WEEKEND ROUND UP: AUG 20TH/21ST
A round up of how the Wanderers teams got on over the weekend...
First Team Make It Two Wins In A Week...
Hot off the back of defeating fellow newly promoted side Maidstone United last Tuesday, the Wanderers first team made it back-to-back wins over another freshly promoted side in the form of Gateshead on Saturday afternoon, defeating last season's National League North champions 2-1 at Meadowbank. Two moments of real quality in the space of three minutes saw Wanderers get ahead midway through the first half. Firstly, Niall McManus with an excellent bit of skill down the right to beat his man before crossing into a dangerous area, 'Heed goalkeeper Dan Langley unable to gather the ball as Rutherford went in for it, and James McShane on hand to guide the rebound into the back of the net. Then, McShane himself produced an early contender for goal of the season, pulling down a Jordan Cheadle cross with aplomb at the edge of the box before deftly striking the ball into the right corner of goal beyond the reach of Langley. Mike Williamson's side halved the deficit with twenty minutes to go as Adam Campbell lashed home Greg Olley's great through ball, Marc White resetting his side to a back four into the final half hour as knocks were picked up by McShane, McManus and Rutherford through the course of the game. Hopefully all three will be back in contention for next weekend's Bank Holiday double bill as the first team travel to Solihull Moors on Saturday before hosting Boreham Wood at Meadowbank on Monday.
Gateshead Match Report:
https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/post/wanderers-make-it-back-to-back-wins
Match Highlights (including a cracker from Macca!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDgMLR4rGF4
Ladies Kick Off Season With Emphatic Win...
The Wanderers Ladies began their league campaign with a goal-fest at Meadowbank on Sunday, defeating Denham United 7-0. Competitive debuts were handed to summer signing's Cindy Coliver, Cherelle Khassal, Gemma Shepherd, Abbie Potter and Sophia Richardson, with Coliver and Khassal both managing to get on the scoresheet on the opening day.
After a steady opening ten minutes the Ladies hunger to get on the ball and press forward led to ultimately a dominant display and clinical afternoon in front of goal. Centre back Coliver headed home the opener from a corner ball in the 17th minute, before Khassal doubled the advantage just three minutes later, tucking the ball home at the near post after a determined run cutting in from the right flank. Sarah Chapman made it a three nil lead for the Ladies going into half-time, side-footing home a clinical finish after good work from Charlotte Keenan down the left. After the interval former Portsmouth striker Khassal would grab her second of the afternoon slotting home a measured through ball from Shepherd, before Chapman would score the goal of the game with a first-time rising effort from just outside the box getting beyond the keeper's dive. Keenan and central midfielder Xayla would round out the win with close range finishes after quick breaks down the respective flanks. Denham had a few moments in the second-half to reduce the lead as a couple of good diagonal balls into the channel sent forward's through one-on-one with Jenna Morrisc, but the Ladies keeper and skipper stood up well each time to preserve the clean sheet.
The Ladies return to league action next Sunday at Meadowbank, welcoming fellow promotion contenders from last term Brentford in a 15:30pm kick off.
Denham United Match Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMnyD6mgEsk
Team Building Day For The B Team...
Not in action this past weekend due to being the 'odd one out' in the round of league fixtures, the Wanderers B team took advantage of the Saturday off and got together for a team building day at Camelot Events in Dorking. The squad would be split into two teams, competing against each other in a series of games before going on to tackle the main assault course. One team was led by manager Rhys and head coach Ruben, the other by assistant manager Jamie and sports scientist Lucy. The first game was not dissimilar to 'dizzy dummies' as seen on TV's 'Total Wipeout', each person from each team spun round several times before having to try and kick a ball into goal. There were some absolute howlers and even a bit of 'VAR' controversy as well, it's a real shame we've not got any video footage to share! This was followed up by a tug of war contest between the two sides and then a test of memory - having to collectively take objects from one location to another and set them up in exactly the same way, mirroring the original set up. With Jamie's team the victors overall in the series of games, everyone then tackled the gruelling assault course, with a real variety of obstacles involved including plenty of dirty water and mud. Ruben had been dishing out various punishments to the player's throughout the afternoon and got his just deserts late on as the player's bundled him into one of the dirty water pools!
Off the back of a win and two defeats in the league so far, the day served as a great exercise and team bonding session for the newly assembled B team player's and management, who return to league action over the Bank Holiday Weekend with a game at home to Arundel on Saturday before facing Chessington & Hook away on Monday.
With thanks to Rhys Barker