Wanderers hit five past Farnborough at a sunny Meadowbank

Dorking Wanderers 5-2 Farnborough

July 9th 2022

Pre-season friendly

Similarly to the two previous pre-season games, Marc White rotated heavily between the two halves, with only a select few getting a full ninety minute run out. Bobby-Joe Taylor, one of Dorking’s stand-out performers on the day, was one of those select few. Interestingly, the number three played the first half at left midfield and the second half on the right, where he picked up two very similar assists.

Wanderers started the first half as they were to continue, dominant in possession, and precision in each action. In his post match interview, White described his teams first half performance as “as dominant as you’re going to see.” The strong opening ten for the hosts resulted in Rutherford finding space at the back post before heading home Billy-Joe Taylor’s deflected cross, unfortunately for the number 10 the linesman had his flag up.

Dorking’s relentlessness was too much for the visitors to contain, with Ryan Seager and Josh Taylor finding a lot of joy in the final third. It was Seager who opened the scoring, a deep cross from Mekki found the number nine at the back post who had time to touch and finish. It was a deserved lead for Dorking, who showed no signs of preserving energy. Fuller and Kennedy, playing at left and right centre back, had license to be heavily involved in the final third, often starting many of Dorking’s threatening attacks.

Farnborough’s first chance of the game fell to Mitchell Parker, after some neat work from Michael Fernandes to bring a long ball down, he found Parker with a good pass through the Dorking defence, however Farnboroughs number 10 couldn't finish what would've been a sweeping counter attacking goal. The visitors continued to threaten as Parker again found himself on the wrong side of the defence, this time he attempted to take it round Huk, the Wanderers number one brought him down for a penalty. Parker stepped up to take the penalty he won, but saw his shot well saved from Huk.

Shortly after, Josh Taylor left the visitors stunned with a wonderful solo goal. The midfielder picked up the ball just inside Farnborough’s half, evading multiple challenges before wrong footing the keeper, perfectly illustrating the confidence the hosts played with throughout the first forty five.

Half time: Dorking Wanderers 2-0 Farnborough

Farnborough started the second half with more impetus, and got the better of the Dorking defence on multiple occasions. Just two minutes from the restart, Kasimu pulled one back for the visitors, the striker rounded Huk and slotted into an empty net after a neat through ball from Hodges. The away side showed real signs of danger, White admitted in his post match interview that his defence’s off the ball shape “wasn't as rigid as it had to be” in the second half.

However, it didn't take long for Dorking to restore their two goal advantage, after switching to the right hand side, B.Taylor found great joy in creating space to cross, his first of many in the second half found the ever-elusive Rutherford in the six yard box who headed home. Kennedy’s marauding runs from defence were a common theme throughout the game, his particular venture on the hour mark won a foul around 25 yards from goal. Jordan Cheadle stepped up and curled home a tremendous effort to make it four for Dorking, making it two goals in two games for the centre back. His goal alongside Taylor’s meant that the 326 fans in attendance were treated to two goals of true individual brilliance at Meadowbank.

Despite being three goals down Farnborough’s belief never wavered, Hodges created a few half chances for himself but couldn’t properly test Huk in goal, while Kasimu offered a constant threat. It was however another Rutherford goal which all but put the game out of reach for Farnborough, an almost carbon copy of the third goal. A Billy-Joe Taylor cross to find Rutherford in the six yard box who tapped past a helpless Turner in goal.

Not long after the goal, the visitors managed to win a penalty after some nice work from Kasimu who was brought down to win an indisputable penalty. Hodges stepped up but hit his shot high over the bar. Fernandes, who caused problems all day for Dorking’s defence, did however make amends, with a smart finish past Huk to pull one back for Farnborough in the 83rd minute.

Dom Bleackley

Wanderers 1st Half XI: Huk, Fuller, Harris, Kennedy, Gallagher, Mekki, Jebb, J.Taylor, B.Taylor, Rutherford, Seager

Wanderers 2nd Half XI: Huk, Philpot, El-Abd, Cheadle, Moore, B.Taylor, Jebb, Mcshane, Wheeler, Rutherford, Ottaway

Goals : Seager 31’, J.Taylor 45’, Rutherford 51’, Cheadle 57’, Rutherford 65’

Attendance: 326