Dorking Wanderers (Away)

[shoutymark]

Well, tomorrow sees a new location on the ever-growing, aways entertaining, roadtrip that comes from following the mighty Faversham Town on our travels.
This week it is a journey into one of the more beautiful parts of Surrey, as nestled at the foot of Box Hill we find the quaintly named (let's not show off now, let's not brag) Westhumble Community Ground - home to Dorking Wanderers FC.
Now, for some, this match is pivotal to our season. 3 points against a close play-off rival, away from home, will cement our promotion credentials and put a dampener on their aspirations. Build on last weekend's important victory over the noisy neighbours. Maintain the winning streak.
Yes, without doubt, it's the win, the points in the bag, that sets tomorrow afternoon out as a "must go" outing for all diehard FTFC fans.

But for yours truly, tomorrow means something more than that.
For the trip to Dorking Road RH5 for me will be something of a pilgrimage. A return to the scene of key formative moments in the making of a shoutyman.
For directly opposite the ground, down a short track (go on, take a look while you're there) is the River Mole. And specifically, the River Mole Stepping Stones. From the age of 4 or 5, no summer was complete without a visit to the Stepping Stones. And by the age of 8 or 9, a shoutyboy could be found springing from stone to stone with ne'er a slip. Except for the regular slip that would result in a dunking.
Ahh. Halcyon days indeed.
But that is not all.
Because to the side of the same said "community ground" is a discreet brick structure (go on, take another look....) which provided me with my first regular paypacket (£34 a week if I remember correctly) when as a trainee employee of Mole Valley District Council I proudly spent the long hot summers of 1979 & 80 as a sewage pump house cleaner's assistant in that very field.

And so tomorrow, whilst all eyes will be on the game, forgive me if my mind wanders..... 
And bring me back to 2016 with the only four words that can break the hypnotic spell of nostalgia.....
COME ON YOU WHITES!!!
  

[dave]

A fantastic post, eloquently put and much more.
I'll see you tomorrow mate. Make sure to point out those Stepping Stones etc.

On the footy front. Massive game. We recently knocked them out of the Ryman League Cup,
1-0. Blitzed them in the second half, a really strong second half performance, they couldn't cope with us. 3 points would put us in an excellent position. But they will be hard earned as was the Cup win.

And Mark, if you should understandably wander, remember.... COYW.

[shoutymark]

Latest Tweet from Dorking:
"Just a reminder. We are ON - 230pm KO - Dorking Wanderers v Faversham Town - Ryman League South - the Suns even out now!"

See you there!

[shoutymark]

What to say?
A beautiful sunny day.
Lovely views.
Lots of goals.
But not exactly the afternoon we had hoped for.

So a couple of visual mementoes will suffice....

Attachments:

[dave]

Dorking Wanderers 5-1 Faversham Town

Starting line up:

William Godmon,
Ryan Cooper, Jamie Maxted, Matthew Bourne, Ashley Brown,
David Botterill, Daniel Carrington, George Monger, Charley Robertson,
Luke Harvey, Renford Tenyue.

Beaten by the better team on the day? Difficult to argue against. But perhaps to
be more accurate, beaten by a team that recorded an impressive goals to chances ratio.
But it could/may have been so different.

A decent start from us. A George Monger corner from the right, comes out to Matthew
Bourne inside the area, central, hooks a shot goalwards but the keeper saves at his
left hand post. A George Monger free-kick, 5 yards outside the area, is saved rather
unconvincingly by their keeper at his right hand post. And then we break from midfield,
Luke Harvey and Charley Robertson combine to release Renford Tenyue, bearing down on
goal, shoots, but saved, Lukey Harvey is quickest to the rebound, but the shot is
blocked. Corner. George Monger's high, looping corner from the right, causes problems
in the Dorking defence, Luke Harvey is making a nuisance of himself, keeper comes,
stretches, but gets nothing on it and into the net it goes. 0-1 after 29. And we're
looking good. But for the second consecutive week, we concede soon after scoring.
In defence, our left, we have two opportunities to clear, but fail to do so, the ball
is played into our area, our right, and smashed across goal into our net. 1-1 after 33.
And on 41, we gift away possession on our right, played forward and from the corner of
the box a shot across goal which flies in off the post. 2-1

2-1 at H-T.

Liam King is on for Daniel Carrington.
On 59 we're caught on the break. A ball played forward, our last man can't get a touch
on it and their runner is through on goal. Our keeper comes to meet, but it's curled
round him, again in off the right hand post. 3-1. Luke Harvey gets on the end of a
long keeper clearance, plays in Liam King who takes on the shot first time, but stabs
the ball wide of right hand post. Great chance. Soon after, Liam King tries his luck
from distance, the shot whistles passed the same post. With about 15 to, Kieron Campbell
is on for Matthew Bourne. Ryan Cooper finds David Botterill and makes his way into the area,
the return pass is good, Ryan is in, keeper saves to his left. From a Ryan Cooper throw, the
ball comes out of the area, 20 yards, George Monger smashes it back from whence it came, hits
the left hand post (just under crossbar height). This is clearly not our day. And if more proof were
needed that this was never going to be our day, with 3 to go, a Dorking break ends with a
trip just inside the area (I assume just inside, I was too far away to get a clear view).
Penalty. Our keeper guesses the wrong way and it's 4-1. Jack Sellens is a late substitute for
David Botterill. But still time for Dorking to rub salt into the wounds. From the corner of our
area, a curled efford finds the far top corner of our net. Fine finish-but cruel.

One of those days. From a good position, uncharacteristic individual mistakes were punished
and then we're doubly punished chasing the game. So, dust ourselves down and we go again.

So, this could be tough. Reasons to be cheerful:

a) we go again next week. At the Lane. It'll be good to get back home.
b) a definite blow today-but we're still in there. Most definitely not over yet.

FTFC - the best club. COYW.

[CJK]

Link to match video . . . youtu.be/kQGWmXnq6Yc

Who scored our goal? On the video I’ve put George Monger as per the Football Web Pages website, but I’ve watched the video in slow motion about 20 times and I’m still not sure who scored it? I did wonder if the players closest to the action might give a clue, however, Jamie Maxted and Matt Bourne celebrate with Luke Harvey, whilst Ryan Coper and Dave Botterill celebrate with George, so no clue there. It looks to me like Luke got a touch on it, because the ball appears to change direction, but was it already over the line?