Report

Dorking were involved in another high scoring game on Saturday, this time against Badshot Lea at Godalming where Badshot are ground sharing this season. 

Last weekend, Dorking could rightly feel aggrieved to have not taken something from the game, and once more had Lady Luck shone more favourably on Chicks then Dorking could have added to their points tally.   Badshot will feel they just about deserved the 3 points as they were never behind in the game, and in a frenetic last 20 minutes as the scores were 4-3 to the home side, Badshot could have just as easily extended their lead as Dorking pull the game back all square again. 

A see saw game found Dorking fielding an under strength side, with centre back Russell Harrt and striker Martin Smith suspended, coach Steve Hurd taking charge as manager Pete Buckland was away on a short half term break, slotting Tyrone Oliver into centre back and fielding Toby Fitzgibbon in attack partnering Leroy Hyett..  Dorking’s high flying Under 18 side, fresh from a 2-0 home win over local rivals Leatherhead in the Southern youth League on Wednesday night, were well represented on the Dorking bench, Isaac Philpott, Tom Coffey, Harry Maneh and Darryl Jeeves making the teamsheet as Dorking’s strong youth policy begins to bear fruit. 

Dorking started slowly, falling behind in the 4^th minute, but Chicks were quickly on terms,  midfielder Craig Duffell making it 1-1 after 15 minutes.  Dorking were not having a lot of luck on the injury front though – captain Tyrone Oliver had turned an ankle in the warm up, and try as he might, he soon found he was unable to continue.  Oliver’s misfortune though gave a massive opportunity to 17 year old Isaac Philpott from the Dorking youth team, Philpott taking his place in the heart of the Dorking defence and playing through out  the game with an assurance above his years.  

Despite the enforced change in defence, the home team were ahead again after 20- minutes tjhough, but a Joe Chandler equaliser on 37 minutes made it 2-2 at the interval.  

Badshot  were back in front  just 10 minutes into the second half, a corner bouncing twice in the Dorking penalty area as no Chicks player seemed decisive enough, Lea capitalising to make it 3-2..  Notwithstanding Dorking’s understrength side, Dorking are full of spirit this season and Chicks were back at at 2-2 on the hour mark, Duffell claming his second of the game.  A Dorking corner was cleared to Toby Fitzgibbon who hammered the ball back into the box, Duffell the first to react and toe poke the ball past the keeper. 

The crucial goal came 20 minutes from time though,  Poor Dorking concentration seeing Badshot take a quick long through to the big Badshot striker who neatly set up his teammate to slot the ball home for the winner.  Both sides continued their attacking policy with the final 20 minutes of the game, Hyett having a good chance but Badshot also had their own chances to extend their lead, probably deserving the win just about as Dorking just failed to come up to the plate as the game ended. 

Still Dorking have an immediate chance to exact revenge as on Wednesday Dorking travel once more to Godalming FC to play Bashot Lea, this time in the Surrey Senior Cup, the prize on offer a home derby versus Leatherhead. 

On Saturday Dorking play South Park at home in the league, kick off 3pm.