Dorking Wanderers 5 Welling United 0 – Wings freeze as they get National League South spanking

BY MARK DOIG

Five different goalscorers helped Dorking Wanderers to a five-star performance as Welling United froze in every sense of the word.

Steve Lovell’s team were second best in every area of the pitch as they tumbled to their heaviest defeat for nearly five years.

Welling started well with two flicked on Darrell Oldaker free-kicks causing anxiety in the Dorking defence, and a Kristian Campbell shot deflected for Lewis Carey to tidy up. However, once Dorking went ahead with their first meaningful attack in the 17th minute, there was only ever going to be one winner.

Matthew Briggs, a threat down the right flank all afternoon, got himself to the byline and pulled it back for Alfie Rutherford to finish.

Briggs went on another raid down the right wing but his shot went beyond the far post before Dorking went two up. James McShane delivered a free-kick that found James Prior in acres of space and his powerful header drew a great save out of Reice Charles-Cook. Unfortunately, as had happened twice seven days earlier at Dartford, his save flew out straight to an opposing player, on this occasion Nicky Wheeler, and it was fired back into the back of the net.

Prior had another free header from a corner but this time he was unable to head down and Charles-Cook had an easier save before Welling had the last half chance when Dipo Akinyemi did well to control a long ball forward and send his marker the wrong way. Unfortunately he was unable to shoot first time and by the time he was able to do so, his marker was back to block.

Lyle Della-Verde was off target with the first effort of the second half before Dorking went three up. Briggs again was the instigator, crossing for the unmarked Prior to flick deftly with a backheel into the bottom corner.

Another great save from Charles-Cook (pictured) went unrewarded for Dorking’s fourth. Barry Fuller crossed, Prior again evaded his marker and hit a powerful shot that the Welling custodian saved brilliantly but it fell kindly for McShane to finish.

Once more, Briggs caused problems for the fifth with 10 minutes remaining. He breezed almost unchallenged into the area before firing beyond Charles-Cook into the far corner.

Five minutes remained when Lionel Ainsworth had Welling’s first real shot on target but Lewis Carey saved comfortably, then two minutes later Welling won their first of two corners when Della Verde’s shot was deflected wide.

Della-Verde had one more shot that flashed just wide of the post but it was far too little, far too late and the Wings will need to bounce back well on Tuesday when they host Ebbsfleet United.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD