Match Details
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Gateshead
Dorking Wanderers
Gateshead make the 626-mile round trip to face Dorking Wanderers in the fourth fixture of the 2022/23 Vanarama National League season.
The Heed are unbeaten following the first three games of the campaign, playing out draws with Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet and Notts County.
Mike Williamson’s side have led twice in the final minutes against Dagenham and Notts County, but late goals have seen Gateshead forced to settle for one point in each.
Adam Campbell and Paul Blackett have both scored twice, while Tom Allan netted his first Heed goal in midweek.
Dorking, meanwhile, sit eighth in the National League after earning their first-ever fifth tier win at Maidstone United on Tuesday following promotion from the National League South.
Manager, co-founder and chairman Marc White’s side have begun life at the peak of the non-league pyramid just as they left off in 2021/22 by scoring and conceding the most goals in the division so far.
Alfie Rutherford scored 30 league goals for Dorking last season and remains a key figure in attack, alongside the arrival of Ryan Seager who netted 27 times in the National League South for Hungerford Town in 2021/22.
Heed View
“Off the back of last season they’ve got the momentum, they’re scoring lots of goals like they did last year,” said Williamson.
“I always enjoy the tactical side of it when teams try and play through the thirds, but they’ve always got the direct route as well with the strikers they have.”
Opposition View
“I genuinely think from what I’ve seen of them, and what I hear of them, I think [Gateshead] are at least a top half team,” White told Dorking’s official Twitter on Thursday.
“This Gateshead team is one hell of a good side, look tremendously coached, look extremely strong and right now they look fantastic.
“I think this game will be our toughest game so far, and I include Chesterfield in that.”
Team News
Aaron Martin remains unavailable after missing Tuesday’s game against Notts County through injury.
Dan Jarvis has returned to light training as part of his rehabilitation process.
Supporter Information
Segregation is in place and supporters can purchase tickets online here until 11am on Saturday, or purchase on the gate.
Admission is priced at:
Adult – £16
Concession (Over 60 and students with an ID card) – £13
Under 18 – £8
Under 8 – £4
Substitutes
Gateshead were handed their first defeat of the 2022/23 Vanarama National League season at Dorking Wanderers.
Two first half goals from James McShane put the hosts in control early on, and Adam Campbell’s third of the season wasn’t enough to spark a comeback in the second 45.
Mike Williamson gave Dan Langley his competitive debut at Meadowbank in place of James Montgomery, while the outfield 10 remained unchanged following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Notts County.
Gateshead started brightly and looked to take the initiative early on, with Greg Olley and Adam Campbell both sending efforts wide during periods of pressure before Paul Blackett saw a strike blocked in the box.
Dorking took the lead with 18 minutes gone however, with McShane alert in the box to prod home a loose ball after Langley had parried an initial cross from the right flank.
McShane doubled his side’s lead in spectacular fashion three minutes later when he volleyed home from 20 yards out, leaving The Heed needing another two-goal comeback to salvage a result.
The hosts saw a chance to make it three pass by with a header from close range sent wide following a pinpoint cross, and Langley was on hand to keep them out himself when he tipped a free-kick wide.
At the other end, Blackett sent a header wide of the far post from Campbell’s cross and Dan Ward saw a shot blocked by Jordan Cheadle in the box, though the biggest chance was beaten away by Slav Huk when Blackett drove for the far corner from 15 yards out.
Gateshead emerged with a sense of urgency in the second half and dominated play for the latter 45, with Huk called upon two minutes after the restart to save from Ward.
Owen Bailey put two headers into Huk’s grasp shortly afterwards, but with the 70th minute came the breakthrough in the form of Campbell, who smashed home on the volley from close range to give Gateshead hope.
Louis Storey was denied an equaliser by Huk’s close-range stop six minutes later, and Ryan Seager sent a shot wide at the other end, in the game’s only remaining action as The Heed were dealt their first defeat of the campaign.
Gateshead: Langley, Tinkler, Storey, Richardson, Pye, Bailey, Ward, Olley (c), Allan (Forbes, 41’), Campbell, Blackett (Harris, 72’).
Substitutes: Montgomery, Magnay, Williamson.
Goals: Campbell (70’)
Yellow Cards: Storey (73’)
Dorking Wanderers: Huk, Philpot, Gallagher, Cheadle, Moore, J. Taylor, Jebb, McManus, B.Taylor, McShane (c), Rutherford.
Substitutes: Seager, Wheeler, El-Abd, Ottaway, Mekki.
Goals: McShane (18’, 21’)
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