A Dorking 3-2 win.

Feels like ages since we last played! I think this will be tough as they are in good form and I believe we will have one eye on the Alty game on Tuesday. Muitt and Rutherford both cup-tied for this as well. I would be surprised if Prior and Fuller are risked from the start.

Dorking 2-2 Maidenhead (Ottaway, McManus)

(Maindehead win on penalties)

1,249 att.

                            Male

        Francomb      Craig        Hollis

McManus            Gallagher            B. Taylor

              J. Taylor           Moore

               Ottaway        McShane

Subs: Fuller, Kennedy, Philpot, Brown, Bowerman, Briggs, Prior

@calvertskans yes it really does, doesn't it! It'll be 3 weeks since we were last at home.

So, defeat on pens, eh? Interesting. I have a feeling Harrison is a good pen stopper (did you see that save from Alfie on Sky Sports?!). And I think (hope) a number of players are pretty decent in that respect.

Agree on the team tbh, still so few options. Hopefully least a few more back by the time Woking come to visit...

@adeb Yeah but you would still favour the penalty taker if they are fairly competent. Male not saved either penalty he faced this season (not a criticism as that is normal but just an observation).

Penalties are an interesting discussion as with the loss of Seager and with Kuhl and Jebb out on loan, we have very few penalty takers. Prior probably first choice but I've never been massively convinced by him as a penalty taker and he missed his most recent one. Bowerman was prolific for Bracknell but not had a chance for us from the spot yet. Moore, Kennedy, Bobby-Joe and Rutherford all missed their most recent penalties for us I believe. Will be interesting to see who takes them going forward.

On the injury front, hopefully Bowerman gets a 30-45 min outing and would be good to see Briggs get 20 mins or so if possible. Would like to see Philpot, Kennedy and Bobby all get decent mins as well.

Anyone know which academy players being called up for tomorrow? 

Tom - looks like your predicted team is pretty much the only one available!

Looks like it! No mention of Fuller in the injury update so hopefully he's involved.

I reckon Rawlins will be one of the academy lads as we don't have any other strikers. Hopefully Brown involved as well. Third one might be a keeper as no Slav in the squad. Hayden Gale has been in the squad before so could be him as well.

It does seem ages since we last played. I thought some might be coming back from injury with the break but it looks pretty slim pickings still. 

I would love for it to get to penalties! Difficult to be optimistic about this one, given form of Maidenhead, our injuries, and possible focus on next Tuesday. Maybe it will freeze again - Halifax from last year - so we can play them in the spring and even on a saturday. 

Agree it is a good opportunity to see some of the Academy boys, and at least it looks like we will have a solid defence out there. 

Would recommend the BoA Oldham episode btw.  Not just for Marc's "have it" moment booting the ball away; team talk is interesting too. We are an 80 / 20 side apparently - going long 20% of the time, when necessary. Not sure that has held for much of the season but a nice idea. I will be monitoring it on Saturday... 

Posted by: @baggy

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It does seem ages since we last played. I thought some might be coming back from injury with the break but it looks pretty slim pickings still. 

I would love for it to get to penalties! Difficult to be optimistic about this one, given form of Maidenhead, our injuries, and possible focus on next Tuesday. Maybe it will freeze again - Halifax from last year - so we can play them in the spring and even on a saturday. 

Agree it is a good opportunity to see some of the Academy boys, and at least it looks like we will have a solid defence out there. 

Would recommend the BoA Oldham episode btw.  Not just for Marc's "have it" moment booting the ball away; team talk is interesting too. We are an 80 / 20 side apparently - going long 20% of the time, when necessary. Not sure that has held for much of the season but a nice idea. I will be monitoring it on Saturday... 

Would love to see your notes on this. 

Hopefully young Joel Brown does make the bench for Saturday. Was very impressed with his performance last Saturday. I am pretty sure there can be up to seven subs for the trophy. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

As for the line up my guess is 

Male

Francomb, Hollis, Craig

Gallagher

Booby Joe Taylor, Josh Taylor, Moore, Bowerman

McShane, Ottaway

@steve1966 Can't wait to see the latest Taylor on the field - good old Booby Joe...

@adeb That will teach me to type without wearing my glasses 🤣 🤣 🤣

I think we are up against it with our striking options but I will attend in hope and faith! Never write off the Wanderers and all that!

With Altrincham having their game postponed today, I wonder if the Dorking game gets moved again as I am pretty sure they have to play the tie by a certain point so Tuesday would be the smart date for them.

I think Harry had a last minute niggle, but some good football there today.  Niall deserved MoM and young Joel acquitted himself well in the 10 or so minutes he had.  Loved it when he was hassling their keeper at a corner.

Well I wasn’t expecting that! 

Funnily enough I think the second half was much better performance than the first. Which was three attacks and three goals pretty much. 

Some really good possession football in second half and almost another goal or two. Not sure whether Maidenhead played their full strength team but they looked second best in challenges all day. 

Agree Niall a walk in for MoM. Covered every blade of plastic.