United 2
(Moore 23′, Lo-Everton 68′)
Dorking 2
(Rogalski 30′, Barrett 56′)
United and Dorking shared the points on Saturday, following a dramatic afternoon at Plainmoor.
Deon Moore’s opener gave The Gulls the lead, before Dorking swiftly levelled things up. The visiting side took the initiative after the restart after Josh Barrett gave Wanderers the lead, before Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s equaliser made it all-square once more. Jake Wannell’s red card somewhat stifled United’s pursuit for a winner, and both sides were left to settle for a point apiece.
Despite recording their second successive win at Maidenhead on Tuesday night, boss Jimmy once again opted to shuffle his pack, with Jacob Beaumont-Clark, Kian Jenkins and Tegan Finn taking the spots of Tyler Hill, Cody Cooke and Callum Morton.
A stop-start beginning to proceedings saw both teams trade passing shots, – Finn went closest with a clipped effort that skimmed off the outside of the post – before the breakthrough came midway through the first half.
A clinical break upfield began with Beaumont-Clark leading the charge in the centre, and after laying the ball off to Finn, Dorking keeper Glenn Morris was forced to parry the Plymouth loanee’s low shot. When a covering Wanderers defender reached the ball first, he seemed set to clear the ball away to safety, however, to his horror – and the Yellow Army’s glee – he only succeeded into smashing the ball into the lurking Moore, who was delighted to see the rebound cannon into the back of the net.
Sadly for teh yellows, the lead lasted just seven minutes.
A swift break down the right flank caught Ball’s men out, and with a low ball calling defenders and goalkeeper Toby Savin into action, Rogalski – a late addition to the starting XI – nipped in first to prod the ball into the goal.
Beaumont-Clark – who had already threatened – went within a whisker of re-establishing the lead five minutes before the break – only to see his rising drive rattle the crossbar.
1-1 at the change of ends.
Ten minutes after the restart, Dorking took the lead.
After Harry Pinchar’s corner forced Dom Bernard to head behind, the next delivery from Barrett saw the ball evade everyone, as the flag-kick looped straight in, through a crowd of bodies.
Disappointment around Plainmoor, before a moment of class restored parity again on 68 minutes.
With Roberts’ run ended abruptly by a Dorking defender just short of the eighteen yard box, Lo-Everton assumed the responsibility, and promptly fired a low free-kick precisely into the bottom corner of the net.
With the match evenly poised, both sides were looking to produce one more moment of magic to win the game, but in the 79th minute, United’s hopes were hit, as Wannell received the second of two yellow cards, leaving United left to see out the remainder of the game with ten men.
That they did – and comfortably so in fairness – with seven points out of a possible nine continuing United’s upturn in form during September.
UNITED: 1. Toby Savin 2. Dom Bernard, 6. Munashe Sundire, 10. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 11. Jacob Beaumont-Clark (20. Dan Hayfield, 81′), 14. Deon Moore (9. Cody Cooke, 80′), 15. Kian Jenkins, 16. Jake Wannell, 21. Oludare Olufunwa (3. Tyler Hill, 76′), 22. Tegan Finn (39. Callum Morton, 86′), 24. Caleb Rogers.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Zak Baker, 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay.
Yellow Card: Jenkins 60′, Bernard 62′
Yellow Card / Red Card: Wannell 73′, 79′
DORKING: Glenn Morris, 2. Brennan Camp, 4. Dan Pybus, 5. Isaac Philpot, 6. Harry Pinchard, 9. George Nikaj, 11. James McShane, 19. Harry Forster, 30.Dawid Rogalski, (8. Dennon Lewis, 71′), 39. Josh Barrett, 46. Louie Annesley (21. Femi Ilesanmi, 54′).
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Charlie Sayers, 10. Alfie Rutherford, 22. Dillon Grass, 37. George Francomb.
Yellow Card: Camp 86′, Pybus 90+2′, Philpot 90+4′, Lewis 90+7′
Attendance: 3,708 (90 away)
