WANDERERS MAKE IT 3 WINS IN 4 FOR PRE-SEASON
Dorking Wanderers 4 Hanwell Town 2
Pre-Season Friendly
July 12th 2022
Dorking continued pre-season preparations with victory over Hanwell Town at Meadowbank. Goals from Alfie Rutherford, Ryan Seager and a James McShane brace rounded out a clinical first half against an organised and spirited Hanwell side who pulled a couple of goals back through the course of the second forty-five.
Marc White hinted after Saturday's win over Farnborough that an additional pre-season fixture may be added to the schedule, the manager citing fitness and player's making the most of their game time as the main reasons to add an extra game. The manager again deployed a separate team for each half, Niall McManus remaining absent from selection as he continues recovery from injury. Former Wanderers striker Gareth Chendlik was part of Hanwell Town's squad for the friendly and played the first half of the match.
A fairly even pattern emerged early on and would remain for much of the contest as both side's committed to passing the ball and getting forward quickly. Hanwell were first to carve out opportunities as the lively Sam Saunders fired over the bar, before sliding a chance just wide after a superb switch of play to find him in space from the left flank.
Wanderers first real effort on goal would open the scoring on twelve minutes; McShane gathering the ball just outside the box before firing home confidently beyond keeper Montel Joseph.
Mark Waters received a tidy through ball up the other end but was unable to get a shot away, ahead of Hanwell skipper Harry Rush turning well and driving a shot wide of goal. Seager then brought Joseph into action, running in behind and getting first to the ball, but the keeper spreading himself well to immediately block the effort on goal. Another well executed pass from deep then sent Saunders on his way, the shot deflected for a corner which fell out to Rush, who forced Huk into a save from range.
On the other side of the half-hour water break, Wanderers raised their tempo and fluidity in the Hanwell half and proceeded to score three goals in the space of six minutes.
McShane's superbly measured through ball released Rutherford through one-on-one, and the striker made no mistake tucking the ball beyond Joseph from several yards out. 'Macca' himself would then bag his second goal of the evening, tapping home from close range after Bobby-Joe Taylor's cross from the left was nodded back across the face of goal by Rutherford.
The Wanderers No10 hit the post before strike partner Seager made if four after excellent work from Muitt beating his man near to the byline. The winger cut the ball back for Seager to swivel an impressively measured low strike into the bottom left corner of goal.
Muitt and McShane combined to tee up Jebb for a volley at the edge of the box, lashed over the bar, before Cheadle's good movement bombing forward down the left proceeded Bobby-Joe Taylor dropping the ball into the box, Rutherford arriving on to it first time but smashing the strike wide.
In the final minute of the half Rutherford would go close again clipping the bar from the right side of the box, before Huk got out well and bravely clawed the ball away as a Hanwell attacker tried to round him outside the six yard box.
Half-Time: Dorking 4 Hanwell 0
The action at both ends continued shortly after the restart, Callum Duffy up from the back to head wide for Hanwell before Rutherford glanced Wheeler's cross too far across the face of goal and out of play.
Huk made a brilliant stop with his legs as midfielder George Nicholas lashed a low half-volley from the edge of the box, before Ottaway and Wheeler almost collectively bundled an effort over the line up the other end, somehow kept out by keeper Joseph. The stopper's palms were stung straight after as Mekki powered a volley at him after cutting in from the right wing.
Just past the hour, Hanwell grabbed a deserved goal back, persistent play down the right leading to Huk parrying a shot away, falling into the path of Mark Waters who tapped home the rebound.
Marc White introduced Kennedy and Stegall from the bench midway through the second-half, and it was Kennedy's corner ball which was headed at pace by Fuller running towards the near post, Joseph producing a brilliant reaction save to push the ball over the bar.
Following a second water break on 70 minutes, Hanwell finished the game the stronger side, Dernell Wynter in the thick of most of the good attacking play coming in from the left flank. After his free kick inside the D was smashed into the wall, he tried his luck with a curler searching for the top corner, Huk equal to it.
Wynter would get reward for his work after Massimo Giamattei won the ball well midway through the Wanderers half, going on to deliver a precise through ball finished comfortably by Wynter.
Wanderers spurned a couple of good chances very late on; Wheeler's cross was cushioned by the chest of Ottaway to set up Seager, the striker volleying his effort over the bar, and with virtually the last kick Kennedy's free kick from the left landed for Ottaway at the back post, the striker directing his strike the wrong side of the post though.
Wanderers continue pre-season preparations on the road this Saturday as they travel to Cardiff to face Barry Town United.
Daniel Stobbart
Wanderers 1st Half: Huk, Philpot, Harris, Cheadle; Muitt, Moore, Jebb, McShane, BJ Taylor; Rutherford, Seager
Wanderers 2nd Half: Huk, Fuller, El-Abd, Cheadle (Kennedy 66'); Mekki, Gallagher, J Taylor, McShane (Stegall 66'), Wheeler; Rutherford (Seager 66'), Ottaway Goals: McShane 12', 32', Rutherford 29', Seager 35' Hanwell Town 1st Half: 1 Montel Joseph, 2 Matt Mackenzie, 20 Isaac Olorunfemi, 4 Harry Rush (c), 5 Callum Duffy, 6 Dwayne Duncan, 7 Sam Saunders, 8 George Nicholas, 9 Gareth Chendlik, 10 Jack Hutchinson, 11 Mark Waters Used Within 2nd Half: 3 Massimo Giamettei, 18 Connah Wilks, 16 James Mansfield, 15 Dernell Wynter, 19 Kain Adom, 3 Luca Valentine, 6 Kai Davis, 8 Adam Laaref Goals: Waters 61', Giamattei 82'