In front of a large crowd, the Boxing Day fixture at Meadowbank was set to be a pivotal one, as we hosted Horsham, with both sides sitting in the play-off places.
The match started in a fast-paced manner, with both teams playing on the front foot in the opening five minutes.
The first chance of the occasion fell to Jack Young, as the midfielder latched onto a through ball before producing a chipped effort that landed on the top of the net. Shortly after, Dennon Lewis cut inside and drilled an effort towards goal that was turned behind for a corner.
As the first fifteen minutes of the match progressed, we strengthened our grip on the affair with a multitude of corners and an effort from Charlie Carter that was comfortably gathered by former Bristol City and Bromley goalkeeper Lewis Carey.
The visitors took until the 21st minute to have their first meaningful effort on goal; however, they came inches away from taking the lead. A good run and turn from Reece Myles Meekums created space, allowing the winger to tee up former Hull City player Greg Luer, who curled his right-footed effort just wide.
Just after the half-hour mark, Horsham were left to rue a missed opportunity from point-blank range. Myles Meekums received the ball on the counter-attack before slipping in Greg Luer, who squared the ball towards Leone Gravata, only for the full-back to be denied by a strong close-range save from Harrison Foulkes.
Approaching half-time, the match entered a lull, with the only half-chances falling our way, as Jack Young and James McShane both missed the target with speculative efforts.
In the first action of the second half, Horsham substitute Olajundn Ogunwamide almost capitalised on some indecisive decision-making from Dan Gallagher, nearly nipping round the defender and retrieving the ball before Harrison Foulkes came out to clear. Soon after, Dorking defender Louis Annesley steered the ball over the bar from close range following a corner.
Minutes later, striker Patrick Casey also came close to breaking the deadlock for us, as his deflected effort flew wide to the right of the goal after being teed up by James McShane. Jason Prior then saw his downward header cleared off the line.
With chances falling our way, the breakthrough eventually came as incisive play from Dennon Lewis allowed James McShane to set up Patrick Casey, who turned the ball past Lewis Carey.
With the visitors chasing the game, a goalmouth scramble ensued, as Harrison Foulkes and Louis Storey kept out the likes of Rickey Aguiar with goal-line clearances.
The final blow in the encounter went our way, as Patrick Casey doubled his tally for the afternoon, looping the ball into the top corner on the volley after a floated delivery from Dennon Lewis.
Our next fixture sees us travel to Worthing on Tuesday 30th December, looking to gain another three points.