Dorking Wanderers (0) 1 Duff 82
Tonbridge (2) 3 Blewden 2,10 Whitnall 89
Attendance: Est. 100
Entrance: £1.50 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 120/486
New Ground: 277
Lurking somewhere behind Box Hill, the picturesque backdrop to the West Humble football ground, is the concrete car park better known as the M25. As I set out for Dorking Wanderers and the ridiculously early kick off time of 12:30, I thought to myself, this was first battle with the M25 this season. Latest score: M25 1 Wink 0. Reminder to oneself, always allow an extra hour when tackling this most fierce of opponents. My half-hour buffer was 10 minutes short of the required time and subsequently the first goal of the match had been scored by the time I arrived at a football ground where the satnav had also proved to be not a lot of help.
Another couple of minutes sitting on the motorway, or if I hadn't fluked a sighting of the ground, and I would have missed the second goal as well. A well worked move from the visitors opened up the Wanderers defence leaving Luke Blewden to drive a shot past the goalkeeper. Blewden had been credited with opening goal by those Tonbridge supporters assembled behind the goal as a Sonny Miles effort was drifting wide before the striker diverted it goalwards.
Everything about West Humble was kind of "pretty". Nestling in the foothills of the North Downs, with its cabin style clubhouse and wooden perimeter fencing at a perfect height and width for leaning on; looking out on the most beautiful, lush pitch that you could wish for in non-league, it was a scene that could have emanated from the Sound of Music!
Music to the supporters of Tonbridge Angels was the stylish football they exhibited in a first half in which they dominated their hosts, who this season will debuting in Ryman League South. There were several missing faces, James Folkes, Lee Carey, Jeromme Sobers, Nathan Elder and Anthony Di Barnado, who definitely will not be available for the opening game of the season. Will Godmon, an 18-year-old from Maidstone, deputised between the sticks and whilst he wasn't over-stretched, he looked capable of stepping into the breach next Saturday.
Tom Parkinson was outstanding in midfield and Nick Wheeler once again had licence to thrill.
The hosts gave a far stronger showing in the second half and deserved their consolation goal before they were opened up once more allowing Tommy Whitnell a sublime finish in the final minute.
There was talk at the ground that a new facility being built on the site of the old Dorking Football Club Meadowbank ground might be utilised in the future by both Wanderers and Dorking, who are presently in exile at Horley. Whilst a new stadium with a 3G pitch facility would obviously be cost effective for both clubs, and allow Dorking FC a route back to their home town, it would be a shame for football to lose such a lovely setting.
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