Two whole weeks and 180 minutes of FA Cup football against Salisbury have passed since our last league fixture, but it was time to refocus on the National League South this afternoon.

A Wanderers squad which was already fairly makeshift was further tested even ahead of kick off – as Dan Pybus, who was named in the starting eleven, pulled up with a calf injury. Luke Moore came in as his late replacement.

That late change may have played a role in what was a slightly disjointed start for our Wanderers. Despite asserting control of possession within the first minute, the first big chance of the game fell to Chelmsford on the break.

Winger Jack Barham drove down the right-wing and launched an early cross into the box. Noah Phillips struggled gauging the landing area of the cross – understandable considering the relentless heavy winds blowing across the ground. As a result, the hosts managed to win the goalmouth scramble that ensued, with Shiloh Remy getting the final touch. 04’ 1-0

The rest of the opening twenty minutes saw both teams struggle to build any momentum. Fouls and a long ball approach from both teams led to plenty of turnovers, but no chances to write home about for either side.

The hosts would have a chance to double their lead at 25 minutes, when a cute pass from midfield penetrated our defence and left us backpedalling. Fortunately, our boys got back in numbers, with Louis Storey and Tony Craig doing enough to keep our deficit at one.

Our first shot on target came in the five minutes that followed. We enjoyed a period of more settled possession, putting the Chelmsford defence under some pressure. This gave Alfie Rutherford the chance to fire an effort from a free kick. Perhaps with the wind playing its part, Dillon Addai nearly parried the shot into his own goal, but just about recovered.

This did serve as a catalyst for some Wanderers momentum. Dennon Lewis made a probing run down the right-side but couldn’t quite deliver the cross we needed, and James McShane looked to find his rhythm and settle into the game in the half’s closing stages. Ultimately, we headed to the break with work to be done.

Half Time: Chelmsford City 1-0 Dorking Wanderers

The second half started in a similar vein: Rutherford had the first Wanderers shot of the half, firing a free kick from range. This time, the sweetly struck effort flew just over the crossbar.

Our number ten would have another chance moments later, after Brennan Camp played a long ball which Rutherford took down, drove through the hosts’ defence and had a shot which forced a save from Addai. The positive signs were emerging for our Wanderers.

We ticked past the hour mark having introduced Jimmy Muitt and George Francomb to the fray in an effort to inspire an equaliser. The hosts were battling hard in midfield to prevent our boys from playing through them, so something needed to give if we to turn it around.

It was the hosts who had the next big chance though, after a turnover in midfield led to the Clarets producing a good passing sequence and Shiloh Remy had a shot which narrowly missed the post.

We continued to create the occasional chance from set pieces, but neither Norville-Williams’ long throws or Lewis’ whipped free kicks could quite their targets with enough precision to post a major threat to the Chelmsford lead.

The hosts would continue to have chances on the break between the waves of Wanderers possession, but they too couldn’t find their range, leaving themselves vulnerable to what would prove to be an inspired substitution.

17-year-old Josh Hebert’s late entry represented one last roll of the dice from Marc. And what a roll it would prove to be – as the youngster would score his first National League South goal, getting on the end of a McShane flick on to deflect it home and secure a point for our Wanderers. 86’ 1-1

That would prove to be the last action of note, as despite searching for a winner, five minutes of injury time would fly-by without a big chance for a winner. This leaves Wanderers 9^th in the league after ten games, but attention will quickly turn to next Saturday, when we host Aldershot Town in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Full Time: Chelmsford City 1-1 Dorking Wanderers

Match Report by Charlie Partridge