For the second season running, Dorking Wanderers B will represent the club in the opening match of the Surrey Senior Cup.
In similar circumstances to last term where the B team travelled to Colliers Wood United at the first round stage, Marc White has again cited ongoing first team injury concerns as the reason for the decision again this year. Where last season Wanderers received a bye at the preliminary stage and went straight into round one, this year’s version of the competition begins at round one, and both Redhill and Wanderers have been given a bye to head directly into the second round.
Formed purely from academy players for season 23/24, the management team of Ruben Gaspar, Jack Clemence and Sam Cave have led the Wanderers B team to joint top of the Southern Combination Division One (Step 6) table approaching the midway point of the league season, also reaching the second round of the Peter Bentley Trophy. Following on from back-to-back 3rd placed finishes over the past two campaigns, and reaching the semi-finals of the Peter Bentley Trophy last season, 23/24 has so far continued the good progress made in recent years, with this year’s squad featuring a number of players who have come through the successful Dorking Wanderers Elite U16 team of 22/23 and many players who represent the club’s flagship U19 side who compete in the National League Academy South division.
In recent weeks the B team squad have also represented the club in the FA Youth Cup. Dramatic late wins away to Cobham and Welling United in the qualifying rounds proceeded a last gasp victory at home to Worthing last Thursday night, setting up a second round tie away to Cheltenham Town. Having already matched the club’s previous best finish in the competition, if the young Wanderers can get past the Gloucestershire outfit in the next round a new club record would be set, with the possibility also of taking on a Championship or Premier League side at that stage.
Jacob Todman is the top scorer for the B team this season with 10 goals in all competitions so far, whilst fellow striker Ollie Rawlins, who was recently called up to the Wanderers first team squad for the league game against Aldershot Town, is just behind on 9. Winger Tyrese Ayeni and central midfielder’s Seb Tauta-Caballero and captain Joel Brown have continued to feature regularly for the B team this season having done so throughout 22/23 as well.
Tuesday’s Surrey Senior Cup tie presents a unique scenario for the B team who will be taking on a Redhill side managed by Wanderers Director of Football Jordan Clark. The connection between the two clubs is also signified by The Lobsters home ground, Kiln Brow, which was utilised as the training ground for the Wanderers first team back in pre-season and throughout the opening month of the campaign.
Currently 7th in the Combined Counties South division and three points away from the play-off places, Redhill head into Tuesday night’s fixture following on from back-to-back away wins in the league, defeating Alton (1-2) and Colliers Wood United (0-4) last time out. The club enjoyed a good run in the FA Cup earlier in the season, seeing off Hiltop, Ashford Town and Herne Bay before coming unstuck away at Isthmian Premier Divsion side Whitehawk in the second qualifying round. Striker Tom Harland-Goddard, brother of Wanderers B team and Academy winger Paddi, is The Lobsters top scorer on 11 goals in all competitions so far, and another player to look out for on the home side on Tuesday night will be attacking midfielder Andrew Demby, who previously played for the Wanderers Reserves side a few seasons ago. Current Wanderers midfielder and Redhill loanee Jack Saunders will be ineligible to feature in the game.
After winning the competition for the first time in 21/22, Wanderers were defeated 3-1 away to Colliers Wood United at the first round stage last season. Previous winners back in 1928/29 and 1983/84, Redhill defeated Guildford City and Chipstead in the Surrey Senior Cup last term before being knocked out at the second round stage by eventual runners up, Virginia Water.
Tickets for Tuesday night’s game are available on the gate, priced at Adults £9, Concessions £5, 16-18s £2 and U16s Free, with cash and card accepted. A matchday programme will also be available.
