Specsavers
3:00pm - MondayMon 28th AugustAug 2023
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 3206

Woking
Woking
2 - 0

Dorking Wanderers
Dorking Wanderers

Match Preview and Guide | Dorking Wanderers (H)

William Bewsey
11:40am, Thu 24th Aug 2023
Woking vs. Dorking Wanderers
Vanarama National League
28th August 2023
15:00 Kick-Off


Woking welcome Dorking to the Laithwaite on Bank Holiday Monday for just the third competitive meeting between the sides.

Following a superb 3-1 comeback win in the North East against Gateshead, Darren Sarll’s side will be hoping for back to back wins for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Marc White’s Wanderers, often labelled ‘the entertainers’ of the division, drew 2-2 at home to York, thanks to talisman Jason Prior’s fourth goal of the season, leaving them with one win, one draw and three losses from their opening five games.

Important Entry Information
Following supporter feedback, the following changes have been made for fans when entering the ground.

1. Season Ticket Holders for any area may enter the ground at the Kingfield Road entrance through the gates located between the turnstiles and the gatehouse.
2. Season Ticket Holders wishing to continue to use the Westfield Turnstiles may continue to do so.
3. Pre-paid (advance) and walk-up tickets will continue to enter designated gates.
4. All cash gates will also have terminals to accept credit cards.

Around the Ground
Ticket pricing and other details are available here.

Enjoy our £4 pint happy hour offer on Madri, Carling and Cold River Cider! The offer runs from 12:30 to 13:30, and then post-match until the bar closes.

Live music from Squeezebox will be playing in Cardinals Bar after full-time.

Opposition Watch
Promoted from the National League South play offs in 2022, Wanderers ensured their main aim of survival after a good run of form to end the season. Marc White's side average a promotion every other season since their inaugural season in the Crawley and District League in 1999, although the aim this year is simply to push on up the table as the Wanderers saw several departures in the summer.

The likes of Nick Wheeler and Ed Harris departed the club, although few signings have been made to add to what was already quite a large squad. Among those are Dan Pybus, a midfielder who has signed a three year deal after leaving York City recently, Harrison Male, an impressive young goalkeeper who made a name for himself at Worthing, the return of veteran centre half Tony Craig following a successful loan spell last season, as well as players such as Aaron Kuhl and George Francomb, who joined the Wanderers during the business end of last season.

Wanderers also await the return of striker Alfie Rutherford and winger Matt Briggs after long term injuries ruled them out of almost the entirety of the last campaign, whilst off the pitch, Dorking are becoming partly fan owned, as well as going hybrid in a further step towards eventually becoming a professional club.

Last Time Out
A Rohan Ince double made for a memorable Good Friday turnaround at a sold out Meadowbank, as 1400 Woking fans watched Jason Prior's second half penalty cancelled out by a wonder striker and a header from the midfielder in quick succession.

The only meeting between these sides at the Laithwaite saw a thrilling 3-3 draw, as two goals from Amond and one from Browne made the spoils shared.

Match Report | Cards stroll to victory against Wanderers

William Bewsey
4:55pm, Mon 28th Aug 2023
Woking 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
Vanarama National League
28th August 2023

Following Saturday’s victory at Gateshead, Darren Sarll made two changes to the victorious side, with Luke Wilkinson and Ricky Korboa both in for Scott Cuthbert, rested, whilst Rhys Browne dropped out entirely after coming off injured. For the visitors, the most notable absence was that of talisman Jason Prior, who picked up an injury in Wanderers’ 2-2 draw with York, despite notching his fourth goal in five games.

In the Bank Holiday sunshine, both sides came out the tunnel to a rapture of applause from the 3206 spectators inside the Laithwaite, as Dorking kicked off towards the KRE. Inside the first 30 seconds, Woking carved through the away defence twice, with Jim Kellermann forcing a block, before Korboa’s shot was straight at Harrison Male.

Woking were nearly gifted an opener after eight minutes, when a stray back pass was reached by Padraig Amond, but a superb save from Male denied them, before good work down the wing found Matt Robinson, whose low shot was brilliantly saved by Male. Excellent work from Zak Bradshaw saw him fire a shot just wide of the Dorking goal, as the Cards had their tails up.

It would take until 34 minutes for Woking to take the lead, when Bradshaw’s cross wasn’t dealt with by the Wanderers defence, and Korboa lifted the ball over Male and into the back of the net to give the Cards a deserved lead.

That was how it stayed at half time, with the Cards unfortunate to not be further ahead, and the visitors in detriment to Male in goal for his work to prevent another goal or two.

Half-time: Woking 1-0 Dorking Wanderers

Woking began the second half strongly, with Amond and Korboa continuing their excellent link up, and when the Irish striker’s shot was supposedly blocked by a hand, the Cards couldn’t believe that the referee hadn’t pointed to the spot. Bradshaw then tested Male once again, forcing him into another smart stop, before Dorking created their first attack of the afternoon.

Good play from Seb Bowerman forced Will Jaaskelainen off his line to intercept the cross, which he punched away excellently, before Dan Pybus’ shot was comfortably into the Finnish stopper’s arms.

Ryan Seager forced a block from Bradshaw on 73 minutes after good build up play, before Male made yet another good save, when a combination of substitutes Dennon Lewis and Nana Boateng saw Amond’s backheel parried by the Dorking keeper.

Woking looked to have finally put the seal on victory on 85 minutes, when Boateng dispossessed a defender, and fed Lewis, who calmly finished past Male to send the KRE wild.

After Lewis found the side netting with the Dorking defence exposed, Woking saw out the seven minutes of added time for a comfortable victory. Six points over the Bank Holiday weekend, and two excellent performances to match.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Luke Wilkinson, Greg Taylor, Padraig Amond (Willmott 87'), Matt Robinson, Ricky Korboa (Lewis 74’), Tunji Akinola, Jim Kellermann (Boateng 77’), Zak Bradshaw.

Unused subs: Day, Habergham, Boateng

Goals: Korboa 34’, Lewis 85’

Bookings: Wilkinson 25’, Akinola 89'

Dorking: Harrison Male, Barry Fuller, Niall McManus (Lankshear 84’), Luke Moore, Tony Craig, Bobby-Joe Taylor, Dan Gallagher (Seager 45’), Josh Taylor, Seb Bowerman, Harry Ottaway, James McShane (Pybus 45’)

Unused subs: Kuhl, Kennedy

Referee: Ritchie Watkins

Attendance: 3206

Sponsor's Man of the Match: Jim Kellermann was exceptional once again in the heart of Woking's midfield, but in truth it could have been a number of Woking players.
WOKING LINEUP
22Will Jaaskelainen
2Dan Moss
3Josh Casey
6Luke Wilkinson
5Greg Taylor
16Tunji Akinola
17Jim Kellermann ('72)
20Zak Bradshaw
12Matt Robinson
7Ricky Korboa ('72)
10Padraig Amond ('84)
BENCH
1Joe Day
28Sam Habergham
8Robbie Willmott ('84)
11Dennon Lewis ('72)
15Nana Boateng ('72)
Dorking Wanderers LINEUP
1Harrison Male
22Barry Fuller
3Bobby-Joe Taylor
5Tony Craig
6Niall McManus ('80)
17Josh Taylor
18Luke Moore
20Dan Gallagher ('46)
30Seb Bowerman
11James McShane ('46)
24Harry Ottaway
BENCH
12Callum Kennedy
28Alex Lankshear ('80)
4Dan Pybus ('46)
25Aaron Kuhl
19Ryan Seager ('46)

Woking 2-0 Dorking Wanderers | Extended Match Highlights

Woking 2-0 Dorking Wanderers | Darren Sarll Interview

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