Dorking Wanderers 2 Billericay Town 1

Dorking got back to winning ways with victory over Billericay Town at a sun soaked Meadowbank. Early goals from James McShane and Nicky Wheeler were enough for Wanderers to take maximum points, Norman Wabo getting the visitors back into the game in the second half with a rebound after having his penalty kick saved by Slav Huk.

With Lee Worgan departing the club in midweek, Huk was handed his first start of the season, coming into the starting eleven with Kane Wills and Callum Kealy. James McShane was also back in the starting line up after missing recent games through illness, and would play in behind Kealy up top as Jason Prior could only make the bench after picking up a slight injury during training on Thursday.

Wanderers took command of possession in the game very early on, and managed to get ahead on 7 minutes. Kealy and McShane were unfortunate their link up play didn't come off inside the opening couple of minutes, but moments later Kealy showed good hold up play on the left side of the area, before driving a shot-turn-cross towards the back post, McShane on hand to tap in from close range.

Luis Shamshoum made the first of a number of good saves throughout the contest to prevent an unfortuate own goal after a skewed clearance from one of his defenders approaching the quarter hour, but shortly after Wanderers did make their pressure count to double their advantage. Nicky Wheeler cut in from the left and after having a first attempt closed down made no mistake at the second time of asking, bending a low effort into the bottom right corner.

Darren Foxley and Norman Wabo took on long distance efforts approaching the mid-point of the half, but Wanderers were still in control of the game; Wheeler often involved, cutting in again well from the left and winning a corner with his effort on goal, before McManus clipped a ball into the channel for the overlapping Barry Fuller to latch on to, his first time cross found McShane in the area but he scuffed the shot wide. McManus then turned provider for 'Macca', from the same side, but his glancing header strayed beyond the far post.

In the lead up to half time Billericay did go very close to getting back in the game from a couple of set piece deliveries, skipper Lawrie Wilson and midfielder Charlie Lee both squandering similar chances in the six yard box by applying a heavy contact and sending their efforts over the bar.

Half-Time: Dorking 2 Billericay 0

Shortly after the restart Nicky Wheeler's delivery from the left caused chaos in the six yard box, Shamshoum producing another good save initially ahead of McManus and McShane not being quite able to quite steer the rebounds towards goal.

McShane then missed a golden chance after being played through one on one from central midfield, but sent his effort just wide of target.

Again Wanderers could not get through the 90 minutes without sustaining another injury, Ed Harris going down off the ball and visibly limping, Sami El-Abd came on in his place.

Wheeler called Shamshoum into action again with another fierce drive cutting in from the left, but 'The Blues' had began to shift the ball forward at a quicker tempo following the restart, the introduction of sub Anderson Pinto at half-time certainly helping.

And just past the half-hour, it would be the substitute who managed to win a penalty after being caught just inside the area by Bobby-Joe Taylor. Wabo put the ball on the spot, and Slav Huk dived well to his left to save the spot kick, but Wabo was quick to pounce on the rebound and guide the ball into the back of the net.

After a brief spell of Billericay pressure, McShane was again guilty of spurning a chance to kill the game off. Patient build up play culminated in 'Macca' being picked out in space inside the area, but leaning back he drove the effort at goal over the bar.

Into the final minutes it felt like we could be heading towards a similar finale to last weekend's game, Wanderers again not quite able to kill the game off as McManus mazy run into the area and shot at goal was blocked at close range and Shamshoum produced an excellent save to deny Jimmy Muitt, his powerful strike punched over the bar with an outstretched arm.

Man of the match McManus kept his high energy performance going right up to the last, doing well to retain the ball in the late stages as Wanderers managed to see out the win, ensuring they are back on the winning track heading into FA Cup action next weekend

Daniel Stobbart

Dorking Wanderers: 1 Slav Huk, 22 Barry Fuller, 5 Ed Harris (4 Sami El-Abd 56') 3 Bobby-Joe Taylor; 16 Nicky Wheeler, 18 Luke Moore, 15 Kane Wills (20 Dan Gallagher 81'), 17 Josh Taylor, 8 Niall McManus; 11 James McShane, 29 Callum Kealy (7 Jimmy Muitt 61')

Unused Subs: 12 Callum Kennedy, 9 Jason Prior

Goals: McShane 7', Wheeler 15'

Assists: Kealy 7'

Yellow Cards: Harris 31', Bobby-Joe Taylor 78', Gallagher 88'

Billericay Town: 13 Luis Shamshoum; 2 Lawrie Wilson (c) , 3 Luke Warner-Ely (10 Jai Reason 77'), 6 Michael Chambers, 5 Marvel Ekpiteta; 4 Charlie Lee (19 Anderson Pinto 46'), 7 Darren Foxley (18 Harvey Sayer 75'), 12 George Wind, 14 Kurtis Cumberbatch; 9 Joe Felix , 15 Norman Wabo 7

Unused Subs: 8 Frankie Sutherland, 16 Henry Lukombo

Goals: Wabo 61'

Yellow Cards: Felix 31'

Ref: Alex Blake

Att: 770

Man Of The Match: Niall McManus