A prominent run of home games for the Dorking Wanderers first team meant that Saturday’s league fixture was the B’s first Southern Combination Division One game back at Meadowbank in six weeks, and there was a familiar face in the opposition dug out on their return with former Wanderers defender and fan favourite David Ray leading a Storrington side promoted to the league last term after winning the Division Two championship.
Lively opening exchanges saw both sides test each other early on, Tommy Charlwood and Ollie Rawlins both driving efforts just wide respectively before the woodwork was rattled at both ends of the pitch; Storrington clipping the upright from a corner ball prior to Luke Bejashvili smacking the outside of the post after a good aerial interception in the middle of the park from Mason Myles.
Midfielder Max Holland forced a good tip-over save from Storrington keeper Harrison Mott after unleashing a rising effort from 30 yards out, just before Wanderers opened the scoring midway through the half. Rawlins squared a pass to Henry Gunay at the edge of the box, and the defender curled a sublime effort into goal off the inside of the post.
Bejashvili spurned a couple of chances to swiftly double the advantage, but somewhat against the run of play, Storrington equalised before the interval; a volley struck from outside the box bouncing up nicely in front of goal and Matt Hards able to guide the ball beyond keeper Harry Charlesworth.
Within less than a minute of the restart, Storrington managed to get themselves in front; a low cross from the left inadvertently bundled over the line by Wanderers defender Ellis Dunn.
Rawlins and Hards both went close as the chances continued to flow for both teams, but with Wanderers increasing their grip on possession and pushing Storrington back, Charlie Dunne’s men did get back on terms before the hour mark; Liam Manby’s persistent in dribbling to the edge of the box, his strike rebounding into goal via a decisive touch from Rawlins.
And several minutes later, Rawlins would produce a moment of real quality to put his side back in front. Dunn’s cross-field pass found the striker on the far side of the penalty area, and he duly connected with the ball first time to produce a spectacular side-foot volley which flew into the top left corner of goal for his 15th of the campaign.
Dominating play through the remainder of the game, substitutes James Laws and Joshua Hebert both went close with strikes fractionally wide of target, but Ethan Roberts did nearly rescue a point for the visitors late on, heading a corner ball against the crossbar.
Hanging on to take maximum points and remaining unbeaten bar one game at home so far in 24/25, the victory sees Wanderers go up to third in the league standings, 5 points behind leaders Seaford Town with the same number of games played.
It’s a quick turnaround for the B’s who make the short trip over to Horsham FC to take on Copthorne in a 7:45pm kick off this Tuesday evening November 5th.
Dorking Wanderers B: Harry Charlesworth; Neo Wooster (c), Henry Gunay, Ellis Dunn; Zac Cahusac, Max Holland (Wilf Douglas 55′), Mason Myles, Liam Manby (Joshua Hebert 62′), Lucas Elliot (Ryan Bonto 77′); Luke Bejashvili (James Laws 60′), Ollie Rawlins (Jacob Todman 73′)
