WANDERERS BACK TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST STONES

Dorking Wanderers 3-1 Wealdstone FC Vanarama National League Premier October 22nd 2022

'Seager brace sees Wanderers go back to winning ways...'

A Ryan Seager brace and a Harry Ottaway goal off the bench ensured all three points for Marc White’s side. Seager’s rather fortuitous first half goal was cancelled out by a Tarryn Allarakhia equaliser shortly after the restart, however Dorking came out on top with a spirited second half display. White made a few changes to the side that got knocked out of the FA Cup by Eastleigh last weekend, with Dan Lincoln returning in goal, Ed Harris coming back into the backline, as well a return to the midfield for Jack Jebb. Jebb, in particular, justified Marc’s selection with a fine display on the afternoon. The Stones had the first chance of the game inside the opening two minutes, a drifting Micah Obiero run evaded Dorking’s midfield, the winger then found striker Olufela Olomola, who set the ball nicely for Giovanni McGregor to strike, but Harris was equal with a strong block. Shortly after, Niall McManus found himself with space to run into down the right, his cross found the oncoming James McShane, who would've been disappointed not to hit the target with his header. McShane would've had a goal of the season contender, had his overhead kick beaten ex-Wanderers keeper Sam Howes, after the ball bounced around in the eighteen-yard box following a corner. Following his speculative effort, neither side could sustain possession for any notable periods for the first twenty mintues of the game. The defensive instincts of Harris were required on occasion, sweeping up any danger a Wealdstone counterattack would pose. Dorking’s opener incensed the Wealdstone players, and bench, who believed there was a foul on Mason Barrett deep inside The Stones’ half, the referee, eager to let a slightly stagnated affair flow, didn’t blow. Following the challenge Bowerman picked the ball up on the left and took advantage of the unorganised Wealdstone defence by sliding the ball through to Seager. The Wanderers No9 latched onto the pass, but hit his effort straight at Howes, fortunately the ball ricocheted and looped over the keeper and towards goal, Seager’s sharp instincts in the box saw him follow the ball and was able to bundle it home. The goal gave the hosts a real aura of confidence in possession for the rest of the half, Jack Jebb found plenty of space in midfield and was, like his usual self, spreading some delightful cross field passes to try and develop attacks. Despite Dorking’s growing control Wealdstone did have their moments in the first half, Allarakhia had the ball in the back of the net following a mix up at the back for Dorking, but the winger was flagged for offside. Moments prior to the half-time whistle, The Stones had their biggest chance of the half, Allarakhia, again at the heart of the attack, evaded Gallagher’s challenge and found his teammate McGregor in acres of space on the edge of the eighteen-yard box, but he slashed his effort just wide of Lincoln’s post. Half-Time: Dorking Wanderers 1-0 Wealdstone FC The visitors came out in the second period with a sense of willingness not present in the first. For the opening periods of the second forty five at least, it was Wealdstone who were on top, a break from Olomola nearly created a goalscoring opportunity, but for Harris intercepting his cut back pass in the area. Allarakhia embodied the determined nature of Wealdstone for the opening periods of the restart, as he won the ball back in Dorking’s penalty area and tried to feed his awaiting teammates in the six yard box, but some valiant Wanderers defending resulted in scrambling the ball clear. Not long after, the visitors made the pressure count and got back on level terms. Allarakhia, after breaking down the left, managed to avoid oncoming challenges and cut it back inside onto his right foot, before sneaking an awkward effort through multiple Wanderers legs and past a helpless Lincoln. The visitors, understandably, slightly eased up on their intensity after the equaliser, that ensued a twenty-minute period in the game which was devoid of any rhythm. The introduction of Ottaway for the hosts, did change the game. White’s introduction of Ottaway allowed for an outlet and alternative physical option in the final third of the pitch, his ability to hold the ball up was pivotal in turning the tide. For the second goal, it was, incidentally, some dogged hold up play from Seager to win possession high up the pitch, after gaining control, he fed the overlapping Bowerman, who was as bright as ever down the left-hand side. Bowerman was able to find Ottaway’s third man run through the middle, who was able to slot the ball into the bottom corner. Dorking could have killed the game off with five minutes of normal time to play, when an almost identical attack to the second goal played out again. This time, Ottaway was the one who held the ball up and fed Bowerman, who picked out McManus in the middle, but his heavy first touch meant he couldn’t get enough contact to beat Howes. Deep into stoppage time, Dorking played out the move again, only this time they managed to capitalise. Ottaway held the ball up, found Bowerman, Seager made sure to meet Bowerman’s pass in assertive fashion to sweep the ball home and seal all three points and cap off a resilient performance from himself. The win moves Dorking up to eleventh, above Wealdstone, who suffered their third league defeat on the spin. With a local trip to Woking coming up on Tuesday, Marc White will hope his side can build on a strong performance. Dom Bleackley Dorking Wanderers [3-5-2] – 1 Dan Lincoln, 3 Bobby-Joe Taylor, 5 Ed Harris (33 Callum Kennedy 73’), 20 Dan Gallagher, 23 Jack Jebb 6 Niall McManus, 17 Josh Taylor, 7 Jimmy Muitt (17 Nicky Wheeler 66’), 11 James McShane (24 Harry Ottaway 46’), 30 Seb Bowerman, 9 Ryan Seager Unused subs: 4 Sami El-Abd, 10 Luke Moore Goals: Seager 22’, 90+3', Ottaway 70’

Yellow Cards: Harris 11', McShane 28', Gallagher 35' Wealdstone FC – 13 Sam Howes, 2 Jack Cook, 4 Ashley Charles, 6 Mason Barrett (11 David Sesay 73’), 26 Samuel Habergham, 23 Jayden Mundle-Smith, 12 Geovanni McGregor, 14 Micah Obiero, 17 Dominic Hutchinson (20 Simeon Akinola 72’), 9 Olufela Olomola (25 Sam Matthews 66’) Unused subs: 5 Deji Elerewe, 18 Alex Dyer Goals: Tarryn Allarakhia 51’

Yellow Cards: Hutchinson 57'

Referee: Lloyd Wood

Att: 1416

Sponsors Man of the Match: Ryan Seager