Charlie Dunne’s side were beaten on the road last Saturday afternoon after a competitive contest with newly-promoted Infinity FC, who ran put 1-0 winners thanks to Thomas Tierney’s first half finish. Freddie Finman produced top saves to deny Ollie Rawlins and Liam Manby on the day, but Infinity also failed to further extend their lead after missing from the penalty spot during the second half.
Coming off the bench and impressing on the opening day of the campaign, attacking midfielder Liam Manby came into the starting eleven for Tuesday’s fixture, with wing-back Brandon Engstrom and midfielder Mason Myles also included in the starting eleven as Wilf Douglas, Max Holland and Jacob Todman all made way.
The corresponding fixture in 23/24 saw the B’s run out 5-1 winners as a brace from striker Todman, plus goals from Luke Bejashvili, Paddi Harland-Goddard and Seb Tauta-Caballero, who have all joined Redhill FC for the season ahead to continue their development, made sure of an emphatic win last September.
And it didn’t take long for Wanderers to take the lead on Tuesday night; their first real venture forward culminating in James Laws sliding the ball across to Ollie Rawlins near the corner of the six yard box, and last season’s top scorer making no mistake in firing the ball low and across keeper Sanghyun Baek to open his and Wanderers account for 24/25 on 8 minutes.
Luca Fulco made a key aerial clearance at the near post before Engstrom was unlucky not to be able to find Laws with a cut-back after doing well to reach the byline up the other end.
Continuing to be on top of play, particularly with strong command of central midfield, Charlie Dunne’s side pushed for a second goal and managed to double their advantage near the midway point of the half with a similar finish to the opener. Rawlins turned provider this time by shielding the ball and playing a slide pass at the edge of the box for Liam Manby, who fired the ball through keeper Baek to find the bottom left corner.
Archie Morgan drew a reaction save from Charlesworth with a shot from range but the momentum very much remained with Wanderers in the lead up to half-time. Rawlins skyed an effort from just outside the box after Richardson surged forward impressively from the back and combined with Myles, and the defender Richardson would go close twice in quick succession after getting on the end of decent free kick deliveries from Myles and Wooster, nodding just over and guiding a first time side-foot effort onto the crossbar respectively. Myles would also clip the frame of the goal with a curling effort from the edge of the box as Wanderers went into the break unfortunate not to have further extended their lead.
H/T: 2-0
Sloppy play at the back immediately after the restart almost allowed the visitors to quickly half the deficit, but Wanderers did manage to put the game to bed on the hour by scoring a third.
Engstrom slipped a measured through ball into the path of Laws from the left channel, and the attacking midfielder shifted inside confidently before curling a sublime finish just inside the post, some way to effectively put the game to bed and for Laws, who missed a lot of last season through injury, to hit the ground running at the start of 24/25.
Not long after, substitute Ted Sullivan did really well to maintain hold of the ball and get to the byline, his cut back finding Laws who was denied a brace for the evening after his the strike was shut down well by a Chessington defender.
The away side pull a goal back with just under twenty minutes to go, Wanderers dispossessed too easily on the half-way line and the ball swiftly worked forward to Steven Famose, who rifled a strike emphatically into goal off the under-side of the crossbar.
Looking to further reduce the arrears, Chessy had Wanderers pushed back in the latter stages of the game, Richardson with a well timed intervention just in front of goal, and Charlesworth producing two brilliant saves very late on, including denying Famose a second after the forward connected nicely with a half-volley.
Rawlins and substitute Jacob Todman both had chances for Wanderers on the counter, the latter running through one-on-one after a deft touch to slow the ball down, but could only drag his low strike just wide of the post.
Up and running for 24/25, Wanderers will look to build on a good midweek win and performance this Saturday as Worthing United are the visitors to Meadowbank in a 3pm KO.
Dorking Wanderers (3-5-2): 1) Harry Charlesworth, 2 Jay Richardson, 5 Luca Fulco, 3 Ellis Dunn; 7 Neo Wooster (c), 4 Joel Brown, 6 Mason Myles (15 Ted Sullivan 52′), 8 Liam Manby (16 Max Holland 74′) , 11 Brandon Engstrom; 10 James Laws (14 Luca Lepley 89′), 9 Ollie Rawlins (12 Jacob Todman 84′)
Unused Subs: 13 Aaron Sings (GK)
Goals: Rawlins 8′, Manby 20′, Laws 60′
Yellow Card: Dunn, Richardson
Chessington & Hook: 1 Sanghyun Baek, 2 Boe Fowler (12 Oliver Davis 78′), 3 Tobe Uzor, 4 Jake Hill (c) (15 Frankie Ryan-Maynard 83′), 5 Curtis Ford, 6 Fabian O’Brien (17 Morgan Wright 72′), 7 Ryan Sedman-Hoyte, 8 Archie Morgan, 9 Dylan Kitoo, 10 Steven Famose, 11 Bailey Ellis (16 John Fouracre 78′)
Unused Subs: 14 Deniz Berkan-Ozer, 17 Morgan Wright,
Goal: Famose 72′
Yellow Card: Ford
Referee: Darren Eaton
