On Bank Holiday Monday, we hosted Worthing as first played second in the battle for National League South promotion.
The match started in an explosive manner, with both teams looking to quickly stamp their authority on the game.
Former Dorking player Sam Beard had the first effort of the match for the visitors, while Razzaq Coleman tested Harrison Foulkes from range.
Worthing are the highest-scoring side in the division; however, they missed a pivotal chance to go ahead in the 12th minute, as Sam Beard found himself just yards from an open goal, only to smash the ball over the bar with a gilt-edged opportunity.
The visitors were unbeaten in six before the match and found themselves on top in the opening twenty minutes, with Razzaq Coleman testing Harrison Foulkes on a number of occasions.
With three points separating the sides before kick-off, we had chances of our own in the first twenty-five minutes. However, Taylor Seymour remained relatively untested, as the likes of Jordan Norville-Williams and Frank Vincent produced efforts from range, while Charlie Carter headed wide from a long throw.
After a quieter period in the match, we came close to breaking the deadlock as Taylor Seymour denied Sam Pearson from a header.
Charlie Carter plucked the ball out of the air following a long ball from Louie Annesley before crossing into the path of Sam Pearson, whose header was destined for the top corner before Seymour’s intervention.
Half-time: Wanderers 0-0 Worthing
In a bid to add some impetus in the second half, Jason Prior was introduced at half-time, immediately volleying just wide with an acrobatic effort.
The visitors retained an attacking threat in the early stages of the second half, as Brad Dolaghan saw an audacious overhead kick go wide, and Razzaq Coleman again tested Harrison Foulkes.
However, in the tenth minute of the second half, we struck a crucial opening blow in the tie.
Paul McCallum’s backheel laid the ball off for Charlie Carter—one of the scorers in the previous fixture between the two sides—who turned the ball home off the inside of the post to give us the lead. 55′ 1-0
The lead did not last long, however, as the ball fell to Razzaq Coleman, who turned it home to finally get his goal after a multitude of attempts over the course of the game. 62′ 1-1
As the match entered its latter stages, both teams struggled to create clear chances, with honours even. Harry Ransom headed wide, and Dan Pybus curled an effort wide from a free-kick as both sides searched for a crucial breakthrough.
With the game nearing its conclusion, substitute Liam Vincent saw a header saved low to the left by Taylor Seymour. Louie Annesley stabbed the ball wide, and George Francomb forced a wonderful save from Seymour.
However, the visitors gained a heartbreaking advantage in the latter stages of the tie, as Romerio Moulton struck a vicious effort into the top left-hand corner of Harrison Foulkes’ goal. 86′ 1-2
Despite late pressure on the visitors’ goal, we were unable to find an equaliser in the dying moments of the match.
Full-time: Wanderers 1-2 Worthing