Full-time: Dorking Wanderers 2-2 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City and Dorking Wanderers shared the spoils in an entertaining clash at Meadowbank Stadium.
Archie Tamplin scored his first National League South goal in the 31st minute to put the Clarets ahead going into half-time.
Marc White’s side turned the tables on City when they scored a quick-fire double early in the second half. Charlie Carter converted from the spot in the 48th minute after the hosts were awarded a dubious penalty. A minute later, Alfie Rutherford put Dorking in front when he burst past the Clarets’ backline, rounded Ted Collins, and slotted the ball into the empty net.
City responded to the disappointment of conceding twice in quick succession by equalising in the 60th minute. Kane Crichlow rolled the ball across the box to Nico Valentine, who kept his composure and produced a clinical finish across goal.
Both sides came close to taking the lead in the closing stages at Meadowbank. Dorking twice hit the woodwork, while City substitute Finley Wilkinson fired a shot just wide of the post.
Robbie Simpson made a defensive adjustment and one change to the starting XI from last week’s game against Worthing. Sam Oguntayo dropped to the bench and Colchester United loanee Frankie Edwards took his place.
Dorking had most of the possession in the first 30 minutes but seldom tested Clarets goalkeeper Ted Collins, as City defended in numbers. Simpson’s game plan paid off in the 31st minute when Crichlow burst forward after winning the ball in a dangerous position. Wanderers recovered quickly and managed to smother the ball out of the box. However, their clearance fell to Tamplin, who kept his shot low but still struck the ball sweetly enough to find the bottom corner and beat Harrison Foulkes.
The Clarets held on to their lead going into half-time, but were hit with a double sucker punch in the first five minutes of the second period. Dorking were awarded a controversial penalty when Harry Barbrook was adjudged to have fouled Joe Taylor inside the box. Wanderers captain Carter stepped forward from 12 yards, hit the target, and sent Collins the wrong way to equalise.
Moments later, the hosts took the lead when Rutherford scored his 16th league goal of the season. The attacker took control of the ball near the halfway line and burst beyond the Clarets’ backline before rounding Collins and passing the ball into the empty net. Dorking nearly increased their advantage in the 52nd minute when centre-back Tony Craig headed Robert Milsom’s corner onto the crossbar.
City responded well to their difficult start to the second period and equalised in the 60th minute. A well-worked move involving Jordan Greenidge, Crichlow and Valentine was finished by the latter when he drilled a shot across goal into the bottom corner.
In a breathless final 25 minutes, both sides nearly scored their third goal of the afternoon. Substitute Finley Wilkinson came agonisingly close when he fired a shot inches wide of Foulkes’ goal. At the other end, the hosts hit the woodwork twice more. Rutherford nearly scored again when he got behind City’s backline and fired a shot from a tight angle that hit the post. In the 87th minute, Carter’s low shot from the edge of the box found its way past the defending City players but bounced off the post and away from danger.
Clarets goalkeeper Collins played a prominent role in the five minutes of added time. He first made an impressive stop to tip Jason Prior’s header around the post in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
In the closing seconds of the game, City won a corner, which Simpson instructed Collins to go forward for. The set piece eluded Collins and his teammates and was instead claimed by Wanderers’ shot-stopper Foulkes. Despite Foulkes having the ball in his hands, the referee’s full-time whistle sounded, meaning the goalkeeper was unable to take a long goal kick towards City’s empty net.
Dorking Wanderers XI: Foulkes (GK); Craig, Muitt (Briggs 69’), Prior, Rutherford, Brooking (Camp 46’), Carter (C), Gallagher (Williams 77’), Norville-Williams (McManus 77’), Milsom, Young (Taylor 46’).
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: Rutherford 19’, Camp 58’, Carter 71’
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Barnum-Bobb; Edwards, Rye, Barbrook (Oguntayo 85’); Tamplin, Penney; Valentine, Ruff (C) (Wilkinson 73’), Crichlow; Greenidge (Akanbi 77’).
Unused substitutes: Donaldson, Bland
Yellow cards: Valentine 64’, Wilkinson 75’
Match officials: George Laflin (Referee), Peter Wilson (Assistant Referee), Scott Crowhurst (Assistant Referee), Tom Farlow (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1504 (125 away)
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