Dorking Wanderers B

Godalming 1 (1) v (0) 1 Dorking Wanderers B
Another game on an unseasonably hot day in September and a disappointing result after the win at Arundel last weekend. The fans who were able to make Arundel, where we were 2-0 up before they scored on the 60-minute mark described that game as a ‘comfortable’ 2-1 win. Personally, I can’t recall a ‘comfortable’ 2-1 or a 1-0 Gees win for a long time, I might start to relax when we are 3 goals to the good, but we can all recall occasions where even 3 goals haven’t been enough of an advantage.
Saturday’s starting line-up saw Ryan O’Sullivan in goal with a back four of Jack Sherwood, Jimmy Norman, Ollie McAleese and Matt Cox. The midfield consisted of Luca Scannella, taking the role in front of the back four for the injured James Mariner and Ross Cheek who took Mazza’s armband as Captain. They were joined by Rob Parrott and Jason Vincent and starting up front, Cameron Edwin and Rikki Letch with a full bench of Jason Cotton, Kieran Ferguson, Josh di Palma, Enrique Belope and Ben Matthews.
Godalming attacked from the whistle against a very young Dorking side. Ross Cheek was fouled some 10 yards into their half; he took the free kick which led to a Gees corner. Luca Scannella swung it in from the right, the clearance was picked up in the centre of the park and fed back to Luca who played the ball back into the box. As it came in Jason Vincent pounced on the ball to put it in the net. 1-0 after less than 2 minutes on the clock. Jason’s first goal for the club. Jimmy Norman was first to another Ross Cheek free kick but was unlucky to see his effort flash across the goal. The opening 10 minutes were all Godalming, but the 2nd goal didn’t come and as the half continued Dorking began to gain more possession and were playing the ball around the defence and midfield but not exerting any pressure further forward, save for a couple of corners easily dealt with by our defence. Jack Sherwood picked up an early yellow for a challenge on the halfway line, but when he was later brought down by the same Dorking player the card stayed in the Ref’s pocket.
1-0 at half time and no changes to the Gees’ line up for the start of the 2nd half. Cameron was taken out by two Dorking players from the off, but Jimmy’s free kick came to nothing. We then saw two Dorking players have their names taken for fouls on Rob Parrott and Jack Sherwood in quick succession. Matt Cox won possession and started on a run beating 3 players only to have the ref call his fourth tackle a foul. Dorking still had the bulk of the possession, but again without causing Godalming too much in the way of problems; something had to change and with 60 minutes on the clock Jason Cotton was sent on to replace Rikkie Letch. Jason (C) immediately picked up the ball on the right, ran forward cutting into the area where he hit the ground under a challenge, a clear penalty shout but turned down by the Referee. Opinions will vary but for me that was either a spot kick or it’s a yellow card for simulation (that posh word for diving). Cheeky picked up the ball 10 yards outside the box and thundered in one of his specials only to see it come off the bar to safety, On another day…..
On 70 minutes Josh Di Palma replaced Jason Vincent closely followed by Keiran Ferguson coming on in place of Cam. We were still unable to break down the Dorking possession and with 13 minutes remaining, shortly after Ryan O’Sullivan had punched clear a Dorking corner the inevitable happened as the opposition were given and converted a penalty. I repeat my comment when this happened last season ‘I guess the answer must be not to give these Refs the chance to make that kind of decision, easy for me to say on the touchline.’ 1-1. There were two final substitutions for the Gees as Ben Matthews came on for Ollie and Enrique Belope for Luca, hopefully with a view to the two games coming up in quick succession rather than injury. However, it was all to no avail, we didn’t get on top of the game and the final score remained one a piece at the final whistle.
5 points out of 12 at home it is then, albeit we have played the current top two sides here. Take heart though from the 100% away record after 3 games. It will be a difficult game against Banstead midweek (on a Wednesday and a 7.30 kick off) and on Saturday, and I do hope I’m not riding for a fall here, we are at East Preston who have so far been the whipping boys of the division. Another 3 points both and no downpour at East Preston this season please. As for Dorking B I’ve had my say in the past, but what great experience for those lads to play in a competitive Step 6 league every week. I know of no other second-string side that enjoys that position. Last word from Hendo’s excellent Screamer article on football in Surrey in yesterday’s programme ‘…Woking show no sign of advancing and who cares about Dorking?’ Cruel perhaps? but he’s only summing up what most of us think.
COYG’s

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