In their inaugural season in 24/25, the Dorking Wanderers Women U23s competed strongly in the same division, ultimately finishing 3rd behind Carshalton Athletic and winners Farnham Town. Coming into this season, following their ‘domestic treble’ success at U16 level winning the League Title, League Cup and County Cup, the management team of Debbie Francis and Mike Parsonson took over the U23s for 25/26, with a number of players from that all conquering U16s squad becoming part of the U23s.
The U16s side of last year did not lose a game at all throughout the 24/25 season, and with the exception of a narrow 3-2 away defeat to this season’s runner’s up Carshalton Athletic in the second game of the campaign, Wanderers have otherwise won all their league matches. The team have again shown brilliant consistency in both boxes, maintaining 11 clean sheets and registering a number of high scoring victories along the way, including against the likes of Chessington & Hook (1-6, 8-0), Manorcroft United (0-7) and Walton & Hersham (7-1). Goalkeeper Tia Botting and her defence can be proud of another impressive season of resilience at the back, whilst up the other end of the field, striker Holly Crane has finished top scorer with 26 goals (current joint highest scorer in the league with Carshalton’s Deanna Bradley), with strike partner and academy first year student Maisie Dale also registering double-figures with 13 goals.
First half strikes from Holly Crane, full-back Carla Ortega-Peraita and Maisie Dale secured the crucial final day win against Sutton this past Sunday afternoon at Collingwood Recreation Ground, putting a 9-point gap in place ahead of Carshalton who have two games left to play.
From everyone at Dorking Wanderers, we congratulate Debbie, Mike and the full squad on an outstanding 25/26, and we look forward to seeing what the group go on to achieve again next season and beyond.
Dorking Wanderers Women U23s Final Day Squad v Sutton United Reserves:
Starting XI: Tia Botting (GK), Roisin Arnott, Isabelle Beaumont, Kaysey Chilver, Holly Crane, Amelia Dale, Maisie Dale, Evie Forde, Carla Ortega-Peraita, Tally Rivens, Cerys Splisbury
Subs: Molly Cadle, Neve Cadle, Elissia Reynolds, Miya Waring