Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
We kick off 2025 with our shortest away trip of the season to face Hampton & Richmond Borough. The Beavers currently sit 8 points behind us in 12th place but have picked up some decent form as of late.
We're boosted by the return of loan midfielder Morgan Williams from Wimbleon but Marc mentioned in his update that Jack Young will be out for up to a month with the hamstring injury that he picked up on Boxing Day. Josh Taylor and Josh Brooking are both near a return but I get the feeling from Marc's update that neither will be involved on Wednesday and that the Bath City fixture a more realistic target. Dan Pybus could be in contention after playing 3 games for the B Team over the Christmas period.
Predictions:
Hampton & Richmond 2-3 Dorking (Murphy x 2, Rutherford)
1,235 att.
Foulkes
Camp Craig Milsom
Briggs Gallagher Williams Muitt
Carter
Murphy Rutherford
Subs: Francomb, Norville-Williams, McManus, Randall, Prior
Wouldn't surprise me if Prior was rotated for Murphy for this one after JP played 90 mins, most of which a man down, on Boxing Day. Could easily see them share 45 mins each.
Marc didn't mention it in the update but I assume Briggs is available for this as suspensions take 7 days to kick in at this level?
Even with it being New Years Day, unless the gaffer is going by helicopter I think it will take more than 20 minutes to get there! Very pleasant ground and area, and assuming I get there before the turnstiles open I may well make the a short stroll to the riverbank and take in the views as is my normal custom.
Running out of chances to drop points now, lets start Murphy and hit the ground running in 2025!
COYW
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Hampton & R (2) 3 Dorking (1) 5 (Rutherford 2, Williams, Carter, Briggs)
1,199 with 301 from Dorking
Wanderers 4-1 winners. A brace from Carter, one from Rutherford and one from Murphy.
Was tempted to say away win but in my head I’ve got score draw.
1-1
Gone for a win as we are on grass tomorrow
3-1 Dorking Alfie with two and Charlie with the other
I'll have a Guinness
I’m going 4-2 win, in the mud and rain. Hope to see Murphy and Williams getting some game time. And a goal or two
Just seen the team. I would have all the subs on the pitch as starters. Gallagher and McManus in same team is not a good option
Very frustrating to turn up and have it called off 20 minutes before ko. But big picture, no bad thing perhaps. Allows us to field a full strength team later in the season hopefully.
The ref knows the forecast is rain. If pitch is ok at 2pm he looks pretty daft to call it off afterwards. Everyone will remember playing on much worse pitches - couldn’t even see any mud on it!
Good to have got rid of the extra game played too … so now on the same games as those around us
‘We’re the red and white army’ 🐔 ⚽️
Very frustrating to turn up and have it called off 20 minutes before ko. But big picture, no bad thing perhaps. Allows us to field a full strength team later in the season hopefully.
The ref knows the forecast is rain. If pitch is ok at 2pm he looks pretty daft to call it off afterwards. Everyone will remember playing on much worse pitches - couldn’t even see any mud on it!
Exactly the same thing happened at Crawley game I went to. Pitch inspection 2.15 players started warming up and game called off 2.40 due to risk to players. With further rain to come should have called off earlier.
That was a close one. Just about to pay in as game was called off
Went back to the Worlds End pub to watch the darts
Half the squad joined us in there
I'll have a Guinness
@steve1966 Same - just walking up to the turnstiles and everyone came out the other way! MW furious - understandably.
Was in the ground from 1.45
Ref didn't want to play it from the start IMO, the officials never did a warm up and when they did their thing about does the ball bounce, it bounced absolutely fine
On the positive DW have been brilliant saying coach is free for when it is rescheduled for as we went by coach today.
Hampton groundstaff wanted it on they were forking and rollering it like crazy to get it on, and no doubt will have a lot of food and drink and programmes unsold
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Can’t believe the officials called it off .. would like to have seen a photo of the ground at say 4pm or so to see what effect the continuous rain had then … IMO it would still have been playable
‘We’re the red and white army’ 🐔 ⚽️
