Marc White made four changes to the side defeated late on against Bromley; George Francomb and Tom Blair both ruled out through injuries suffered during the midweek fixture, Josh Taylor also unavailable after picking up his fifth caution of the season on Tuesday night. Barry Fuller, Jimmy Muitt and Niall McManus would come in respectively for the trio, for Muitt it would be a first appearance of the campaign in red and white after being ruled out with a stomach concern since pre-season and building match minutes and fitness on loan at Bognor Regis Town in recent weeks. The other switch to the starting eleven saw Harry Ottaway drop to the bench as Jason Prior returned, and with first team squad availability stretched, B team joint top scorer and Academy striker Ollie Rawlins was named among the substitutes.

Moore intercepted a loose touch in midfield and played the ball through for Seager in the opening couple of minutes as Wanderers began the game brightly, the offside flag raised as the striker rounded Shots goalkeeper Jordi Van Stapperhoef. It was not long afterwards though that Marc White’s men got reward for their positive start, McManus recycling play on the left after a throw in was initially cleared and crossing for Prior, who flicked the ball home towards the near post to net his 8th goal of the campaign.

Muitt appeared to be relishing his return to the side and went close to quickly doubling the advantage after cutting in from the left and taking aim for the top right corner, Van Stapperhoef equal to the effort. Wanderers continued to be on top of proceedings for the remainder of the half by maintaining possession well and reducing the visitors to speculative efforts at goal.

Beyond the midway point of the half Matt Briggs was forced into withdrawal after pulling up down the right flank, Bobby-Joe Taylor entering the field as his replacement and swapping sides with Muitt. It was confirmed post-match that Briggs had pulled his hamstring, another unfortunate setback in a stop-start season for the winger.

Cook was leading the sound defensive work at the back but also went close to doubling Wanderers advantage with a glancing header, Muitt going even closer in the run up to half-time after meeting Prior’s nod back across goal, the winger denied brilliantly at point blank range by Van Stapperhoef.

H/T: 1-0

Perhaps fired up by the half-time team talk, The Shots showed greater urgency to win the ball back and push forward after the restart, territoriality taking more control of play in the Wanderers half but still not able to test Male, Lorent Tolaj going closest bending an effort wide of the far post after gathering a loose touch in midfield.

Pybus had a volley closed down and Bobby-Joe and Seager would direct chances over the bar as Wanderers carved out a opportunities on the counter, but The Shots would get back on terms just past the hour mark via the penalty spot. Josh Stokes was clipped inside the box by Cook, and after consultation with his assistant on the near side, referee Callum Walchester pointed to the spot. Cian Harries stepped up, and sent the ball the opposite way to Male’s dive to equalise.

With thoughts perhaps turning to the comeback’s completed by Rochdale and Barnet at Meadowbank in recent weeks, Wanderers didn’t allow those concerns to hang in the air for too long, getting back on the front-foot and immediately carving out chances to try and regain the lead. Bobby-Joe’s low cross managed to travel right across the box to find Seager arriving at the back post, the striker just not able to get the touch out his feet and towards goal, a golden opportunity spurned. Fuller then provided for Prior after overlapping down the right, he could only nod wide before McManus dragged a strike into the side-netting after cutting in from the left.

Wanderers continued to push and did manage to restore their lead with twenty minutes remaining; Fuller shifting the ball inside for Muitt, he was then able to advance into space outside the box and unleash a strike at goal, the effort taking a strong deflection to fly past Van Stappershoef and hit the back of the net, to a rapturous reception from The Bank behind the goal.

Lagging from picking up a couple of knocks earlier in the half, Muitt was replaced by Harry Ottaway straight after the goal, and within sixty seconds of coming on, almost killed the game off completely, crashing a header against the cross bar after meeting a cross from the right.

Attackers Tyler Frost and former Wanderer Jack Barham came off the bench in the latter stages as The Shots pushed for leveller, Barham heading into the arms of Male after good link up play between Tolaj and Stokes from the left flank, Tolaj going close with a couple of efforts very late on spraying one strike wide before the combo of Male and Gallagher blocked another at the near post.

Seeing out the lead through six minutes of added on time, Wanderers managed to get over the line to record a first win at the last opportunity of the month and get back on track following the disappointing run of three close-run defeats in the league and the FA Cup exit to Horsham a fortnight ago.

Tempers did boil over after the full time whistle, Jason Prior and Luke Moore both receiving second yellow cards following a melee involving a number of players and management staff from both sides, the incident taking the edge off a good performance and victory, with the resulting suspensions adding to Marc White’s already difficult selection dilemma’s looking ahead to the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge next Saturday to Meadowbank in a 3pm kick off.

Dan Stobbart

Dorking Wanderers (3-5-2): 1 Harrison Male, 22 Barry Fuller (c), 20 Dan Gallagher, 15 Joe Cook; 8 Matt Briggs (3 Bobby-Joe Taylor 26′, 12 Callum Kennedy 78′), 4 Dan Pybus, 18 Luke Moore, 6 Niall McManus, 7 Jimmy Muitt (24 Harry Ottaway 71′); 19 Ryan Seager, 9 Jason Prior

Unused Subs: 21 Slav Huk, 28 Ollie Rawlins

Goals: Prior 7′, Muitt 69′

Yellow Cards: Moore 45′ & Post-Match, BJ Taylor 61′, Prior 75′ & Post Match, Fuller 82′, McManus 90+2′, Male 90+4′

Red Cards: Moore, Prior

Aldershot Town (3-5-2): 1 Jordi Van Stappershoef, 5 Coby Rowe, 4 Cian Harries, 3 Ollie Harfield; 17 Aaron Jones, 6 Theo Widdrington (22 Jack Barham 77′), 27 Tommy Willard (8 Tyler Frost 71′), 10 Josh Stokes, 11 Ryan Glover; 9 Lorent Tolaj, 39 Kwame Thomas

Unused Subs: 2 Haji Mnoga, 20 Joe Haigh, 24 Maxwell Mullins

Goal: Harries pen 62′

Yellow Cards: Widdrington 37′, Stokes 90+1′

Referee: Callum Walchester

Attendance: 2742

Stonegate Homes Man Of The Match: Joe Cook