MATCH PREVIEW | LATICS
Dorking Wanderers vs Oldham Athletic
Vanarama National League
Saturday January 7th - 3pm K/O
The First Home Game Of 2023!
Dorking return to National League action on Saturday for the first home game of the New Year as Oldham Athletic are the visitors to Meadowbank.
Unbeaten in their last three games on home soil, Wanderers will be hoping to bounce back from the bitterly disappointing defeat suffered against Eastleigh on New Year's Day and get back to winning ways ahead of a break from the league next Saturday for the FA Trophy 4th Round tie against Kidderminster Harriers.
Team News
In his weekly update broadcast on Thursday, manager Marc White indicated that Ed Harris should be available again for selection following a recent calf injury. It was anticipated that Luke Moore (leg injury) and Josh Taylor (ligaments) would both return for Saturday's game but after suffering setbacks this week they are likely to miss out, as are Isaac Philpot and Callum Kennedy who have both picked up knocks in training.
It was confirmed earlier this week that defender Joe Cook would return to his parent club Chesterfield after joining Wanderers on loan back in early November. In recent days the short term loan spells of Jasper Pattenden and Joe Walsh have now concluded, with both players also returning to their parent clubs, Wycombe Wanderers and QPR respectively. We wish all three the very best for the remainder of the season.
Opposition Focus: Latics
Oldham come into this weekend's game occupying the final relegation place of 21st in the league table. Like the other side who came down from League Two with them last term, Scunthorpe United, the Latics have struggled throughout the first half of the campaign to move away from the drop zone and will arrive at Meadowbank on Saturday having won just one of their last nine league games. After suffering a 4-1 defeat away to Notts County on Boxing Day, they did manage to hold the league leaders to a draw on New Year's Day at Boundary Park, Nathan Sheron and Joe Nuttall getting the goals for the home side as came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw.
The Latics of course defeated Wanderers live on BT Sport in new chairman and owner Frank Rothwell's first home game at the helm back in August, but following a subsequent run of results which saw one further win in the next six games, it was mutually agreed that manager John Sheridan would step aside. Everton U23s head coach David Unsworth was appointed as his successor, but would have to wait a month for his first win as Latics saw off Chester in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round on penalties before defeating Yeovil Town 2-0 in the league in mid-October. A winless November included a 3-0 defeat in the 1st Round Proper of the competition away to Wrexham, Unsworth's side returning to winning ways on December 11th as they defeated Torquay United 3-2 at home before progressing from the 3rd Round of the FA Trophy a few days later, drawing 0-0 against Peterborough Sports before winning 3-2 in the penalty shootout.
Unsworth has looked to improve his attacking options in the last couple of months, signing experienced National League striker Alex Reid on a permanent deal in November following his release from Stockport County, and recruiting Joe Nutall from Scunthorpe United on a three year deal back in early December. Both have already been among the goals this season in the division, with Reid netting 7 whilst on loan at Solihull Moors and Nutall scoring 11, netting 9 at the East Lincolnshire club before making it 2 goals from his first 2 Latics appearances in the games against Notts County.
Elsewhere, the loans of Walsall duo Peter Clarke (defender) and Timmy Abraham (striker) have been recently extended, as have the temporary spells for midfielders Ellis Chapman and Sydie Peck, on loan from Cheltenham Town and Sheffield United respectively. All have featured regularly in a side much changed since the side's met back in August. Captain Liam Hogan and the match winner from that afternoon, attack minded midfielder Ben Tollitt, are two key players who have continued to feature in the side since the beginning of the campaign.
Earlier This Season...
In front of the BT Sport live cameras, Wanderers played their first ever National League Prem away game on the second weekend of the season. With a marching band procession, rendition of the National Anthem and rousing speech from new chairman and owner Frank Rothwell before kick off, it was an unforgettable occasion with nearly 8 and a half thousand fans in attendance. In the game itself Wanderers went behind early on as Hallam Hope opened the scoring, and goals from Chris Porter and Ben Tollitt not long after the restart gave the home side a commanding lead. Wanderers rallied late on and pulled two goals back as Josh Taylor and Alfie Rutherford both headed home crosses from Bobby-Joe Taylor, but Marc White's side ultimately ran of time to rescue a point.
KEY INFO TICKETS - SELLING FAST! SECURE YOURS NOW ONLINE: https://dorkingwanderersfc.ktckts.com/event/dor2223h14/oldham-athletic PRICES: Adults £16 / Concessions £13 / U18s £8 / U8s £4 FAMILY OFFER! A family of 4 (2 adults, 2 U12s) can watch the Wanderers against Oldham for only £35! MATCHDAY PROGRAMME: £3 (physical copies only, available at ground) Why not join us for a drink in the FanZone? Located behind the Stonegate Home Stand, we're open to supporters from 1pm!
Not attending Saturday's match? Stay in the loop... STREAM: National League TV will streaming the game, visit: https://www.nationalleaguetv.com/ for all the info & how to sign up! LIVE COMMENTARY: Gary Pascoe will be providing live matchday commentary via Mixlr, keep an eye on our social media channels for more information! UPDATES: We will be providing action and score updates throughout the afternoon via Twitter (@DorkingWDRS)
VISITING FANS INFORMATION: Getting to Meadowbank, where to grab a pre-match drink beforehand and more... https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/visiting-supporters