Wiles-Richards and Horsell see red in narrow Dorking defeat

City saw both their goalkeepers shown red cards in a narrow 2-1 defeat against Dorking Wanderers at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park this afternoon.

Brad Ash had already seen his overhead kick well grasped by Foulkes before the visitors went in front on four minutes, Lewis converting Rutherford’s cross at the back post. City should have been level six minutes later but Ash shot wide from Will Jenkins Davies’ pass. They continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges as Mitch Beardmore was only denied by a last-gasp Vincent challenge on 17 minutes. Ash then almost got on the end of another Jenkins Davies cross three minutes later. The game swung firmly in the visitors favour ten minutes before the break  Wiles Richards saw his attempted clearance blocked by Rutherford, who went to ground under the slightest touch from the keeper as the ball spun away from the goal. It was enough to convince the referee to award a penalty and show Wiles Richards a red card. Prior confidently fired the kick past substitute keeper Martin Horsell.

The second half began with Dorking happy to retain possession without creating any clear chances. And a minute past the hour-mark City were back in the game when Ewan Clark’s deflected shot looped over Foulkes. Despite their man advantage the visitors were now looking to slow the game down at every opportunity and clearly getting more nervous as the game entered its closing stages. However, they defended resolutely to deny City. Last season the same tactic, when Dorking were a man down, culminated in City levelling in the 12th minute of stoppage time. Remarkably this time the referee only added on an additional five minutes but there was further drama in the last of these. City pilled every outfield player into the area for a Joe Raynes long throw but the ball was cleared downfield where Lewis reached it ahead of Horsell to stab it goalwards before they collided. It looked to be rolling in but instead an offside Camp decided to grab the goal. This should have given City one final chance to get forward but instead the referee awarded Dorking a free-kick and dismissed Horsell. Jordan Tillson became the third Roman to don the purple shirt and gloves but he didn’t touch the ball before the final whistle went seconds later to end an eventful afternoon.