At the same stage of last year’s competition Wanderers emphatically defeated Horsham YMCA 9-0 under the Meadowbank lights, and Bobby-Joe Taylor’s team made sure they did not fall at the first hurdle this season after overcoming a spirited Lewes side on September 16th.
A blend of players from the Dorking Wanderers B and National League Academy South side’s will again represent the club in this year’s FA Youth Cup, with academy students Chris Ewen, James McLeod, Gabriel Jacks and captain Ted Sullivan all appearing in the competition for a second consecutive campaign, alongside fellow Year 2 student and winger Joshua Hebert, who has played numerous games for the Wanderers first team in the opening weeks of the season.
Joining the more recognised names in the starting line-up were first year student’s Dillon Grass (central midfielder) and Blaise Weller (forward), whilst the bench included U16’s goalkeeper Nathaniel Golan.
The contest began at and maintained a high-tempo throughout, Wanderers shading the best of the efforts in the final third through the course of the first half as forwards Miles Straker and Blaise Weller were both unfortunate not to get on the end of passes driven across the six-yard box.
Following the restart, Wanderers started to get much closer to goal; Weller tapping home from close range after Joshua Hebert’s long range strike was parried out, the finish chalked off though by the offside flag, before Weller would be denied well in a 1v1 by the legs of the Lewes goalkeeper Monks straight after.
Full-back James McLeod headed a corner ball just over and Hebert would strike the corner of the crossbar with a free-kick shortly before Wanderers made the breakthrough, Rodriguez producing a brilliant strike from 30 yards out which crashed into goal off the under-side of the bar just past the hour mark.
Against the run of play Lewes managed to equalise through Knight’s header, but with ten minutes to play, another emphatic, clinical finish would book Wanderers place in the next round, Barreca receiving a cut-back from Rodriguez towards edge of the box and firing a powerful strike into the far side of the net.
Further to the draw made on Friday September 19th, Wanderers will travel to Camberley Town at the 2nd Qualifying Stage on Thursday October 2nd, a 7:45pm kick off a Krooner Park.
Dorking Wanderers: Sam Allison; Chris Ewen, Ted Sullivan (c), James McLeod; Gabriel Jacks (Bruno Dackombe 75′), Dillon Grass (Finley McIntyre 90′), Cristiano Barreca, Miguel Rodriguez, Joshua Hebert (Tom Bland 90+3′); Blaise Weller (Finley Abbott 85′), Miles Straker
Unused Subs: Nathaniel Golan (GK), Leo Bines, Charlie Pepper
Goals: Rodriguez 62′, Barreca 80′
Station View Garage MOTM: Dillon Grass
Photo Credit: Matthew Bill
