Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
In to the final 5 games now as we start with a trip to Hertfordshire to face St Albans City. The Saints currently sit in the relegation zone but are best placed of the bottom 4 to escape as they sit just 3 points off Enfield Town. St Albans are in decent form, unbeaten in their last 3, with 2 wins and a draw.
No news on the Francomb red card in the weekly update so we can assume he misses the game tomorrow through suspension. Marc mentioned that Prior and Murphy are 50/50 and that Murphy will likely miss out as well. No news on Rob Milsom so I expect him to return to the squad.
Predictions
St Albans 0-2 Dorking (Rutherford x2)
2,075 att (266 away)
Foulkes
Camp Craig Milsom
Muitt Williams McManus JNW
Young Taylor
Rutherford
Subs: Gallagher, Pybus, Moore, Briggs, McShane
Quite a tough line-up to predict considering the unavailable players. Feels slightly too early to be starting Pybus, Moore or McShane but wouldn't surprise if one of them did. Very lacking in defensive options so I assume that Marc will start Gallagher on the bench so that we have at least one option there.
Will be a very different game without JP, but I suspect that one of him and Carter will play.
Nice set up there I remember from 2022, although we were pretty ordinary that day and lost 1-0. Jeffers still there I see - always a goal threat.
I am going 2-1 Dorking. (Muitt, Rutherford)
Very pleasant setting and should be a good day with the warmer weather. I believe they have 'scaffold' roofs over each end terrace now, which will help amplify the din!!!
I saw their most recent home game highlights on youtube and didn't think the pitch looked terrible.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
St Albans City (0) 1 Dorking W (2) 5 Rutherford 3, Young, M Williams
2,101 (340 Wands)
Don't feel like saying much after the tragic and sad news yesterday, but I get the feeling we are going to spaff this away.
Playing several of the old guard when it was in our own hands (with a run of wins) was a brave idea. Play-offs are a 6 team lottery, the club hasn't always won them.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
How did Macca play yesterday? Was surprised to see him start.
That draw yesterday would have to probably be the last one we can afford to have.
@gary-munnery He was good - some really nice touches and heavily involved.
I think there were some tired legs out there second half - it was a tricky pitch and yet another quite frankly awful footballing opponent who did little else than hump it forward and try and win the loose balls. Then they suddenly came alive last 10 mins, whilst we, by then had pretty much a make shift side with no strikers.
RIP to the poor young lad.
Similar to Maidstone game, although worse opponents. Needed second goal, but having no one to get us up the pitch and keep the ball in last ten, with opponents piling everything forward, cost us again. Not sure why Alfie can’t play 90 ; Jason usually does. But Worthing result helped a bit.
Very similar to a lot of games this season; dominate early, not get a two goal advantage, take off our strikers, concede an equaliser around the 85th minute.
Not a great performance but I think we missed Prior (and Milsom) a fair bit. However, even though it is no longer in our own hands, the results elsewhere were probably not too bad and keeps us firmly in the hunt. I would say that we need to win all 4 remaining now though.
Some stats from the game:
Possession: St Albans 47% - 53% Dorking
xG: St Albans 1.41 - 1.62 Dorking
Shots (On Target): St Albans 11 (4) - 13 (2) Dorking
Top Performer (Dorking): Charlie Carter [7.6]
