Dorking Wanderers move five points clear at top of National League South after Chelmsford City win
Matt Briggs' goal separated the two sides.
Dorking Wanderers celebrating during their 1-0 win over Chelmsford City. CREDIT: Steve O'Sullivan
Submitted by Daniel Stobart for the Dorking & Leatherhead Advertiser
Dorking Wanderers moved five points clear at the top of the National League South table after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelmsford City at Melbourne Park on Monday evening.
Matt Briggs’ goal on the half-hour mark was enough for Wanderers to take maximum points for the second time in three days following Saturday's home win over Welling.
There was just the one change to the side that started that game, as Niall McManus came in for Nicky Wheeler.
The combination of Barry Fuller and Matt Briggs picked up where they left off from the weekend with effective play down the right channel, Briggs accurately picked out Alfie Rutherford outside the six-yard box, but the striker's turn and shot was blocked.
From the opposite channel McManus found Wes Fogden at the edge of the box, but his strike drifted wide.
The Clarets’ looked to release the pacey Simeon Jackson, the home-debuting former Norwich striker went closest with a fierce effort from distance which Lewis Carey had to punch away.
After 30 minutes, Wanderers managed to break the deadlock with a moment of quality from Briggs.
He cut inside from the right at pace and drove a powerful shot into the back of the net via a deflection.
Approaching half-time the Dorking backline were continuing to be solid in the face of increasingly direct play from the hosts, as Callum Harrison and Jake Cass sent efforts over the bar.
Marc White made a switch at half-time, as Luke Moore came on for Rutherford and McShane moved into a more advanced position.
Inside the opening ten seconds of the restart, a pin-point delivery from midfield landed at the feet of Briggs in the channel, he beat his man and drove into the area but was unable to keep his shot down.
Prior then looked to drop a header down for McShane inside the area, he rounded the advanced Lee Worner but had his strike cleared a few yards from goal by a defender.
Robbie Simpson's side rallied late on with a couple of headers going close, but couldn't salvage an equaliser as Wanderers held on to keep the clean sheet and take maximum points.
Manager White said after the game: “Happy with the win, difficult place to come, pitch was a bit inconsistent in places, same for both sides of course.
“Robbie had his team well set up, shut down the half spaces well and made us work hard for it.
“We defended brilliantly, back-to-back clean sheets, well organised. Game was spoilt by the ref, good guy but just didn't want to make a decision, thought they had a pen, we had at least two.
“Great result, especially going Saturday - Monday.”
Dorking, Surrey.
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