Maidstone (0) 1 Dorking W (0) 1 (Rutherford)

2,101 (380 Wanderers)

I’d take a draw now 100%, with a view to hopefully winning Tuesday at Eastbourne.

i think it’ll be 1-1 on Saturday with Prior scoring 

2-1 to us here. I just think the Momentum carries us through for another game. 

Clearly big concerns about the level of firepower in the final third for the rest of the season. But Maidstone is a notoriously limited side going forward and we know how to beat them. 

It’s crazy how we seem to swing from an embarrassment of riches one week (Prior / Vincent / Gallagher / Rutherford all on the bench against Chippenham) to threadbare the next. Injuries are part of football, but this pattern has been repeating for too many seasons to just be bad luck. Hopefully the club takes a proper long-term look at it in the off-season.

What’s going on with Pat Casey? It doesn’t feel like there’s been much clarity, and you get the sense even the club isn’t totally sure where things stand. Hopefully we see him back involved soon.

From yesterday’s update, Marc sounded very much in expectation-management mode, probably to ease pressure on the players, which I get. Listening to him, you’d think we were scrapping for survival rather than sitting five points clear. That said, I’m sure internally they know what a massive opportunity this is. Right now we’re just finding ways to win, and the team spirit looks as strong as it’s been all season.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bit of gamesmanship around the injury updates.. partly for competitive advantage, partly to manage expectations. Ten days ago Marc said Dan and Charlie were a few weeks away, now it’s 2/3/4 weeks. Have they had setbacks? Or maybe we might see a surprise inclusion for Maidstone or Eastbourne?

I’d take a draw here, but I can see us grinding out another big result.

COYW. 🐓

Posted by: @mattywanderer

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I also wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bit of gamesmanship around the injury updates.. partly for competitive advantage, partly to manage expectations. Ten days ago Marc said Dan and Charlie were a few weeks away, now it’s 2/3/4 weeks. Have they had setbacks? Or maybe we might see a surprise inclusion for Maidstone or Eastbourne?

I did think the same. After Farnborough, Charlie and Dan were described as "7-10 days" away. Then after Hornchurch, they were described as "a couple of weeks" away and then during the weekly update he said they were "2,3,4" weeks away!

Marc does tend to over-estimate the absence lengths so I would imagine they are both in line for Chesham next week at the latest, unless they have actually suffered setbacks.

On Casey, I think the club asked Charlton to double check the scan. I assume if it is confirmed as a grade 3C (which it might have been already) then he will return to Charlton.

@calvertskans 

exactly, I’ve also noticed he does tend to catastrophise and over estimate.. but then again it does provide some level of competitive advantage (if not annoying for us fans!)

And thanks, if that’s the case on Casey then that’s a real shame. Some finisher.

Let’s hope his colleague from Charlton has a similar impact, welcome Kai 🤝 

The last two games there have ended 1-1 but last year that was down to a last minute OG after a brilliant team goal. Same result would not be a surprise but the Stones are not in a good place right now and their forum is generally pretty pessimistic about the game.  
With a new winger in the house, really solid defence, I’m going 1-0 away win. Set piece goal. Camp. 

Good to see we were able to get a young winger in, from Charlton despite the Casey injury.  Can someone remind me where Casey's injury happened - was it home or away?

@crawleysth It was at home to Salisbury I think, second half. 

@crawleysth Dover at home couple Tuesdays back

Posted by: @hemelwanderer

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@crawleysth Dover at home couple Tuesdays back

Thanks, that was a game I couldn't make.

How was today’s performance?

Cant believe we’ve lost Knight and Camp for the next few games. Surely Charlie and Pybus are imminent. Can’t come soon enough 

Spot on @Gary Munnery - and definitely happy to take a point there, especially with other results going our way. 

First half I thought we controlled very well and great to see a vintage Prior header, from another perfect delivery from Vincent.  

Second half Maidstone came out much more aggressive and they had enough chances to win it in the end. Great saves from Foulkes and a goal line clearance kept us in it. 

I’m not a big fan of getting one up and sitting on it: it worked on Tuesday but not today.  We had the quality to push for a second goal in the first half.  New lad Kai looks very good - skinned his man for fun. Lots more to come from him no doubt. Sending off was a very poor decision- hardly anything in it.  Hopefully no more injuries today at least 

@adeb got the correct score!

Crowd was 2366 inc 253 Wanderers

You never stopped singing all game, was loud and clear from my seat in the main stand - in stark contrast to the huge Kop of a home end which was largely very quiet

Huge game Tuesday at Eastbourne - a week ago I would have said it's an easy 3 points, but looking at their score today against Torquay it is a huge banana skin!

6 points clear ole ole