Dorking Wanderers 1 – 2 Wealdstone
Dorking Wanderers2 - 1
WealdstoneWealdstone picked up a positive 2-1 pre-season win on the road against National League South promotion favourites Dorking Wanderers at Meadowbank, with Rhys Browne grabbing both the goals.
The win ended Dorking’s unbeaten pre-season campaign in which they had won all nine previous games, the Stones extended their unbeaten run in pre-season.
Stones boss Stuart Maynard added a new trialist into the Stones midfield and also welcomed Danny Parish back into the squad after missing most of pre-season with injury.
The hosts spent the majority of the game in possession of the ball and had the first key chance of the game when James McShane flicked a header wide of Trialist A’s goal.
Despite the hosts dominance in possession, the Stones soaked up a lot of the pressure well and looked the far more effective of the two teams and took a deserved lead on 34 minutes.
Dan Wishart made a surging forward run beating two defenders, he found himself on the edge of the box before Browne snatched the ball off him with an instantaneous drive at goal which caught keeper Lee Worgan completely unaware and nestled into the bottom corner.
And just on the stroke of half time the Stones and Browne doubled their tally. Stones newest trialist, Trialist E found Browne unmarked at the far post from a corner and he nodded the ball in for the easiest of finisheds from close range.
Dorking were the only team to make changes at the break and the introduction of Alfie Rutherford finally asked some questions of the Stones defence, but Jack Cook was a match to him, getting a crucial block on an early effort.
Wealdstone still carried a goal threat too and Matt Buse almost caught out sub keeper Slavomir Huk out from a free kick but the Slovakian keeper recovered to just tip his effort wide.
Dorking went close again through a header from Matt Briggs and then Rutherford pulled a great save from Trialist A when played in on goal by Josh Taylor.
On 83 minutes the hosts pressure paid off, Briggs beat Dennon Lewis down the left and crossed a ball in for Josh Taylor who nodded home from six yards.
And Rutherford went close again from a header in injury time but the Stones rode out the pressure well and leave Surrey with the victory.
WEALDSTONE: Trialist A, Tavares (Cawley 78), Cook, Okimo (c), Lewis, Dyer, Trialist E (Trialist C 72), Buse, Wishart (Eleftheriou 65), Browne (Trialist D 65), Fasanmade (Parish 78). Subs not used: Trialist B (GK), Charles.
Report by Chris Woods
Sturat Maynard post match Interview HERE
Match Highlights HERE