horsham 12(7) - 13(7) Dorking
xG: Horsham 1.30 - 1.34 Dorking
Passes: Horsham 311 - 498 Dorking
Duels: Horsham 42% - 58% Dorking
Top Performer (Dorking): Dennon Lewis [7.5]
Surprising stats considering most of us, including me, felt Horsham were the better side on the day.
@crawleysth The xG values are all over the place. The free header Hester-Cook had from 5 yards out in the first few minutes was only given a 0.07 xG, yet the left footed effort Carter had from the edge of the area mid way through the second half was somehow a 0.20...
@crawleysth The xG values are all over the place. The free header Hester-Cook had from 5 yards out in the first few minutes was only given a 0.07 xG, yet the left footed effort Carter had from the edge of the area mid way through the second half was somehow a 0.20...
Be interested to know where you get these stats from. Are they from the club, league, or a website that provides all these stats?
