A 'step too far' as new-look Rebels fall short against Dorking Wanderers

Keeper Adam Desbois was caught out for Dorking Wanderer's first goal. Credit: Zak Rana (@zrdocs on Instagram)

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Dorking Wanderers 2, Slough Town 0

Slough Town find themselves bottom of the National League South table this morning after last night’s (Tuesday) 2-0 defeat to Dorking Wanderers.

After an encouraging opening day display and goalless draw at Tonbridge Angels, the Rebels have now been beaten in back-to-back league matches, going down to a 1-0 home defeat to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday and last nights deserved 2-0 reverse at the Meadowbank Stadium.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start, conceding after only two minutes, and the most frustrating thing from Slough and manager Scott Davies’ point of view is the fact both goals conceded were preventable.

There was an element of confusion surrounding Dorking’s opener in the third minute.

Keeper Adam Desbois came rushing out of his goal to clear but didn’t get anywhere near it as Jimmy Muitt nipped in front of him and had the easiest of tasks to roll the ball into the empty net.

Harrison Foulkes assist ticked off the bingo card ✅

Jimmy bags our opener at Meadowbank last night ⏮️

Full highlights: https://t.co/Qsi2KrR4ie pic.twitter.com/eiNDrrimbG

— Dorking Wanderers FC (@DorkingWDRS) August 20, 2025

From there, Slough managed to get a foothold in the game without really testing Dorking keeper Harrison Foulkes, while Tyrique Clarke fired a shot just over the bar in the 33rd minute.

But Dorking continued to shade the contest and might have added to their advantage before the break. Desbois saved well from Lewis Storey in the eighth minute, and McShane hit a volley just wide of the posts midway through the half.

Slough are trying to integrate and mould together a completely new team this season - and it will take time to do that. And they showed plenty of spirit as the second half unfolded. Captain Henry Ochieng had a couple of half chances, driving through midfield in the 62nd minute before sending a shot from outside the box just wide of the post. Then in the 75th minute he sent another shot rising over the bar.

But Dorking had the clearer opportunities, with Lewis racing clean through on the Slough goal just after the hour mark only to be denied by Desbois - who more than made up for his early error of judgement.

But the second goal their overall play deserved did arrive in the 84th minute when Jason Prior rose

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS NOW LIVE

Re-live all the action from last night's 2-0 win over Slough Town at Meadowbank.

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— Dorking Wanderers FC (@DorkingWDRS) August 20, 2025

highest at a corner to nod the ball home.

Afterwards, Davies said in an interview with Connor McNeish for sloughtownfc.net that he felt the game had been a step too far at this stage of the season for his new-look side.

“There’s obviously a lot of frustration,” he said. “It’s a difficult one to summarise because Dorking Wanderers away is not a game you usually earmark for a win. We came here last season, and we sat off them and kind of surrendered. At home we got after them, and we tried to do the same here tonight. Take the two goals out of it. They obviously had a few more chances, and we had a couple of chances towards the end.

“But the goals we conceded were avoidable. That’s papering over the cracks a little bit because they did have other chances, they’ll be disappointed not to score. But one came from a long ball and I don’t know if there’s confusion between Peter (Ojemen) and Adam (Desbois). And then their second comes from a set piece and a free header at the back post which you can’t legislate for.

“I’m always hopeful in every game we go into, but I think that was probably a step too far for us tonight.”

He added: “I wanted to give this group a second chance to put things right after Saturday. Did they do it? They gave it a go but there are moments in games that cost us and going 1-0 down after two minutes is not the ideal start.”