WEEKEND RECAP, INJURY UPDATE & LOOKING AHEAD TO HALIFAX
Weekend Recap
Dorking return to league action with a trip up north to face Halifax Town on Tuesday evening, the rescheduled fixture a swift opportunity for Wanderers to get back to winning ways after a disappointing 0-3 defeat to Aldershot Town on Saturday at Meadowbank.
Inih Effiong's goal ten minutes before half-time broke the deadlock on what had been a largely open first half, Niall McManus and Ryan Seager going close to putting Wanderers ahead in the early exchanges with decent chances. Tyler Cordner's goal approaching the hour mark doubled the visitors advantage as Ross McNeilly's side began strongly after the restart, Wanderers unable to find a response despite taking command of possession for much of the remainder of the game. Tommy Willard added a third in stoppage time, finishing off a counter attacking move, after cutting in from the left flank. Still sat in mid-table following Saturday's result, Marc White will be looking for his side to respond as two long midweek journey's come up next, with the visit to Halifax followed by a trip to Torquay United on Wednesday November 9th.
Rhys Barker's Wanderers 'B' team picked up three points on the road on Saturday afternoon, bouncing back from two consecutive narrow defeats away from home to beat Hailsham Town 0-2. Ben Aubrey and Mark Soares both scored from set pieces as Wanderers remain in 5th spot in the league, a home fixture now on the horizon as Chessington & Hook visit Meadowbank this Saturday November 5th in a 3pm kick off.
Injury Update
The Wanderers first team head up to West Yorkshire with a depleted squad on Tuesday night, with further knocks and injuries accumulated over the weekend adding to the list of those already ruled out. Captain Barry Fuller will remain sidelined as he has done since mid October with a groin issue, looking set to return to training in a couple of weeks time all being well. Isaac Philpot (knee problem) and Seb Bowerman (knock) will both miss out on a place in the travelling matchday squad, whilst Harry Ottaway is a doubt after also picking up a knock during Saturday's game. Long term absentee Matt Briggs continues his recovery, with expectation he will be back in training by Christmas and returning to match action in the New Year.
Opposition Focus: The Shaymen
Wanderers travel to a Halifax Town side with as many points as games played so far this term, sat in 18th place on 18 points. After a difficult start to the season where the club collected just one point from their opening five games, The Shayman got their first win on the board on the August Bank Holiday Monday with a 0-2 victory on the road at Scunthorpe United. Recent good form has shifted Chris Millington's side away from the very bottom end of the table having only suffered one defeat in the last five which was at the hands of promotion favourites Wrexham. Home wins over York City and Dagenham & Redbridge have been part of the recent run and another victory came at The Shay in the late kick off this past Saturday, where goals from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe and Robert Harker secured a 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic.
Striker Dieseruvwe arrived from Tranmere Rovers in the summer having enjoyed a few seasons of success with Salford City, including being part of the side that won the National League Prem play-offs back in 2019. He's scored the most goals for the club so far this term with 7, supported in attack by the well travelled Jordan Slew and youngster Robert Harker, previously on the books at Burnley. The Shaymen boast vast EFL experience in their ranks with midfielders Luke Summerfield and Tom Clarke, whilst at the back centre half Jesse Debrah and left back Jack Senior have been consistent in their performances for the side in recent weeks.
Manager Chris Millington took charge of The Shaymen in the summer after the departure of Pete Wild to League Two Barrow. Millington had been assistant to Wild in the recent years at the club and at Oldham Athletic prior to that. He'll be hoping to steer Halifax back up the table, the club having finished in the play-off places twice in the last three seasons, defeated on both occasions at the eliminator stages to Boreham Wood and Chesterfield respectively. These have been the highest finishes for the club since promotion back up from the National League North in 2017.