Re-launched in 2019, The Advertiser Trophy has been a staple of pre-season for Dorking and Leatherhead each year since, with the two clubs’ alternating hosting duties. Wanderers kept hold of the cup for three consecutive years before The Tanners came from behind to claim the trophy for the first time in the new era with a 3-2 victory in 2022. Winning the trophy back last pre-season in an eventful 5-4 victory under the Meadowbank lights, this year’s edition of the yearly encounter would present an opportunity for both sides to build on maiden pre-season win’s last weekend; Leatherhead defeating Lancing FC 3-0 on home soil whilst goals from Jason Prior and Jimmy Muitt secured a 0-2 win for Wanderers away at Poole Town.

Callum Kennedy and Niall McManus were replaced by George Francomb and Alfie Rutherford in the two changes made to the side which started last Saturday’s win, and it didn’t take long for the latter to put Wanderers in front. In very similar fashion to the 2020 edition of this fixture, Rutherford managed to score inside the early minutes, angling a header home from inside the six yard box after Jimmy Muitt nudged the ball past the Leatherhead full-back and got beyond before crossing towards the near-post. Cue the chants of ‘Oh Alfie, Alfie…’ from behind the red and white army gathered at that end of Fetcham Grove.

Tanners forward Marco Haigh pounced on a loose ball played out from the back by Craig and looked to curl home a quick equaliser for the home side, but could only fire the ball over the top right corner of goal. Having asserted dominance of the ball from very early on, Wanderers otherwise continued to control proceedings for the remainder of the half, Jason Prior and Jordan Norville-Williams both denied in one-on-one’s by Sonny Wheeler after neat link-up play through midfield, the first effort particularly well worked between Josh Taylor and Charlie Carter from central midfield.

Just before the half-hour mark, Rutherford bagged his second goal of the afternoon to double the lead; Carter producing a deft, drag-back turn inside the box to find space and cut back for the Wanderers No10, who made no mistake slamming the ball into the back of the net from several yards out.

Livewire Muitt was in confident mood throughout the afternoon down the attacking right, and found Rutherford again with a near-post delivery in the run up to half-time, but this time the striker could only tap the ball wide. Skipper Carter went even closer not long afterwards, rattling the frame of the goal after getting on the end of a free kick with a header.

Marc White introduced Matt Briggs, Aaron Kuhl, Seb Bowerman and Rhys Murphy at the break for their first minutes of pre-season, also bringing on young Irish striker Leon Keogh, currently trialling with the club having played senior football in League of Ireland last term.

Very much picking up where they left off after the restart and restoring a firm grip on possession, Bowerman and Rutherford nearly added to lead, neither able to get their head to a ball stood up to the back post, Murphy then went mighty close to opening his Wanderers account after latching onto a through ball and trying to guide the ball into the top left corner, but just over-measuring it and sending the effort wide.

Both keeper’s were called into action as Wheeler denied Murphy and Muitt with back-to-back saves after Bobby-Joe Taylor’s cross from the left managed to deflect through to centre of the penalty area, Foulkes then kept out a Tanners attacker with his legs at close range up the other end.

Murphy would manage to grab his debut goal with a quarter of an hour remaining; stepping up to a free kick 25 yards out and after Josh Taylor initially skipped over the dead ball, the former Yeovil striker would nonchalantly guide his strike into the top right corner, well beyond the reach of the Leatherhead keeper.

Upon going 0-3 up a few changes were made as academy players Joel Brown, Hayden Gale and Mason Myles were all introduced, Murphy one of the players to leave the field as he continues to go steady following recent injury.

With five minutes remaining Ian Selley’s side managed to pull a goal back as Alfie Huckle finished from close range after an initial shot was parried away by Foulkes, but Wanderers very quickly restored the three goal cushion. Briggs had already impressively taken down a long pass up-field and accelerated forward to set up Bowerman for a close range effort sent over the bar, and with a couple of minutes remaining Briggs would go one better; brilliantly latching onto Foulkes long kick into the right channel and racing into the box almost in one motion before clinically hammering a low finish into the bottom corner.

Advertiser Trophy and Mole Valley bragging right maintained for another year, Marc White will be pleased his side have kept the winning habit going following on from last weekend and managed to get minutes into more players within the squad, including the likes of Bowerman and Murphy as they continue their respective comebacks from injury.

Next up, it’s a quick turnaround for another local away clash this coming Tuesday night as Wanderers make the short trip over to Redhill FC for a 19:45 kick off.

Leatherhead: 22 Sonny Wheeler, 2 Fabio Szepan-Afele, 3 Ryan Green, 4 Alfie Huckle, 5 Niran Butler, 6 Kane Fitzgerald, 7 Trey Masskini, 8 Tom Kavanagh, 9 Marco Haigh, 10 Alex McAllister, 11 Kewsi Ntim,

Subs Used 2nd Half: 12 Kevin Massango, 13 Rileigh Hebditch (GK), 14 Anuar Ceesay, 15 Chike Kandi, 16 Kingsley Anokye, 17 Jude Jeffrey

Goal: Huckle 85′

Dorking Wanderers (3-5-2): 1 Harrison Foulkes, 2 Brennan Camp (22 Barry Fuller 46′), 5 Tony Craig (19 Sal Marino 46′), 37 George Francomb (3 Bobby-Joe Taylor 46′); 7 Jimmy Muitt (8 Matt Briggs 62′), 18 Luke Moore (25 Aaron Kuhl 46′), 17 Josh Taylor (14 Mason Myles 76′), 16 Charlie Carter (c) (15 Joel Brown 76′), 24 Jordan Norville-Williams (30 Seb Bowerman 46′); 9 Jason Prior (39 Rhys Murphy 46′, 23 Hayden Gale 76′), 10 Alfie Rutherford (26 Leon Keogh 62′)

Goals: Rutherford 5′, 28′, Murphy 75′, Briggs 88′

Referee: Adam Merchant

Attendance: 707