Looking to build on the positive start to the month made last weekend after defeating Hornchurch, there were two changes to the starting line up from that win as Niall McManus and Jason Prior came into the XI for Dan Gallagher and Theo Alexandrou respectively. New signing Jack Young,  announced on Thursday evening to have joined on loan from Wycombe Wanderers until January, was named on the bench.

Wasting no time in getting on the front-foot, Wanderers began the game in similar vein to last Saturday, quick in their movement all over the park and finding their passing rhythms and flow immediately, linking well between the midfield and forward areas.

Charlie Carter very nearly opened the scoring on 5 minutes; boldly driving forward from midfield into space and directing a low strike narrowly wide of the far post. It would prove to be warning shot as the Wanderers skipper did make the breakthrough just a few moments later; receiving the ball from the left channel via a Jason Prior back-heel before side-footing a clinical effort between goalkeeper Craig King and his near post to find the back of the net for the 4th time this campaign.

And on the quarter-hour, the advantage was doubled ; Niall McManus providing a defence-splitting through ball which Alfie Rutherford was able to latch onto, and the forward kept his composure to slot underneath the committed King from several yards out.

The trio of Carter, Prior and Rutherford would carve out numerous further chances as Wanderers remained at their exhilarating best through the remainder of the opening forty-five, simply over-powering The Tudors with high energy and flowing passing, looking to press forward at every opportunity.

Intricate build up play around the edge proceeded Carter forcing King into a straight forward save, shortly before Rutherford rattled the outside of the post as Wanderers peppered the Hemel goal following a swift counter attack. Rutherford would turn provider for striker partner Prior not long before the break, standing up a lovely chipped cross into the centre of the box for ‘JP9′ to run onto, but he couldn’t get over the ball and sent his header just over the bar.

HT | 2-0

George Francomb had come on for the injured Dan Pybus just before the break, but during the interval itself Hemel boss Bobby Wilkinson would make a quadruple substitution in a bid to turn his sides fortune’s around.

For Wanderers, it was a case of sticking to course following the restart, continuing to push Hemel back, Jimmy Muitt spurning a good chance to extend the lead as he was unable to get a firm control on Seb Bowerman’s excellent delivery from the left.

Just before the hour mark though, Wanderers would go 3 goals to the good; Rutherford doing well to win the ball back on the left flank, Bowerman gathering and driving a cross-turn-shot across the face of goal which Prior was able to tap home at the back stick, to the delight of the Bank and Family stands behind the goal.

Jack Young was introduced in place of Charlie Carter just after to make his debut, Carter leaving the field to great applause from all around Meadowbank another excellent display in the middle of the park.

Naturally dropping a bit deeper in wake of further extending the lead, Hemel began to make inroads up field, and with twenty minutes remaining one of Bobby Wilkinson’s half-time subs, Saleem Akanbi, pulled a goal back with a moment of real quality; gathering the ball from 25 yards out, opening up his body and curling a delightful effort into the top corner of goal, well beyond the reach of Harrison Foulkes.

The Wanderers stopper was called upon a few minutes later to deny Hemel front-man Ricardo German getting a shot off inside the box, whilst up the other end, recently introduced sub Jordan Norville-Williams went close to restoring the three goal advantage, firing wide after Prior cleverly dummied Josh Brooking’s low cross.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Wanderers afternoon was about to become more uncomfortable as Tony Craig was dismissed for picking up a second yellow card, guilty of fouling Joe Iaciofano inside the box. The Tudors forward would step up and take the spot kick himself, rolling the ball calmly the opposite way to Foulkes’ dive.

Attention inevitably switched to running the clock down and seeing the game out through the remaining minutes; Bobby-Joe Taylor introduced for Theo Alexandrou and George Francomb dropping into the back-line as Wanderers fashioned a defensive four, Alexandrou sacrificed having only been on the field a short time coming off the bench.

Despite the defensive adjustments, Muitt would spurn arguably the best chance of game in the closing minutes to wrap up the three points, receiving Prior’s cut back from the left in plenty of space but pulling his effort at goal agonisingly wide of the post.

Ultimately seeing the game out through 7 minutes of additional time, Wanderers held on to make it consecutive home league victories for the first time since April 2023, moving to within a point of the play-off’s and four points off of top spot in the still early stages of the season.

Next up, it’s another home fixture for Wanderers as Salisbury FC are the visitors to Meadowbank in a 3pm kick off Saturday October 19th.