Dorking 3
(McShane 6′, Ottaway 57′, 61′)
United 2
(Jarvis 45+2′, Lapslie 46′)
Ten-man United were condemned to a 3-2 defeat at Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday evening.
It took 6 minutes for the home side to take the advantage through captain James McShane, before a strike by Aaron Jarvis in the final moments of the first half ensured it was honours even at the interval. United were quick out of the blocks with Tom Lapslie putting Gary Johnson’s side ahead, however, following the dismissal of Kieron Evans, a brace from substitute Harry Ottaway secured a 3-2 victory for Dorking.
United manager Gary Johnson named an unchanged squad following on from Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Barnet at Plainmoor.
Following a slow start to proceedings, it was the home side who seemed to settle and enjoy much possession in the early stages, and in the 6th minute it was Dorking skipper McShane who gave the Wanderers the lead. A low cross into the box fell to the feet of Dorking’s number 11 who fired the ball into the back of the net.
The home side continued to press the United defence down the left flank, and on 13 minutes from a free kick just under 10 yards outside the United box, slightly to the left, Bobby Joe Taylor stood up to have his strike denied by the crossbar.
Six minutes later United had a chance to level – a long ball forward by Ross Marshall found Jarvis, whose header fell to the feet of Tope Fadahunsi who was arriving at the near-post with such pace, that the striker could only direct his shot wide.
In the 27th minute United were awarded a free kick from around ten yards outside the Dorking box, Brett McGavin fired his shot past the wall, forcing Dan Lincoln to parry, with the rebound falling to Fadahunsi who shot wide.
It was in the four additional minutes that Gary Johnson’s side found an equaliser. After picking up the ball outside the box, Jarvis struck a curling effort which found the top left corner to ensure the game entered the interval at 1-1.
Within the first minute of the half, United established the lead. After being given space to steer through the Dorking half, Lapslie exchanged passes with Fadahunsi on the edge of the box before picking up the ball again on the edge of the six yard box and firing his shot low and into the bottom-left corner, 2-1 to United.
Two minutes later, however, there was controversy as the referee brandished a second yellow card to United midfielder Kieron Evans, forcing United to see the majority of the half out with ten men.
The home side were quick to use the extra man to their advantage, and minutes later levelled. A cross towards the far-post found substitute Ottaway who was able to rise and direct his header into the back of the net. On 61 minutes in a similar fashion, Ottaway struck again, this time to give his side the lead, 3-2 Dorking.
On 72 minutes Mark Halstead produced a remarkable save to deny Jimmy Muitt after the substitute cut inside the right side of the United box, before his goal-ward strike was parried over the bar by Halstead.
Gary Johnson’s side continued to hunt for an equaliser in the final fifteen minutes and in the 87th minute Shaun Donnellan steered a low-driven effort just wide.
That was to prove to be the last chance for The Gulls, as the fight to move up the National League standings moves on to Southend at Plainmoor on Saturday.
Dorking: 1. Daniel Lincoln, 3. Bobby-Joe Taylor, 5. Edward Harris (7. Jimmy Muitt 53′), 8. Matthew Briggs (24. Harry Ottaway 53′), 9. Ryan Seager, 11. James McShane (c), 17. Joshua Taylor, 18. Luke Moore, 27. Tony Craig, 30. Sebastian Bowerman, 37. George Francome (2. Isaac Philpot 63′).
SUBS NOT USED: 20. Daniel Gallagher, 29. Alfie Egan.
Yellow Cards: Taylor 26′, Moore 78′, Muitt 85′
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 6. Ross Marshall, 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Tope Fadahunsi (15. Ben Wyatt 51′), 11. Kieron Evans, 14. Brett McGavin (7. Ryan Hanson 71′), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey (c) (12. Jacob Mensah 71′), 27. Dillon De Silva.
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Dan Martin, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Evans 34′, 48′, Jarvis 79′
Red Card: Evans 48′
Attendance: 1,798 (400 away)