Report: Magpies Left Wondering in Defeat to Dorking

It was a second 1-0 defeat in as many games for Maidenhead United after Brennan Camp scored the only goal of the game for Dorking Wanderers at Meadowbank. 

 

Alan Devonshire named two changes to the side which started in Saturday’s defeat at Farnborough. Asher Yearwood replaced Corie Andrews, while Sam Barratt was named in favour of Jayden Mitchell-Lawson. 

 

An even opening quarter of an hour saw half-chances for both sides. Josh Popoola fired across Harrison Foulkes’ goal after a Sam Barratt long throw, forcing the Dorking ‘keeper to hold on to his dangerous cross. Dorking attempted to break through on the subsequent counterattack, but Kane Ferdinand beat the striker to the ball to prevent a two-on-one. 

 

As the game approached the 20-minute mark, Dorking took the lead through Brennan Camp. Frank Vincent’s cross in front of the travelling Magpies faithful missed a man in a red shirt, allowing Camp to tap home at the back post. 

 

United marginally improved as the half went on. Asher Yearwood’s powered effort was blocked shortly after the hosts’ opener, while Popoola had a handball shout for his goal-bounded effort denied by the referee. 

 

In truth, Dorking should have been more than a goal ahead entering the break. Vincent beat all bar the Jordi van Stappershoef, who blocked the striker’s shot from the centre of the box. The combination of Jimmy Muitt and Vincent almost gave Dorking a second on the cusp of half-time, but the latter couldn’t keep his strike on target. 

 

 

Popoola had gone off the pitch after a coming together at the end of the first half, and he would not return after the interval with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson taking his place. 

 

United had an opportunity to equalise through Liam Dulson five minutes into the second half. The forward was played through after charging down the left, but was unable to utilise his weaker foot and slammed his strike straight into the side netting. He had another shot, five minutes later, on his stronger foot from further afield, but Foulkes easily held on. 

 

Barratt’s presence on the pitch allowed the Magpies to utilise his long throw, putting into use as the game passed the hour mark. The ball landed at the feet of Kane Ferdinand, but his strike drifted wide. 

 

A largely uneventful half saw the introduction of fresh faces as United pushed for an equaliser, but only Kai Yearn gave Foulkes much to worry about. His shot from outside the box was a simple enough save for the Dorking ‘keeper, who kept hold off his clean sheet. 

 

 

Dorking: Foulkes, Camp, Muitt, Lewis, Prior © (Craig, 65’), Rutherford, Storey, Taylor, Moore (McShane, 65’), Norville-Williams 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Bartley, de Havilland ©, Welch-Hayes, Yearwood (Yearn, 74’), Ferdinand (Andrews, 79’), Robinson, Dulson, Clerima, Popoola (Mitchell-Lawson, 46’), Barratt 

 

Attendance: 1,221