It was a night of firsts at Meadowbank as both Rob Milsom & Jordan Norville-Williams scored their first goals for the club as they helped the Wanderers cruise to a 3-0 win over a 10-men Aveley.
As always it seems with the Wanderers they started off quickly, and it only took ten seconds for the first opening of the game as Alfie Rutherford found his fierce effort across goal palmed away by James Holden.
That early strike set the tone and the dominance further continued in the early stages, and Dorking were nearly rewarded as Rob Milsom’s long ball turned shot from the right nearly caught Holden off his line, but his effort dipped just over the crossbar.
Another chance fell just minutes later as Rutherford used his striking instincts to muscle the ball away from the Aveley defence and lay a pass off to Charlie Carter but the Melters’ defence got out well to get their bodies in the way of his first time strike.
However the deadlock was to be broken despite the visitors’ resilience, and after Josh Taylor went down under Holness’ high footed challenge, Rob Milsom stepped up and wrongfooted his opposite number tucking the ball home for his first ever goal in Wanderers colours. 1-0
The final part of the first period saw the Essex side begin to grow into the game, and after a corner in from the left, Brooklyn Kabongolo hit a well taken half volley on the turn but Harrison Foulkes did superbly well to catch and hold under pressure.
The visitors weren’t done there, and they could’ve had the equaliser if it wasn’t for Dan Gallagher’s fantastic last ditch defending in a two on one scenario after Luke Holness broke away and looked certain to score.
HALF TIME: Dorking Wanderers 1-0 Aveley
Second half proceedings stayed largely the same as the first with Wanderers still in control of possession. A rare Josh Taylor shot, after a run from his own half all the way to the other end, narrowly ended up the wrong side of the post, and Rhys Murphy’s effort from distance came close but sailed just over.
With the chances flowing, Dorking’s advantage would be extended just short of the hour mark through talisman Jason Prior. After some well worked build up found Rhys Murphy on the edge of the box, the striker threaded through Charlie Carter, and after luring the ‘keeper off his line he squared it across to Prior for his 8th of the season. 2-0
After Foulkes did well to tip an awkward cross to safety, changes came for Aveley as they attempted to salvage anything possible from what seemed a lost cause. But it then went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Kabongolo channelled his inner John Cena by throwing Rhys Murphy to ground with a wrestling move, referee Harrison Blair had no choice but to give the defender his second yellow card and send him on his way.
With ten minutes to play, Wanderers finally sealed the points through Jordan Norville-Williams as he slammed home his first goal for Dorking from inside the 18-yard box. After finding space away from his marker on the left, he set himself to strike low and hard across goal into the bottom right corner, putting the game to bed completely. 3-0
With not much action in the closing stages, we march on to 2nd in the table temporarily with postponements and results elsewhere going our way. Make sure to join us at Meadowbank on Saturday as we look to continue our good run of form against Slough Town.
FULL TIME: Dorking Wanderers 3-0 Aveley
Match report by Henry Bennett