Preview by Harry Blackburn
After a frustrating week for Wanderers consisting of a home defeat to AFC Fylde and a postponed fixture away to Altricham, Marc White’s men will look capitalise on an off-form Halifax Town this Saturday.
The boys have struggled with consistency in recent weeks, alternating wins and losses in the league since the turn of the year. The most recent defeat came at the hands of AFC Fylde who battened down the defensive hatches and withstood a prolonged Dorking assault, eventually snatching all three points.
This week’s opposition come in the form of Halifax Town who sit nine places and seven points ahead of Dorking in the National League. Despite defeat last time out, Wanderers remain in the top 10 of the form table, aptly depicting the nature of the form of late.
The visit of an out-of-sorts Halifax offers a chance for the boys to translate positive performances into positive results in front of the Wanderers faithful. A torrid run of just one home win in six doesn’t entirely paint the picture, with an abundance of missed chances; married with a succession of counter attacking goals conceded at the other end, producing a familiar narrative from recent weeks in Surrey.
The gaffer was complimentary about his opposite number in the Halifax dugout, calling Chris Millington “a great manager” in his weekly update on Friday afternoon. White is confident results will come and admits that performances have been positive of late, “sometimes we just lack that cutting edge.”
“Whatever the weather, we’re prepared. It wouldn’t matter who we’re playing, this is a different Dorking Wanderers team and I’d fancy us at the moment.”
Team News
An upbeat Marc White was pleased to report that club captain Barry Fuller, and fellow centre-half Tony Craig are both back in the reckoning for Saturday, offering Dorking some welcome defensive fortification.
Seb Bowerman unfortunately remains a few weeks away, after the injury he sustained in our 3-0 win at Boreham Wood. Saturday’s game also comes too soon for Alfie Rutherford, however White’s admission that the striker is touch-and-go for Kidderminster next weekend will come as welcome news after his discerning departure against Fylde.
“We’ve got some of our important players back and long may that continue”
Click here to hear more from the boss on team news, Halifax, and more.
Opposition Focus
Chris Millington’s side enjoyed FA Trophy success at Wembley in May and continued that run of form into the start of the season with only one loss in their opening eight league fixtures. Since then, that form has begun to tail off.
The Shaymen make the long journey south off the back of their worst run of form this season, losing their last three games and going winless in their last six, putting them rock bottom of the form table.
Goals have been few and far between for Halifax, both offensively and defensively. They sit 3rd in the division in the ‘goals against’ table, conceding only 1.16 goals per game (36 in total). The caveat to this being they sit 20th in the ‘goals for’ table, scoring only 1.09 times per game (34 in total).
To make matters worse for Halifax, top scorer Millenic Alli departed the club for Exeter City in January thus forcing the club to into the transfer market on the hunt for reinforcements. This came in the shape of 21-year-old Adan George.
The former West Brom and Birmingham striker joined The Shaymen from National League North side Rushall Olympic and will be looking to bag his maiden goal for the West Yorkshire outfit.
Former Leeds United midfielder Jack Jenkins was also loaned in to provide Chris Millington with options, with the 22-year-old’s loan at Scunthorpe United coming to an end last month.
Though in bad form, Halifax remain in 10th position in the table and are not to be taken lightly by any means. Wanderers are sure to be met with a stoic and regiment Halifax backline and a striker hungry to make his mark on the National League.
Predicted line-up: Johnson (c); Golden, Keane, Stott, Galvin; Summerfield, Evans, Wright, Cooke, Jenkins; George.
Last Time We Met
The two sides played out goalless draw in their last encounter at Meadowbank in March of last year. The point moved Wanderers two points adrift of the drop zone as the survival battle began to take force.
Dan Gallagher headed an early chance over the bar, before Dan Lincoln showed quick reactions to deny a volley from Millenic Alli.
Lincoln would go on to deny Alli later in the second half with a good stop, minutes after producing a wonder-save to deny Jesse Debrah’s headed effort which looked destined to give the visitors the lead. Harvey Gilmour struck the bar with a free kick late in the day, before both sides settled for a point.
Tickets
Priced at Adults £18, Cons £16, U18s £9 & U8s £5, click here to secure your tickets online now!
Don’t forget our Family Ticket, where two adults and two children are able to watch the Wanderers take on The Shaymen for just £45!
Match Updates
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