MATCH PREVIEW | THE BLUES
Back On The Road Against Resurgent Blues
Dorking return to league action this Saturday with the last scheduled trip to Essex for this campaign, and a visit to Billericay Town.
Last weekend Wanderers made it eight league wins in a row with an emphatic 5-1 defeat over Ebbsfleet United in front of a record crowd at Meadowbank. Blighted by the dismissal of defender Sefa Kahraman for collecting two yellow cards inside the opening twenty minutes of play, Wanderers were in ruthless form in front of goal to punish the ten men. Man of the match Matt Briggs scored a hat-trick, with Wes Fogden and Alfie Rutherford adding further goals on an afternoon where Wanderers were roared on by the home faithful throughout, 'Fleet's Adam Mekki heading home a consolation in the second half. Rutherford's late strike was his 18th league goal of the season, and after the midweek set of games in the division the striker now sits joint second in the overall standings.
Wanderers turned their attention to Surrey Senior Cup action this past Tuesday evening and the visit of Combined Counties Prem leaders Walton & Hersham to Meadowbank. After overcoming Horley Town in the first round, Wanderers secured their passage to the third with a 4-0 victory. The visitors didn't compromise their style as an organised outfit committed to a quick, possession based game, going toe-to-toe with Dorking for an hour, before gradually being undone as the second half progressed via Luke Moore's brace, a Josh Taylor strike and Darren Oldaker's direct free kick, the midfielder's first goal for the club since joining back in November.
Oldaker may well feature against his former side on Saturday, the midweek man of the match having played for the 'The Blues' back in 2019, as did Callum Kennedy, who featured for the Essex side between 2018-2020 before joining Wanderers.
The ongoing injuries to David Ray and Jason Prior aside, manager Marc White has not confirmed any further concerns or abscence ahead of the game.
As confirmed over the past 48hrs, Wanderers have completed the signing of striker Harry Ottaway from Carshalton Athletic. An area of the field Marc White acknowledged needed strengthening in the wake of Prior's unfortunate injury, the former Sutton and Dover frontman will be included in the squad for this weekend's game. We welcome Harry to the club and look forward to seeing him in action.
The Blues
Wanderers will come up against a Billericay side that has undergone a few changes since the club's faced each other at Meadowbank back in September. After a disappointing start to the campaign, manager Kevin Watson was relieved of his duties in early October, the club quick in announcing a replacement as former Heybridge Swifts manager Jody Brown took up the reigns. After getting off the mark with a home victory over Slough Town, the club's woe's would unfortunately continue as they endured a subsequent run of seven league defeats in a row. However, through the course of December, Brown's side have become a harder side to beat and head into Saturday's contest six league games unbeaten. The recent run has included impressive results against sides competing towards the top end of the division, earning draws on the road at Ebbsfleet United and at home to Havant & Waterlooville and Maidstone United, plus victory away at Oxford City. They continued the recent good form this past Tuesday with a 1-1 draw away at Slough Town.
Jody Brown has made adjustments to the squad since his arrival and in recent weeks some of that work has come to fruition on the field. His first signing, creative midfielder Jack Munns, arrived in November from Boreham Wood and has recently impressed, with inclusion in the Vanarama NLS 'team of the week' following last Saturday's draw against Havant. Midfield quality was further strengthened with the arrival of Josh Wright, a highly experienced football league campaigner last plying his trade at Crawley Town last term. Up top, former Tottenham Hotspur striker Shaquille Coulthirst was another November addition and has 3 goals in the last 4 games in all competitions, and Femi Akinwande, a thorn in Wanderers side over previous campaigns, re-joined the club from Braintree back in December and has bagged 2 goals in his last 3 league fixtures. Norman Wabo remains the club's top league scorer for the campaign with 4 goals. Very recent business has seen 'one in, out out' within the loan market, with midfielder Josh Smile just recalled to Maidenhead United as Sam Skeffington joins the club on loan from Bromley, a product of Millwall's academy. Hot off the press, the club just announced on Friday the signing of striker Nico Muir from Hampton & Richmond Borough, although it is unconfirmed whether the signing has come too late for him to participate in Saturday's game.
The side's contested a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 draw at The New Lodge back in September 2019, Wanderers not making the trip back last season due to the early season curtailment. Moses Emmanuel and Jake Robinson had fired 'The Blues' into a 2 goal lead after half-time, but a spirited Wanderers fought back to level in the closing minutes. David Ray's tap in was quickly followed by Jason Prior's looping header to secure a point on a day where at 2-0 down Prior also missed a penalty.
Back at Meadowbank this past September, early goals from James McShane and Nicky Wheeler were enough for Wanderers to take a 2-1 victory, Norman Wabo getting a goal back just past the hour mark.