Report by Ben Austen:
It was a miserable day in the heavy rain for the Stones as they let slide an opportunity to pick up their first ever win at Meadowbank by falling apart to a well drilled Dorking Wanderers side.
Following an accomplished performance at Torquay last Saturday, George Elokobi put faith in 10 of them that started with only Nathan Harness coming back into the side for Lenny Holden.
The Stones started fairly well playing balls into channels early doors but were unable to find pockets of space. However, Dorking slowly started to adapt and were rewarded seventeen minutes in. The defence got caught on the counter which allowed James Muitt to fake shot on Leo Hamblin before curling his effort past Harness to give Marc White’s side the lead.
Once Dorking went ahead, it was difficult to come back as just four minutes later, Hamblin made a clumsy challenge inside he box on Luke Moore which resulted in a penalty. Experienced striker Jason Prior was given the responsibility and calmly sent Harness the wrong way to double the Wanderers’ lead.
Muitt who was a constant problem down the right hand side played in a dangerous cross which was turned just wide by Prior. Brennan Camp was keen to get in on the action as he whipped a delivery towards Moore who threw himself at the header but was tough for him to keep down. It nearly got a lot worse just before half-time when the Stones failed to clear a Dorking corner. It fell into the path of Camp but was denied by Harness.
The gaffer responded at half-time making a triple change including both Deon Moore and TJ Bramble who returned from International duty. It nearly had a positive effect in the opening seconds as Papadopoulos played in John Gilbert who was blocked at the near post by keeper Harrison Foulkes.
Centre-back Louie Annesley was looking to get in on the act following Fowler’s scuffed clearance but couldn’t keep his first time shot down from close range.
The Stones then created a couple of opportunities themselves when Riley Court’s corner found Bramble whose shot came back off the post and into Harrison Foulkes’ arms. Soon after, Gilbert got in behind the Wanderers defence before drilling a low cross towards the near post which was back-healed by Deon Moore and evaded the far post.
It proved to be the momentum swing moment as just a few minutes later, Dennon Lewis beat the offside trap. Harness thought about coming before retreating and Lewis was able to take the ball out his feet and slot into the bottom right hand corner to make it three.
Papadopoulos huffed and puffed to try and grab a consolation but his shot from outside the box was parried away by Foulkes. The consolation did come however in the final minute of added time when Bramble added home from Court’s corner but it was a mere blip in a dominant display by Dorking.
Dorking Wanderers: James Muitt 17’, Jason Prior (pen) 23’, Dennon Lewis 61’
Maidstone United: TJ Bramble 90+4’
Dorking Wanderers: 1. Harrison Foulkes, 2. Brennan Camp, 3. Jordan Norville-Williams (14. Mile Straker 90+2 mins), 7. James Muitt, 8. Dennon Lewis (5. Dan Pybus 85 mins), 9. Jason Prior (C) (21. James McLeod 90+2 mins), 12. Louis Storey, 17. Josh Taylor, 18. Luke Moore (5. Tony Craig 49 mins), 33. Francis Vincent, 46. Louie Annesley (20. Dan Gallagher 73 mins). Subs not used: 15. Blaise Weller, 30. Josh Herbet.
Maidstone United: 1. Nathan Harness, 2. David Sesay, 3. Leo Hamblin, 4. Lexus Beeden, 5. George Fowler (C), 7. Jephte Tanga (20. Antony Papadopoulos 45 mins), 10. John Gilbert (14. Kweku Lucan 78 mins), 12. Dajon Golding, 17. Riley Court, 22. Teo Kurtatan (6. TJ Bramble 45 mins), 23. Hamzad Kargbo (9. Deon Moore 45 mins). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 19. Ruben Carvalho, 21. Malachi Mbogba.
