Depleted Chicks can’t recover from slow start

Combined Counties League

Premier Division

Camberley 4 Dorking 0

INJURY-HIT Dorking suffered a bruising defeat as Camberley emerged deserved winners in a game which the home side effectively won in the first half.

Dorking had three centre backs out for the game, captain Sam Sawyers turning his ankle in training while fellow centre back against Epsom in mid week.

David Thompson is also out having dislocated his shoulder at Epsom and is likely to be out of action for six weeks.

This was always going to be one of the more difficult away trips Adrian Cox and his team will face.

Coming hot on the heels of the game at another of the division's stronger teams at Epsom in midweek, the last few games have certainly been a baptism of fire for the new Dorking manager and his youthful side.

The tough games do not stop - after Tuesday night's home game against Horley Town, Dorking face one of the league's pace setters, Chessington & Hook on Saturday (again at home) before a Bank Holiday Monday trip to Chertsey Town and an FA Vase game at Molesey the following weekend as the matches come thick and fast.

Camberley were completely in control last Saturday, goals in the 20th, 30th and on the stroke of half-time putting them into an unassailable lead.

Dorking had failed to defend as tightly as was needed, leaving keeper John McBride exposed, but this was perhaps unsurprising given the makeshift central defensive partnership of Tyrone Oliver and Leif Borgust.

To be fair to Chicks, the side kept their shape in the second half as Camberley kicked down the slope, the home side relying far more on the long ball in the second period rather than the closer passing game they had played in the first half.

Dorking by and large coped with the Camberley tactics, McBride making several good saves while one super tackle from Dan Evans in the box as a Camberley striker looked destined to extend the lead was undoubtedly the challenge of the match.

Dorking were having more possession and forced some pressure on the Camberley box, particularly after the introduction of Ian Jamieson alongside Toby Fitzgibbon, but the Camberley goal never really came under serious threat.

Dorking rode their luck when a home “goal” was ruled out with 10 minutes to go, the ball having been adjudged to have gone out of play in the build up to the goal.

But Camberley did get the goal their second half play probably deserved moments from time, Dorking caught short at the back as they pushed forward trying to reduce the arrears, Camberley's no 11 beating McBride from close range.

Dorking's players had once more given 100 per cent and easier games than this will come when the obvious team spirit within the side will see more points put on the board

Dorking’s Under 18s have their first league game at home versus Horley Town on Wednesday, September 1, kick off 7-45pm.

The U18s have received a bye to the first round of the FA Youth Cup after opponents Wick withdrew from the competition - the U18s now face either Walton & Hersham or Crawley Town in the next round in mid September.

Dorking: McBride, Suchey, Evans, Oliver, Borgust, McCann, Tyler, Reid, Jeeves, Maneh, Fitzgibbon, Campbell, Attree, Jamieson.