See there is a Match Day Hub on website for this match so assume no programme. Looks good though

I know St Albans aren't in great form but I'm a bit worried about today. This is probably the worst our injury situation has ever been with only 13 fit players. Such a short turnaround means a lot of minutes for those 13 players - how will the likes of Prior, Fuller and Craig handle 180 mins in 48 hours?

Dorking 1-1 St Albans

1,863 att.

I assume same side as Saturday but Bobby may start instead of Fuller. Possibly might see Jimmy or Briggsy start up top with Prior unless Francomb plays in midfield with Carter up top. I assume Joel Brown makes the bench as well.

Great win - real character and spirit to get through that.

PS - Love Marc's reaction to the St Albans 'dickheads' 🤣 🤣 🤣 

PPS - Great to see Briggs back to his best. Looked a threat every time he got the ball.

I think Marc should have ignored the song mentioning him and not referred to it, but he wears his heart on his sleeve, wanted the win because of it and when he got the win wanted to rub it in the other way. I guess that is Marc all over, always so determined and passionate!

Literally every sub was vital, if it was still a max of 3 subs used we would have been sunk and a defeat would mean we'd be 14th today

Jordan N-W was doing some running before the game and looked close to return, presume next weekend. It's strikers that we need, I would wrap Murphy in cotton wool this week to be honest and don't train on the theatre of rubber at all!

Interesting too was Marc's mention of us being a 'target' team - where others might raise their game/change normal tactics) given our NL background and profile (possibly because of Marc/BOA).

Different last year as most clubs were big outfits themselves so we were the little old underdog. Not anymore it seems.

Ultimately deserved the win but we really weren't great in the final third yet again. Every cross from wide positions in the first half was overhit and the few times it wasn't, we had no one running across the keeper or not enough bodies in the box.

Murphy really showed his class when he came on. Takes up such good positions and is excellent with the ball at his feet; he almost feels like a combination or Prior and Rutherford at times. Marc mentioned he was feeling his injury post match which is a big concern, especially as all our upcoming matches are on artificial surfaces (Eastbourne, Aveley, Dorking).

Good to see Pybus back earlier than expected although I don't think he had a great game to be honest. Excited to see Norville-Williams back next weekend and even Kennedy was involved in the warm-up! Surely we will look at a loan signing or two to cover the Kuhl/Moore injuries and possibly also Rutherford and Murphy if they are out for any sort of time. George Francomb limped off in the first half which is a big loss as well...

Bobby-Joe red looked very unlucky as he was taking the ball down from high out of the sky and as he spun, the City player stopped low to head it and Bobby caught him badly in the face. Definitely a red but obviously no malicious intent but that does mean another unavailable player for a few games.

Interesting side note, I believe that was our first straight red card in the league for dangerous play/violent conduct since Barry Fuller was sent off against Tonbridge Angels back in February 2022! Luke Moore was sent off against Macclesfield earlier this year but that was in the FA Trophy. Our only other straight red cards in the last 2.5 years were 'last man' offences - Dan Lincoln in the famous "Alfie goes in goal" game and Isaac Philpot against Solihull, but that one was rescinded the next day.

Fun fact - we now only have one more home league game between now and 5th October...

Posted by: @calvertskans

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Fun fact - we now only have one more home league game between now and 5th October...

Been a bit of a strange start in terms of travelling distances, especially as we are now in regional football. Truro, Torquay, Eastbourne - all over 1.5 hours away. 

Actually, with Chippenham, Bath, Weymouth, Salisbury, Weston and Chelmsford all to come, it really doesn't feel all that local.

In the NL we had Aldershot, Woking, Barnet, Dagenham, Eastleigh, Maidenhead, Bromley, Wealdstone (and now Sutton) all doable just over an hour or less...

Posted by: @adeb

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Interesting too was Marc's mention of us being a 'target' team - where others might raise their game/change normal tactics) given our NL background and profile (possibly because of Marc/BOA).

Different last year as most clubs were big outfits themselves so we were the little old underdog. Not anymore it seems.

Marc has put that target on our backs to be fair!!

Posted by: @adeb

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Posted by: @calvertskans

↑

Fun fact - we now only have one more home league game between now and 5th October...

Been a bit of a strange start in terms of travelling distances, especially as we are now in regional football. Truro, Torquay, Eastbourne - all over 1.5 hours away. 

Actually, with Chippenham, Bath, Weymouth, Salisbury, Weston and Chelmsford all to come, it really doesn't feel all that local.

In the NL we had Aldershot, Woking, Barnet, Dagenham, Eastleigh, Maidenhead, Bromley, Wealdstone (and now Sutton) all doable just over an hour or less...

 

It's still a great league, not many awaydays that haven't got much interest for me (maybe Slough and Tonbridge - yawn!)

The fixture league fell magnificently to be honest - got the prestige of being first to play at the new Truro stadium.

4 seaside awaydays all early - Truro, Torquay, Weymouth, Weston. Even Worthing was shoved as late in the season as possible (hope the weather is good in April)

With the cups starting earlier this season, no reason why we can't have some good adventures in those too, new places to visit I hope rather than teams from our own division

Posted by: @dorking-eagle

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Posted by: @adeb

↑

Posted by: @calvertskans

↑

Fun fact - we now only have one more home league game between now and 5th October...

Been a bit of a strange start in terms of travelling distances, especially as we are now in regional football. Truro, Torquay, Eastbourne - all over 1.5 hours away. 

Actually, with Chippenham, Bath, Weymouth, Salisbury, Weston and Chelmsford all to come, it really doesn't feel all that local.

In the NL we had Aldershot, Woking, Barnet, Dagenham, Eastleigh, Maidenhead, Bromley, Wealdstone (and now Sutton) all doable just over an hour or less...

 

 

 

With the cups starting earlier this season, no reason why we can't have some good adventures in those too, new places to visit I hope rather than teams from our own division

 

 

Don't mention the cup.... 😬 

In less than a week I think we'll know who we have in the 2nd Qual.

Beautiful!

Will still be very regional but 2 grounds I have done before which are good fun are Canvey Island and Dorchester (the latter briefly being a former league ground for Bournemouth)

@dorking-eagle Yes I've been to both - some years ago now - great grounds to visit.

For me, someone as low down as possible in all the qualifying rounds. We desperately need that cup run....

Please, no more visits to the South West; if we draw Truro (A) in the cup I might cry...

Some stats from the St Albans game:

Possession: Dorking 52% - 48% St Albans

xG: Dorking 2.42 - 0.59 St Albans

Shots: Dorking 18 - 7 St Albans

Top Performer: Jimmy Muitt [8.4]

Last season, round 2 qualifying, the country was split into FIVE zones

These were the teams in what would be our zone LAST season - so yes, potentially all the way down to deepest Cornwall