Dorking Wanderers B 1 v 0 Epsom & Ewell

Bank Holiday Monday 2nd January 2023, Kick-off 11.00
Southern Combination League Division One
Meadowbank, Dorking

Admission: £6.00

Programme: Online only

Atttendance: 120

For my first action of 2023, I would ideally have wanted to visit at least one new ground, but that would have involved a very long journey, and made even more difficult with reduced bus services, with today being a bank holiday. I did not want to tire myself out too much for my return to work tomorrow morning, and so I decided to stay fairly local. I decided to base my day around the afternoon game between Horsham and Hastings United, but my original plan to visit Roffey for my morning game was thwarted when that game was called off yesterday afternoon. Instead, I headed for Dorking, with its plastic pitch providing surety that the game would go ahead, and despite the home side being a “B” team, it would be an appealing, top of the table clash, and I would be able to catch up with a former work colleague, who was also going to this game.

Dorking Wanderers B came into this game in fourth place in the table, following ten wins and three draws from their 19 games played, although their recent form has not been good, picking up just a point from their last two league games, and exited the county cup. Epsom and Ewell currently top the table, following twelve wins and two draws from their 17 league games. They too have not been in great form, also picking up just one point from their last two league games, and exited the county cup, as well as losing to today’s opponents Dorking Wanderers B in the league cup.

On a refreshingly sunny, albeit slightly chilly morning, while this was certainly a lively and competitive game, quality was certainly lacking in the final third, with both goalmouths barely threatened during the first half, although the visitors armed to have more of the ball.

The second half continued in a similar vein, although Dorking had more of the ball, and just as it was looking like my first game of the calendar year would end in a goalless draw, Dorking broke the deadlock on 86 minutes, when Hayden Gale crossed from the left, and Ben Aubrey headed home. Dorking held on to their lead comfortably in the little remaining time left, with the three points consolidating their fourth place, while Epsom were knocked off the top of the table as Shoreham won their game today. And indeed, a run of four defeats on the spin will need to be arrested quickly if Epsom are to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.