The Wanderers produced an excellent away performance to secure all three points with a convincing 3–0 victory over AFC Totton.
The hosts created the first opening inside the opening minute when they won a free kick around 25 yards from goal. The delivery was sent into our penalty area, but the assistant referee raised the flag for offside.
We responded immediately and took the lead after just four minutes. Dennon Lewis found space on the left and whipped an inviting ball across the six yard box, where Harry Forster met it with a perfectly timed volley and guided his finish into the bottom left corner. 4′ 1-0
The early breakthrough gave us confidence, and we continued to apply pressure as we looked to extend our advantage.
There was a brief pause in play after 10 minutes when Brennan Camp required treatment following a head injury, but he was soon able to continue.
Totton threatened from a long throw six minutes later. The ball was flicked on inside our penalty area, but Glenn Morris read the danger and came off his line bravely to claim it.
The Stags began to grow into the contest, winning several free kicks in promising areas, testing our defensive organisation without creating a clear opportunity.
Josh Laqeretabua made a superb driving run from inside his own half in the 19th minute, carrying the ball to the edge of the Totton penalty area before dragging his effort wide. Following the resulting goal kick, the ball fell kindly to a Totton shirt and Laqeretabua committed a late challenge, earning the first yellow card of the match.
We were forced into another stoppage in the 25th minute when McShane slid in to win possession but was caught by the Totton midfielder’s follow through. McShane received treatment before returning to the action.
The hosts continued to increase the pressure and won a corner shortly before the half hour mark. The delivery fell invitingly to a Totton player at the back post, but his first touch took the ball safely into the hands of Morris.
Despite Totton’s improved spell, it is the Wanderers who struck again after 30 minutes. Alfie Rutherford did brilliantly to beat his opponent down the right wing before drilling a low cross into the box. George Nikaj met the delivery and produced a clever first time finish, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net to double our lead. 30′ 2-0
We went close to adding a third with five minutes of the first half remaining. Josh Barrett delivered a dangerous cross that Totton failed to clear properly, allowing Rutherford to take aim, but his effort flew narrowly wide.
Barrett then produced an excellent diagonal pass from inside his own half, finding Lewis near the left corner flag. The winger cut inside and drove an effort towards the near post, but his shot whistled wide.
We broke forward again in the 44th minute as Nikaj and Rutherford combined effectively. The move created space for Laqeretabua to deliver a cross towards the back post, where McShane was left unmarked, but his half volley sails over the crossbar.
Totton finished the half strongly and launched a counter attack in stoppage time. Frank Vincent halted the move with a foul near the halfway line and was shown a yellow card. We failed to fully clear the resulting free kick, allowing the hosts to return the ball into the area, where a flicked effort forced an excellent save from Morris.
HALF TIME – AFC TOTTON 0-2 DORKING WANDERERS
We carried our attacking threat into the second half and created another excellent opportunity after 50 minutes. McShane slipped Rutherford through on goal, but Gosney made himself big and denied our forward with a strong save.
The hosts began to enjoy more possession and take greater control as the match approached the hour mark, although our defence remained organised and limited them to few meaningful chances.
The complexion of the contest changed in the 65th minute. McShane released Rutherford through the middle once again, and our striker used his body well to move in front of Matt Chandler. The Totton defender brought him down, leaving the referee with little choice but to produce a red card.
With the hosts reduced to 10 players, we capitalised six minutes later with a superbly constructed third goal. Lewis beat the full back down the left and cut the ball back towards Dawid Rogalski. The striker received the ball on the half turn, spun away from the centre half and calmly slotted his finish into the bottom corner. 70′ 3-0
Sayers was shown a yellow card for a late challenge in the 79th minute as the Wanderers managed the closing stages professionally and protect our clean sheet.
FULL TIME – AFC TOTTON 0-3 DORKING WANDERERS
The full time whistle confirms an impressive 3–0 victory, with goals from Forster, Nikaj and Rogalski securing all three points for the Wanderers. We return to league action this Saturday with the visit of Maidstone United. Be sure to not miss the Wanderers in action and grab your tickets here : Dorking Wanderers vs Maidstone United