Dorking Wanderers 0 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1

Dorking Wanderers 0 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1

Vanarama National League South

December 26th 2020

Dorking were consigned to back-to-back league defeats after going down to Tyrell Miller-Rodney's goal late in the second-half at Meadowbank. In what was one of only two National League South fixtures going ahead on a subdued Boxing Day programme, Wanderers found themselves again up against a keeper in top form in Alan Julian, and couldn't quite do enough to prevent the same result which occurred in the corresponding fixture last season.

There was just the one change to the side that started against Barnet in the FA Trophy last Saturday, Matt Briggs coming in for Jimmy Muitt on the right side of midfield.

Both sides set out with clear intent to get the ball down and play, but a lack of sharpness in possession and the final third hindered each throughout the first half. Wes Fogden not quite able to get on the end of inviting deliveries from the right via James McShane and Isaac Philpot inside the opening ten minutes after good work from Briggs getting upfield. Last season's match winner Sam Deadfield then had the first shot of the game saved comfortably by Sam Howes from distance just past the quarter-hour.

It would be around the half-hour that Wanderers would first test Julian, the stopper making a reactive double save following consecutive efforts from Luke Moore and Matt Briggs inside the area, before McShane would lean back and squander a chance in space after Briggs picked him out from the right shortly after. McShane then turned provider for Jason Prior in a similar position, the striker uncharacteristically standing on the ball and the chance fading away.

Up the other end Wilson Carvalho capitalised on a loose ball and dug out an impressive strike which hit the crossbar from 25 yards out, Niko Muir also striking over from similar distance a couple minutes later. The visitors interchanging attackers up top often retained the ball well in the final third for periods, but didn't test Howes, as Deadfield struck a free kick straight into the wall in the run up to half-time.

McShane had a 'Gazza moment' right before the interval, coming agonisingly close to getting a contact on Wheeler's delivery across the face of goal, before Julian would shut down a follow up effort from 'Macca' after Briggs cut in from the right.

Half-Time: Dorking 0 Hampton & Richmond 0

Just before the break Prior picked up a knock in a clash going for the ball, and was replaced by Alfie Rutherford. Marc White then introduced Niall McManus after the restart in place of Nicky Wheeler in a bid to freshen things up.

The general pattern of play continued, both sides lacking that sharpness on the ball, but Wanderers gradually established a further hold on possession. Briggs made a rapid start down the right; forcing a key block from Inman, before unfortunately slipping as he got a shot off from just outside the box.

Briggs then shifted inside really well and fed Rutherford, the striker managing to round Julien but unable to get a shot off, Briggs strike when the ball was recycled then blocked by the stopper.

With just over ten minutes to go the keeper denied Rutherford with his legs after Kane Wills measured through ball put him in one on one, sub Jimmy Muitt then having a strike impressively saved, Niall McManus dangerous cross also clawed away.

Wills again threaded the ball into the path of Rutherford with precision, and again the striker rounded the advancing Julian, from a tight angle Rutherford's strike was goal bound only to be denied by Inman on the line.

The Beavers would make Wanderers pay for not converting their chances just a minute later.

Not clearing their lines at the back, sub Ru Donaldson kept the ball alive in the left channel, feeding Tyrell Miller-Rodney, who managed to drill his shot between Howes and the near post from a tight angle to find the back of the net, the midfielder's first goal in two years.

In the face of Hampton managing the game out chances ebbed away, but McShane did go close again by driving a strike off the bar after beautiful control just outside the box, and Briggs threatening ball to the near post was well cleared, but the equaliser wouldn't come.

Gary Pascoe spoke to Marc White afterwards:

'Ultimately it's a smash and grab, that doesn't win you any bonus points though. Credit to Hampton having not played in 21 days and getting the win - that's a mammoth task to carry. Julien's had a massive game in goal for them, we've had some off the line, it's a game we should have won and perhaps would have on another day.'

Daniel Stobbart

Dorking Wanderers (3-5-2): 13 Sam Howes, 2 Isaac Philpot, 5 Ed Harris, 8 Matt Briggs, 9 Jason Prior (9 Alfie Rutherford 43'), 11 James McShane, 15 Kane Wills, 16 Nicky Wheeler (6 Niall McManus 46'), 18 Luke Moore, 22 Barry Fuller, 23 Wes Fogden (7 Jimmy Muitt 71')

Unused Subs: 3 Sam Beard, 20 Dan Gallagher

Yellow Cards: Fuller 41', Moore 45+', Harris 69', Briggs 73', McShane 90+'

Hampton & Richmond Borough (4-2-3-1): 1 Alan Julian, 4 Dean Inman, 6 Sam Cox (c), 7 Wilson Carvalho (9 Nathan Minhas 84'), 8 Sam Deadfield (3 Ru Donaldson 64'), 10 Jake Gray, 12 Niko Muir ( 2 Luke Ruddick 90+'), 14 Ryan Gondoh, 17 Tyrell Miller Rodney, 18 Kyron Farrell, 19 Christian Smith

Unused Subs: 15 David Fisher, 20 Imran Uche

Goals: Miller-Rodney 81'

Yellow Cards: Cox 7', Miller-Rodney 45'+

Ref: Paul Johnson

Sponsors Man Of The Match: Matt Briggs

Stats: (provided by Olly Wyse @Olly_Wyse)

Dorking Hampton & Richmond Borough

0 Goals 1

10 Shots (on target) 2

4 Shots (off target) 4

5 Corners 1

14 Fouls. 11

19 Crosses. 9

2 Offsides 2

5 Yellow Cards 2

0 Red Cards 0

57% Possession 43%