Dorking Wanderers 4 Walton & Hersham 0
Surrey Senior Cup 2nd Round January 25th 2022
Dorking progressed to the third round of the Surrey Senior Cup after defeating Walton & Hersham under the lights at Meadowbank.
As indicated after Saturday's game, Marc White named a strong side comprising of first team personnel, many seeking further minutes and/or returning from recent injuries. Slav Huk made his first competitive start since October, as Isaac Philpot also returned to the starting line up for the time this season. Jimmy Muitt and Kane Wills also came into the starting eleven, on a night where Dan Gallagher captained the side in Barry Fuller's absence and Luke Moore led the line up top, a throwback to the start of his career when he played as a forward.
The visitors started brighter; Dean Rule forcing Huk into early action with a save from point blank range after good build up play down the attacking right, before Rule would have another effort blocked from the opposite channel minutes later.
For much of the half play was locked up in the middle of the park as both sides committed to playing possession football, but Walton were winning the 'battle of the high lines' as they found success with their attackers moving quickly off the shoulder, Wanderers by contrast not playing at a quick enough tempo when transferring from midfield to attack, and racked up a few offsides in the process.
Beyond the midway point of the half, Wanderers started to knock on the door. Bobby-Joe Taylor's excellent searching pass down the left found Wheeler, who in turn crossed to find McShane at the back post, but under pressure from the recovering Harry Pointing, he knocked his shot just wide of target. Gallagher then read and intercepted play effectively up the other end and impressively carried the ball the length of the pitch. He then opted for a one-two with McShane in the area but Walton defended well in numbers to stop a strike getting off. Philpot was then unlucky not to head home the opener as keeper Liam Allen couldn't get two hands on a corner ball, the resulting header just over the bar.
Walton remained organised and continued getting forward quickly into good areas. In the run up to half-time, Harry Mills did go close with a free kick strike from 25 yards out, sending it just wide of target.
Half-Time: Dorking 0 Walton & Hersham 0
A change for each side took place at the break, Sami El-Abd replaced Dan Gallagher and took over skipper duties, whilst Leighton Fanshawe replaced Liam Allen in the Walton goal. It was understood after the game this change was based on Allen being suspended for upcoming matches and to give Fanshawe minutes.
Not long after the restart, both sides went close as Moore took down a long ball over the top and cut back for Oldaker, the midfielder's strike blocked inside the area. On the subsequent counter attack, Walton then had a chance through Dean Rule blocked just in front of the goal line.
On the hour, Wanderers managed to break the deadlock. The home side had stuck to their principles of playing out from the back throughout the evening, but on this occasion sub keeper Fanshawe cut his pass short, and Moore was quick to slam the ball into the back of the net.
Knocked by the goal and pushed increasingly further back as Wanderers sought to take greater command of possession, two further goals in as many minutes put the game beyond the Combined Counties leaders as the contest moved into the final twenty minutes. Firstly, the influential Oldaker would grab his debut goal for the club after firing a low free kick in off the post from just outside the box, ahead of Moore securing his second of the night, punishing an aerial spill from Fanshawe by again reacting quickly to hammer the ball home.
Moore was unfortunate not to get his hat-trick after having his near post effort well saved by Fanshawe after firmly striking from the left side of the area, but this time Josh Taylor was swiftest to react, burying the rebound and Wanderers fourth goal of the evening.
The match ball just wasn't meant to go home with Moore on this particular night; shortly after the goal Taylor turned provider with a slick, well measured through ball to send Moore in on goal, but he overcooked his effort and clipped the top of the crossbar.
Wanderers will find out their opponents for the third round in the coming weeks as remaining ties in the round are played out, with the draw date still to be confirmed. They now turn their attention back to league action and a visit to Billericay Town on Saturday.
Daniel Stobbart
Dorking Wanderers: 1 Slav Huk; 2 Isaac Philpot, 20 Dan Gallagher (c) (4 Sami El-Abd 46') 3 Bobby-Joe Taylor; 7 Jimmy Muitt, 26 Darren Oldaker, 15 Kane Wills (6 Niall McManus 57'), 17 Josh Taylor, 16 Nicky Wheeler (12 Callum Kennedy 57'); 10 James McShane, 18 Luke Moore
Unused Subs: 10 Conan Torpey
Goals: Moore 60', 73' Oldaker 71', J Taylor 82'
Walton & Hersham: 1 Liam Allen (Leighton Fanshaw 46'), 2 Darryl Siawx, 3 Louis Collins, 4 Harry Pointing, 5 Max Hustwick, 6 Joe Hicks (c), 7 Harry Mills (12 Reece Brewster 75'), 8 Eddie Simon, 9 Dominic Ogun, 10 Alex Kelly, 11 Dean Rule
Unused Subs: 14 Will Kouadio, 15 Stuart Baldwin
Yellow Cards: Collins 65'
Referee: Luke Chapman Att: 257 Sponsors Man Of The Match: Darren Oldaker