MATCH PREVIEW | THE HORNETS
Dorking Wanderers vs Horsham FC
July 25th 2023
7:45pm KO
Dorking will play their final home fixture of pre-season on Tuesday evening as Horsham FC make the short trip across from West Sussex to face Wanderers under the midweek lights.
This past Saturday, Wanderers made the trip the other way down to the coast of the neighbouring county to take on Bognor Regis Town at Nyewood Lane. True to all Wanderers pre-season fixtures so far this summer, it was another competitive contest, and manager Marc White was again able to welcome back players recovering from recent injury setbacks, with Niall McManus making his first appearance since February after overcoming an achillies injury, and James McShane also returning after picking up a calf strain early on in pre-season training. Having returned against AFC Mousehole the previous week, Josh Taylor also got more game time playing the whole of the first half.
Beneath grey clouds and persistent rainfall it was the home side who took the lead midway through the opening forty-five via Tommy Lee Higgs close range finish, Jason Prior equalising in style just past the half-hour with a neat back-heeled flick after Bobby-Joe Taylor cut in and drove a low ball into the middle of the box. The same pair would combine again to put Wanderers in front just after the restart, Bobby-Joe doing well to keep the ball in play at the byline and cut back for Prior to finish from several yards out, but Rocks midfielder Sam De St. Croix quickly restored parity with a brilliant strike from range finding the top right corner of goal, 2-2 the final score.
With two wins and two draws recorded so far in pre-season, Marc White will no doubt be looking for his side to maintain the positives and step up preparations through the course of this week with the visit of Horsham on Tuesday quickly followed up by the final game of the schedule this Friday night as Wanderers travel over to Hampshire to face National League South side Farnborough. Team News Matt Briggs and Spike Steggall are both set to return to the matchday squad on Tuesday night after the pair missed out over the weekend through illness. Rested on Saturday after picking up knocks through the previous week, Marc White hinted in his post-match interview he was unlikely to take risks on Barry Fuller (calf strain) and Aaron Kuhl (hip flex) returning to action just yet. Jimmy Muitt will remain side-lined as he awaits results on a scan for a stomach concern. Opposition Focus: The Hornets
7th place finishers in the 2022-23 Isthmian League Premier Division, Horsham narrowly missed out on a play-off spot despite a fine period of form in the closing weeks of the season. Unbeaten in the final five games of the campaign with four wins and one draw, The Hornets will be aiming to push on this coming season with manager Dom Di Paola attempting to add the finishing touches to a team that aside from a four-game win-less run across late September and early October, managed to pick up results consistently throughout the season. Scoring an impressive 84 goals across the league campaign, a tally only bettered by second-place finishers and playoff final runners-up Hornchurch, Di Paola’s side were ultimately hampered by inconsistant away form and the third-worst defensive record across the top half of the table.
Wanderers fans can expect to see a number of familiar faces as part of The Hornets current squad on Tuesday evening. In addition to the likes of midfielder Charlie Hester-Cook and winger Tom Richards, former Wanderers loanee Lewis Carey has recently joined the club to replace outgoing goalkeeper Taylor Seymour, and making a swift return following his 100th and final appearance for Wanderers against Scunthorpe United on the last day of last season will be former club captain Sami El-Abd, who made the switch to West Sussex on July 4th.
Last season's top scorer Jack Mazzone (24 goals) has committed his future to the club for another season, and popular midfielder Charlie Harris has recently returned after a successful campaign with Whitehawk. Further boosting his options across midfield, Dom Di Paola has also recruited Eastbourne Borough midfielder James Hammond, Guyanese duo Kadell Daniel and Matt Briggs, and in the last 48 hours has just secured the signature of former Worthing man Danny Barker.
After drawing at home to both Met Police (2-2) and Erith & Belvedere (3-3), Horsham picked up their first pre-season win this past Saturday with a 2-0 defeat of Maidstone United at The Camping World Community Stadium, Tom Richards and Alex Malins scoring the goals in the second half. Worthing, Lancing and Brightingsea Regent are all due to visit The Hornets for friendlies before the season gets under way on August 5th with a home opener against Hornchurch.
Last Time We Met... A fixture scheduled in pre-season across the last three years, a late Jake Gallagher goal gave Wanderers a 0-1 win at The Camping World Community Stadium back in July of 2020, whilst the following year Wanderers had to come from behind to win at Meadowbank, Shamir Fenelon opening the scoring early on before second half finishes from Wes Fogden and James McShane secured a 2-1 win. Due to go ahead as Wanderers final pre-season game ahead of the 22/23 campaign, last year's game was unfortunately postponed, but the two sides did meet back in late January of this year in a midweek, mid-season friendly at Meadowbank. The Hornets turned in a good all-round display to run out 0-3 winners on the night, Shamir Fenelon, Lucas Rodrigues and Eddie Dsane the trio getting on the score sheet.
Matchday Info Tickets Available online or at the turnstiles from 6pm, tickets are priced at Adults £6, Cons £4 & U18s £2. Save time on the gate by purchasing online! https://dorkingwanderersfc.ktckts.com/event/dwpre3/pre-season-horsham
Pre-Season Programme Our digital matchday programme for all pre-season home games is available to read now, please click the link below to view: https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/_files/ugd/7b0b40_6b4639795f004665928f9ffcb377a667.pdf The FanZone Is Back! The FanZone will be open from 6pm on Tuesday, with both sets of supporters welcome to soak up the atmosphere and join us for drinks and food before kick off. Match Updates Can't get to Meadowbank on Tuesday night? We will be providing action and score updates throughout the evening 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