Full-time: Chelmsford City 0-4 Dorking Wanderers
Charlie Carter’s hat trick helped Dorking Wanderers to a 4-0 victory over Chelmsford City on Saturday afternoon.
Wanderers captain Carter completed his brace inside the opening 20 minutes of the game at the EMJ Community Stadium. Carter then increased Dorking’s lead in the 70th minute when he kept his composure in front of goal to score from close range.
Carter was replaced by Matt Briggs in the 84th minute, who scored the visitors’ final goal of the afternoon less than two minutes after he was introduced.
Robbie Simpson made three changes to the side which drew with St Albans City in midweek. Charlie Ruff, Kalvin Kalala and Jake Hyde came into the side in place of Cameron James, Freddie Hockey and Jordan Greenidge.
The Clarets’ afternoon got off to a less-than-ideal start when the visitors scored in the fourth minute. Wanderers captain Carter scored the opener when he produced a clinical finish past Woody Williamson from inside the City penalty area.
Kalala came close to finding an equaliser in the 13th minute. The Frenchman got a shot away from the edge of the penalty area, but his strike took a deflection and went the wrong side of the post by a matter of inches.
Carter doubled his side’s lead in the 26th minute when he got the decisive touch on a high ball back into the Clarets’ six-yard box. Carter rose highest and cushioned a looping header into the top corner of Williamson’s goal.
City produced a good response to going behind and were unfortunate not to pull one back prior to half-time. Osman Foyo produced two efforts in the 21st and 26th minute, both of which were shots on target but pushed behind for corners by Wanderers shot stopper Harrison Foulkes.
An uneventful start to the second half of the game worked against City, who were unable to find a route back into the match after Dorking defended resolutely. The visitors were rewarded when they increased their lead in the 70th minute. Jack Young’s defence splitting pass found Carter in space, who kept his composure in front of goal and finished coolly past Woody Williamson.
Carter was replaced by Matt Briggs in the 84th minute, and less than 120 seconds after his introduction, Briggs added his name to the scoresheet. James Muitt’s shot on target was parried by Williamson, however the Ipswich Town loanee’s save dropped into the path of Briggs, who tapped the ball into the back of the net from close-range.
The Clarets now have a two-week wait until they return to the National League South action away at Worthing. Simpson’s side travel to West Essex in the BBC Essex Senior Cup on Wednesday and then face Peterborough Sports away in the FA Trophy next weekend.
Chelmsford City XI: Williamson; Williams (Eames 57’), Gale, Appiah, Oguntayo (Greenidge 65’); Bendle (Crichlow 75’), Tamplin (Blands 84’); Foyo, Ruff © (Hockey 75’), Kalala; Hyde.
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Williams, Appiah
Dorking Wanderers XI: Foulkes (GK); Camp, Craig, Muitt (Francomb 90’), Rutherford (Taylor 46’), Brooking (Randall 90’), Carter (Briggs 84’), Gallagher, Norville-Williams, Young, Alexandrou (Williams 52’).
Unused substitutes: Randall-Hurren.
Yellow cards: Craig
Match Officials: Issac Searle (Referee), Jame Jadvirsis (1st Assistant), Matthew Rowling (2nd Assistant), Richard Joss (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 994
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