Bottom placed Dorking became only the second team to take league points at the Spectrum in little over nine months as they held league leaders Guildford City to a draw. The hard working visitors took the lead twice but were pegged back by the hosts. To call them disjointed would be harsh but City were not at their best and, despite controlling most of the match, came close to their first league defeat of the season when Dorking squandered a handful of late chances.
The hosts began promisingly with Ben Camara pulling a shot just wide of the far post. Top scorer Joel Greaves then made space on the right hand side but was unable to get a shot away properly. Midway through the first half, Dorking began to look more dangerous and a powerful cross zipped across goal that was cleared just as the finishing touch was about to be applied. But just a few moments later, in the 25th minute, Dorking were ahead as Louizu beat the City offside trap and raced through to open the scoring.
City looked better for the rest of the half and, as mentioned before, were controlling the game but not dominating. The reward came when Joel Greaves was fouled as he was about to finish off a Ben Camara cross. The penalty was duly dispatched by Camara. Further chances fell to Tommy Tydeman and Jack Guilford, but both went over.
The match resumed in much the same manner after the break, with the hosts on top but struggling to make the possession count. Within five minutes a Jack Guilford looping shot cannoned off the bar before Joel Hughes’ low shot was blocked off the line. In the 54th minute a long free kick, very similar to Leiston’s first goal a few weeks previously, caught the City defence flat footed and Hyett’s header went over the reach of Antony Hall to give Dorking the lead again.
A fairly dour match was restarted once more and the fresh legs of Dan Moody were introduced. It was his goal that levelled the scores in the 77th minute as City took advantage of a quick free kick, Moody turning inside and shooting smartly into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area. The hosts turned their attention to victory and pressed forward but were unable to make any further chances of note, cut out by a strong and physical Dorking defence.
The Chicks nearly took three points late on. First, Jamie Thoroughgood did well to cut out a dangerous cross at the far post before Louizu went for glory but blasted over with just Hall to beat. Tony Chaplin’s last ditch challenge in stoppage time saved a point for Guildford City who remained unbeaten in the league but who will not be too happy with a draw.
