WANDERERS WIN IN THE WELSH CAPITAL

Barry Town United 0 Dorking Wanderers 2

Pre-Season Friendly July 16th 2022

Leckwith Stadium, Cardiff

Dorking made it four wins in five for pre-season after defeating Barry Town United on a sweltering afternoon in Cardiff. Ryan Seager converted from the spot after Josh Taylor was brought down in the first half, and James McShane made sure of the win late on with a close range finish. Marc White confirmed a tighter squad of 15 had travelled to the Welsh capital with family commitments ruling out Ed Harris and Alfie Rutherford, and a late knock preventing Callum Kennedy from involvement as well. Wanderers made a very bright start to the game, maximising the perfect hybrid pitch surface to lock in their passing game early and create opportunities from the channels. Bobby-Joe Taylor was part of the back three for the first time this pre-season, and made a trademark advance forward to land the first shot on target inside the opening minutes, saved by keeper Mike Lewis. The Barry Town stopper was called into action straight after as Fuller picked out Ottaway with an excellent cross from the right, the striker's header forcing a top reaction save pushing the ball round the post. Muitt would then cross for the front-man from near to the corner flag, but this time sent his header wide. The lively beginning saw Wanderers get ahead just before the quarter hour mark. Josh Taylor broke forward from midfield and strode into the left side of the area, only to be clipped by a Barry defender, penalty awarded. Seager stepped up and calmly tucked his penalty away to the keeper's left. Just ahead of the midway water break, Josh Graham struck a well-hit over-head kick over the bar as Barry fashioned their only real opportunity of the first half from a short corner ball. Wheeler became increasingly involved from the left around this point, nearly catching out keeper Lewis with a cross-come-shot, before showing quick feet to beat a couple of defenders and ping a strike off the outside of the post. Muitt and Fuller combined successive times down the right, the latter leading to Fuller powering a header just wide of target. Jebb would start an attack with a lovely cross-field pass from deep and ultimately finish the move with an effort from outside the box, firing over the bar though. Half-Time: Barry 0 Dorking 1 Marc White confirmed pre-match that one of his half-time changes would see Isaac Philpot play in the middle of the back three as opposed to his more accustomed position on the right side. The opening ten minutes after the restart saw the game take on a slightly more open feel, Wheeler unlucky not to get reward for closing down Lewis inside the box, unable to fashion enough power on his volley after winning the ball. The winger then delivered for Philpot up from the back, but the defender nodded over under pressure from his defensive counterpart. Keeper Lewis then produced a superb double save, first to deny McShane's strike from range after good approach play, ahead of swiftly tipping away Wheeler's rebound cutting in from the left flank. On the hour Niall McManus was introduced for his first appearance of pre-season, coming into central midfield for Jack Jebb. Spike Stegall also came on at this point, and having played in central midfield throughout pre-season so far was instead deployed on the left of the back three, apparently his more familiar position according to Marc White post-match. Nicky Wheeler was the other player substituted, meaning Bobby-Joe Taylor would move to wide left. Before the second-half water break Wanderers would hit the post at close range before Huk made a good save on the stretch to push away a dangerous free kick dispatched from the right wing. Fuller made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny the Welsh side their best opportunity at goal as a forward looked to pull the trigger several yards out, getting on the end of a measured through ball. Bobby-Joe would take advantage of the extra space vacated on the left wing through much of the second half, and combined effectively with McManus on a few occasions. McManus cut in and fired a strike down the keeper, before going on to effectively set up Wanderers second goal of the afternoon.

Quick in closing down Barry playing out from the back, he managed to produce a chipped effort at goal after winning the ball, unlucky to see the effort come back off the post. McShane was fastest to the rebound, and kept his composure to slot the ball home from a tight angle. Josh Taylor fired over after patient build up play and McManus was perhaps unfortunate not to win a penalty late on after a good run into the box, but the score remained 0-2.

It would be a first clean sheet for Wanderers since the pre-season opener with Roffey and Marc White acknowledged post-match he was more pleased with his side's overall work and balance. Following a week's respite, Wanderers contest their penultimate pre-season fixture next Saturday, taking on Mole Valley rivals Leatherhead at Fetcham Grove in the annual Surrey Advertiser Trophy.

Dan Stobbart

Wanderers 1st Half XI: Huk, Fuller, Gallagher, BJ Taylor; Muitt, Jebb, J Taylor, McShane, Wheeler; Ottaway, Seager Wanderers 2nd Half XI: Huk, Fuller, Philpot, BJ Taylor (Gallagher 81'); Mekki, Moore, Jebb (McManus 60'), J Taylor, Wheeler (Stegall 60'); McShane, Seager (Ottaway 81')

Goals: Seager 13' pen, McShane 80'

Barry Town Starting XI: Mike Lewis (GK); Chris Hugh, Trialist, Luke Cooper, Liam Walsh, Mikey George, Troy Greening, Jordan Cotterill; Josh Graham, Kayne McLaggon, Liam Warman