Dorking vs Chessington & Hook

A good display and a good three points on the day when our most convincing win of the season saw us go top of the league. Now for the hard part, and that will be staying there.

In a game against another side scrapping at the bottom of the league and on a surface hardly conducive to free flowing football, we expected a similar game to that against Bookham, although our performance on the day was far more impressive.

The first ten minutes were spent with both sides playing back to front and with ourselves being more effective at getting the ball into good areas, it was us that gradually took the early initiative.

On ten minutes and from the first corner of the match we took the lead. As the corner was swung in by Scott Todd, there appeared to be a foul on Leon Canning as he was eased away from the ball, but as it dropped it struck an outstretched Dorking arm and a penalty was awarded. Todd confidently dispatched the spot kick to give us the lead scoring his fifth penalty of the year.

The side lifted by this early goal seemed visibly more confident and looked dangerous every time it attacked. From another corner on nineteen minutes, again taken by Todd, the ball dropped to centre half Leon Canning who drilled firmly into the corner of the net for a well deserved two goal advantage.

For the first time in weeks we looked comfortable, so it was a little surprising when fifteen minutes before the break we decided to defend deeper thus allowing Dorking greater possession and greater territorial advantage. With this and the referee being put under increasing pressure, it was inevitable something would have to give and when the referee pointed to the spot, whilst it was clearly harsh we should shoulder some of the responsibility. With the kick being converted, the half time team talk instead of being comfortable was quickly re-thought as Dorking clearly sensed a way back in.

Any doubts about the mental strength of the team were put to rest in a blistering fifteen minute spell after the restart. First Canning headed home a Todd free kick for his second and our third of the match and then on the hour, Daryl Swaby who had replaced the injured Malik Buari after ten minutes, opened his account for us latching on to a Todd through ball for our fourth.

The final half hour served up more of the same, with another blatant hand ball being overlooked and Reece Jackson who is desperate for a goal failing to convert at least three other good chances. Late changes followed seeing Adam Cheadle and Darren Smith replaced by Shane Graham and Jimmy Brazil presumably to keep the tempo high, something the manager had demanded all afternoon.

Top of the league but surely the job is only half done.