We share the spoils in a 3-3 draw with Chelmsford City, keeping our unbeaten run going ahead of Torquay away this Saturday.
We got off to a flying start, with George Nikaj opening the scoring within two minutes. A left-footed shot curled up and over the Chelmsford goalkeeper Alfie Marriott from the right corner of the box after chopping past two defenders, seeing the ball float into the left-hand side of the net. 2′ 1-0
Just a few minutes later, Harry Forster carried the ball from his own half down the left side of the opposition box before seeing his shot blocked and put out for a corner, keeping the pressure on the visitors.
Then came a controversial moment for the visitors, as Chelmsford saw themselves equalise in the tenth minute. A Chelmsford player stood in an offside position in front of Glenn Morris before leaving it for Harry Barbrook to pounce on the loose ball and slot it under our No. 1 to level it. 10′ 1-1
We responded immediately with Josh Barrett finding the net for the second time this season. Almost a carbon copy of Nikaj’s goal, Barrett found himself with the ball on the left corner of the Chelmsford box before floating the ball over the keeper and into the right side of the net, putting us back ahead. 14′ 2-1
The game remained entertaining for neutrals after the visitors found themselves level for a second time. George Alexander found himself through down the left side of our box before firing the ball high past Glenn Morris, seeing the ball hit the back of the net. 19′ 2-2
We bounced back after the equaliser, having two quick chances towards goal, forcing Alfie Marriott to make a save to keep his side in the game.
The visitors found the ball in the back of Glenn Morris’ net, but the linesman raised his flag to disallow the goal.
The goals kept on coming with the visitors taking the lead for the first time in the game. Adam May placed the ball across the goal from 12 yards out into the bottom right corner of the goal. 33′ 2-3
The final chance of the half fell to George Nikaj, who found himself in open space before heading the ball straight into Alfie Marriott’s arms from 8 yards out.
Half-Time: Dorking Wanderers 2-3 Chelmsford City
The second half didn’t start as quickly as the high-scoring first half, with Nikaj hammering the ball out of the ground from the edge of the box.
We found the equaliser right after Nikaj’s missed opportunity through Jack Wood, who found the net for the third time this season, putting us level again. The ball bounced in the box, falling to Jack Wood, who hit the ball on the turn with power across Chelmsford’s goal and into the back of the net. 53′ 3-3
The first booking of the game came from the visitors, midfielder Cav Miley, after fouling McShane 10 yards into the visitors’ half.
The game quietened down after Jack Wood equalised, with no real chances created from either side as the game moved into the final 25 minutes.
As the game went on, Chelmsford created a rare chance, with a shot being fired low and hard across the box just ahead of Lyle Taylor, who was too far away to reach for the ball to tap it into the back of the net.
Chelmsford centre-half Nathan Ralph was the second player to go into the referee’s book after committing a foul to stop our attack.
Seven minutes later, Harry Pinchard became the first Wanderers player to receive a yellow card after a push in the back that gave the visitors a free-kick 35 yards from goal.
The yellow cards kept on coming as we went into the book again, with James McShane committing a late tackle.
Lyle Taylor had a chance with a weak effort towards goal claimed by Glenn Morris before the linesman raised his flag for offside.
With the last kick of the game, Chelmsford’s Nathan Ralph was teed up for a shot 15 yards out, looking likely to win it, before Femi Ilesanmi put his body on the line to block the powerful shot and see the game out with the scores level.
Full-Time: Dorking Wanderers 3-3 Chelmsford City
After a thrilling first half which saw five goals in 33 minutes, the points are shared under the lights at Meadowbank, making our unbeaten run climb to four.
We now look to Saturday, when we travel down to Torquay United, aiming to stay unbeaten and get back to winning ways.
Coach travel for Saturday’s away fixture is available here