Substitutes James McShane and Rhys Murphy combined in the second half to help us cruise to a comfortable 2-0 win over Chesham United on the final day of the regular season.

It took a few minutes for us to kick into gear, and after a bright start from Chesham, Tony Craig got on the end of a Josh Taylor long throw from the left, forcing Ben Goode to rise through a crowd of bodies to claim the ball.

A similar chance arose from the same scenario, as a Josh Taylor long throw was cleared only as far as Jimmy Muitt on the edge of the box. His scuffed shot was flicked on by Craig and curled agonisingly wide of the far post.

It was all Wanderers in the opening exchanges, and after Brennan Camp dispossessed Connor Stevens on the edge of the box, Jordan Norville-Williams hit a fierce, arrowed effort from distance that sailed well wide of the post.

Jason Prior then rose highest from a crowd following yet another Josh Taylor long throw, seeing his header go just wide from eight yards out — the biggest chance of the half so far, with fifteen minutes played.

The next ten minutes of the game fell flat, with very little action at either end. It seemed to be long ball after long ball, as everything contested and created by both sides slowly rolled through to the goalkeepers.

However, a counter-attack from our visitors saw them go four-on-three against our defenders, with Jack Connors finding time and space to fire a shot goalwards. But his wasted effort from outside the box dragged well wide of the far post.

Chances were flying in at both ends, and Ben Goode was forced into a fantastic acrobatic save after Josh Taylor hooked the ball back into the box, where a rare Dan Gallagher header was plucked from the top left corner by the Chesham ‘keeper. Taylor then flashed the ball back across the box a minute later, forcing Goode into a low save with his feet.

The game then fell flat again, with few chances threatening either goal. However, deep into added time, a cross from the left by Niall McManus — after neat work from Charlie Carter — found Brennan Camp, who smashed the upright from the corner of the six-yard box. Wanderers went into the break knowing a much-improved second half was needed to keep their fight at the top of the table alive.

HALF TIME: DORKING WANDERERS 0-0 CHESHAM UNITED

A half-time shuffle saw us look to rest a few key players ahead of a potential Tuesday night play-off clash. Off came Charlie Carter, Josh Taylor, Jimmy Muitt, and Jason Prior for Matt Briggs, James McShane, Luke Moore, and Rhys Murphy.

The changes didn’t immediately affect much, as not much took place in the early second-half exchanges — including two stoppages for injuries, one of them to Brennan Camp after a minor blow to the head.

Soon after, however, the chances began to come again. Matt Briggs got straight into the action, delivering a teasing and bouncing cross into the box, with Niall McManus attempting to bundle the ball over the line, only to be thwarted by another great save from Ben Goode.

With twenty minutes to go, the game finally came to life. Wanderers performed one of their trademark switches from left to right, finding Matt Briggs, who drove at the Chesham defence and drilled a low cross into the path of James McShane. His scuffed shot trickled over the line into the far corner. 1-0

The firm control Wanderers established after the first goal quickly brought a second just eight minutes later. Alfie Rutherford broke away from the visiting defence and unselfishly cut the ball back across to Rhys Murphy, who wrong-footed Goode and slammed the ball home from three yards out for his fifth goal of the season. 2-0

A late effort from Niall McManus inside the box failed to challenge Goode, and with a lethargic Chesham side reluctant to put in any sort of challenge, Wanderers comfortably saw out the game to finish the season with a win and great momentum heading into the play-offs.

For details of our upcoming play-off fixtures, please see our website and social media pages in due course, where we will provide updates on what’s next for the Wanderers.

FULL TIME: DORKING WANDERERS 2-0 CHESHAM UNITED

Match report written by Henry Bennett