BOXING DAY BONANZA
A resounding victory for Wanderers well and truly laid to rest the memory of our 6-0 drubbing received from Havant in our first National league South season. A fantastic crowd of over two thousand witnessed a powerful performance by the boys, which has been building for a while now. A fit again Jason Prior lined up alongside in form Alfie Rutherford in a threatening looking line up.
Games between these two sides are normally a very competitive affair,
but today would prove to be very different.
With both teams in the play off zone, there was a lot to play for and Wanderers came out of the blocks meaning business. Two early chances created by Matt Briggs crosses were repelled by Will Mannion. Three minutes in and another cross was met by the head of Alfie Rutherford who looped it over the helpless Mannion to get things under way with the first goal of the day.
One minute later and Rutherford again was through facing Mannion only to be shoved in the back by Paul Rooney, and the referee had no choice to but to award a penalty and show the defender a red card. A disastrous start for the visitors, compounded by Jason Prior calmly netting the spot kick. The one way traffic continued with Briggs creating havoc on the right. A tactical substitution by Havant was enforced, with Collins replacing Roberts, much to the consternation of the away fans. Although down to ten men from so early, The Hawks never really got to grips with their situation and were really looking very ragged. Manager Paul Doswell was livid from his seat in the stand. Their plight worsened after twenty minutes when the lively Rutherford set up Niall McManus with a delightful cutback for the number 6 to slot home from eight yards. Next was a delightful long cross field pass from Darren Oldaker finding Matt Briggs. He put McManus in and his cross was met by the unstoppable Rutherford for his second and Wanderers third.
A free kick for Havant, and a yellow card for Dan Gallagher, resulted in a well struck free kick from Jake Andrews bringing a fingertip save out of the largely untroubled Dan Lincoln. Alfie’s hat trick arrived in the 37th minute, when he out muscled the crest fallen defender and struck a low shot past the hapless Mannion.
Dan Gallagher was replaced by Sami El-Abd as a precaution following his yellow card.
HALF TIME 5-0
As you would expect, the game lost it’s edge a little after the break and Havant looked well and truly beaten. Great interplay between Matt Briggs and Josh Taylor saw the latter’s shot saved by Mannion, who had to save again seconds later after Jason latched on a Barry Fuller cross.
Wanderers started to ramp up the pressure again and the strike partners worked well together with Alfie running at the defence and squaring for Jason to get his second of the day.
Jimmy Muitt joined the action as he replaced hat trick hero Alfie Rutherford, who left the pitch to a standing ovation from the happy Wanderers faithful.
The few chances that the visitors did create resulted in poorly executed corners and free kicks, and their fans were getting very agitated, waving their inflatable snakes at their former players who were compounding the misery.
Josh Taylor came close after creative work, and more chances came along, and Jimmy Muitt hit the post. Jason Prior was replaced by Luke Moore for a well deserved rest. Luke soon got busy and pouncing on to a delightful through ball ran at the keeper and set up and easy chance for Matt Briggs to make it seven after 78 minutes.
Four minutes later and Jimmy latched on to a loose ball in the area to hit number eight and make it a day to forget for The Hawks.
Manager Marc White was obviously delighted by the overall performance and the quality of the finishing in particular. The fog descended over Meadowbank as the final whistle blew, and the scoreboard shone brightly with the resounding score.
DORKING WANDERERS 8 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 0
DORKING WANDERERS
Lincoln, Briggs, Prior(Moore 73), Rutherford(Muitt 61), McManus, Wheeler, J Taylor ,Cheadle, D Gallagher (El-Abd 40), Fuller, Oldaker.
Unused subs BJ Taylor, Wills
Yellow D Gallagher
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE
Mannion, Passley, Oastler, Rooney (Red card 4), Newton, Gobern, Rendell (Wall 10), Wright, Roberts (Baggie 60), Andrews (Collins 52),
Unused subs; Clifford , Read
Red Rooney
Match Officials; Referee Aji Ajibola. Assts; Rudin Preca, Kane Dempster
Attendance 2048