DORKING WANDERERS 4 DULWICH HAMLET 3
Monday 02ND MAY 2022
Dorking Wanderers secured their highest ever League finish as the three points put them in the runners up position behind champions Maidstone. This game also included the team’s 100th goal of the season.
Another fantastic crowd at Meadowbank saw a slightly changed Wanderers line up from the defeat at St Albans, including a return for Slav Huk, starts for Ed Harris, Callum Kennedy and Barry Fuller at the back, Luke Moore and Bobby Joe Taylor across the middle and Harry Ottaway up front.
Wanderers started the game predictably brightly, creating several half chances. The quality of Callum Kennedy’s crosses creating issues for the visitors defence. Hamlet keeper Grainger saved at close range from Alfie Rutherford’s early effort. Alfie then put one just wide two minutes later. The first break for Dulwich looked promising as McGregor charged forward at pace but ran into traffic eventually. Then totally against the run of play, Dulwich took the lead through the lively no.11 Darren McQueen, a goal largely gifted by Wanderers losing the ball in their own half, and the forward getting the better of Slav in the one on one.
Dorking went back on the offensive, and another corner saw the ball crash against the underside of the bar and scrambled away by Grainger. Intense pressure from the home side was causing frustration for players and fans alike, and after 22 minutes the very impressive Danny Green raced away to put the Hamlet two up.
Luke Moore set up Josh Taylor nicely, and his shot skimmed off the post to continue the frustrating theme of the afternoon. Ed Harris headed a corner just over the bar, and Dulwich quickly broke with Green again coming close, hitting the base of the post. More chances followed with Rutherford and Harry Ottaway both heading over before the interval.
HALF TIME – DORKING WANDERERS 0 DULWICH HAMLET 2
The second half began in a similar way, with early pressure from Dorking. Then 8 minutes in and Bobby Joe Taylor made a clumsy challenge in the box and Green netted from the spot to get his second of the day. The tension was growing , with two more chances for Ottaway both going straight at the keeper. Marc made his first changes on the hour, with Jimmy Muitt replacing the hard working Niall McManus and Kane Wills coming on for Darren Oldaker. Immediately fortunes changed and Alfie added to his impressive tally to get one back for the Wanderers and suddenly we had a game on our hands. Following another foray by McGregor which went just wide Dorking showed their mettle and the second goal arrived after 68 minutes, with Josh Taylor looping the ball over Grainger , but Alfie claiming the last touch.
Higgs was yellow carded for a cynical foul on Bobby Joe and the resulting free kick taken by Callum saw Barry Fuller head the ball back across the six yard box and Man of the Match Harry Ottaway scored the equaliser. The crowd were really getting behind the boys as a classic comeback was almost complete. Isaac Philpot then replaced Callum Kennedy. Frustration got the better of McGregor who was red carded with ten minutes to go. With just two minutes left on the clock, the visitors capitulation was complete as the superb Josh Taylor netted low into the corner of Grainger’s goal bringing about amazing scenes up on the Bank. From 0 -3 down to come back and win 4-3 was a truly fantastic effort. Despite six added minutes, Wanderers kept the ball to secure the Runners up position and the club’s record high finish.
This game was like a vintage Wanderers performance seen many times over the years and a real credit to Marc and the team.....and of course the fabulous 12th man!
Les Freeland
DORKING WANDERERS;
1 HUK, 22 FULLER(CAPT), 5 HARRIS, 12 KENNEDY (PHILPOT), 18 MOORE,17 J TAYLOR, 3 BJ TAYLOR, 26 OLDAKER(WILLS), 6 MC MANUS(MUITT), 10 RUTHERFORD, 24 OTTAWAY
UNUSED SUBS – EL-ABD, RODARI
GOALS – RUTHERFORD 60,68 – OTTAWAY 74 – J.TAYLOR 88
DULWICH HAMLET
1 GRAINGER, 2 MING, 3 BLACKMAN, 4 TIMLIN, 5 HOLLAND (CAPT), 6 OLOMOWEWE, 7 GREEN, 8 HIGGS(SPLATT), 9 MILLS(KANDI), 10 MCGREGOR, 11 MCQUEEN (DAYTON)
UNUSED SUBS – STERLING SEKAJJA
GOALS – MCQUEEN 15 – GREEN 22, 53(PEN)
ATTENDANCE 1875
STONEGATE HOMES MAN OF THE MATCH – HARRY OTTAWAY
REFEREE – CALLUM WALCHESTER