Combined Counties League Division One
Farleigh Rovers 4 Dorking 1
FARLEIGH Rovers put four past Dorking to return to the Division One top spot.
Barry Regelous' pacesetters had surrendered pole position to Worcester Park, but the character demanded by head coach Tim Moffatt as the players left the dressing rooms last weekend was in overwhelming evidence particularly following a nightmare start.
Glynn Stephens' eighth-placed visitors have been revamped this season with the historic club vowing to rebuild Dorking as a respected club, re-establishing Chicks as an iconic club at the heart of its rural community.
They underlined that ambition after a lively opening, leading after only nine minutes with a classy goal, Steve Lang's right-wing cross being headed home inside the far post by Phil Lyons, giving goalkeeper Andrew Osei no chance.
Yet this term's Farleigh team is made of strong stuff and they kept their nerve and worked their way back into the game to equalise deservedly after 27 minutes when outstanding midfielder Joe Chandler rifled home a clinical finish, leaving vociferous keeper James Hodel-Murphy helpless after Jamie Jagdeo's right-wing corner had been headed back across goal by commanding captain Adam Cassim.
Confidence is crucial and Foxes capitalised by taking the lead four minutes later when recalled Javaun Henry made the most of his striking opportunity following a long clearance, showing predatory skills by beating Hodel-Murphy emphatically at the near post. As Moffatt exclaimed: "That's character!" And that same character was in evidence again a further three minutes later with an action replay move with Henry doing the honours again at the near post past an increasingly startled keeper to complete his decisive brace.
Farleigh were firmly in control by half-time and showed tremendous composure and resolution to combat Chicks' inevitable second-half charge with something to spare, seeing out the second period in emphatic fashion, underlining their title credentials this season.
Martin Smith was unlucky again for the second successive Saturday, seeing his 80th minute effort when through on goal rebound to safety agonisingly off the far post.
And Smith was left cursing his luck again on 90 minutes when Regelous demanded a quality right-wing corner from Liam Neaves who duly obliged, his delivery being met perfectly by Smith who guided the ball back across goal only for Moffatt to make sure with a tap-in at the far post. An immediately incensed Smith instantly demanded striker's rights but there was little doubt that Moffatt was claiming this one.
Farleigh Rovers: Andrew Osei, Daniel Canning, Liam Neaves, Joe Chandler, Adam Cassim (capt), James Brown, Jack Narraine (Dan Drake 64 mins), Jamie Jagdeo, Martin Smith, Tim Moffatt, Javaun Henry (Ellis Burke 81 mins). Unused sub: Duncan Alger.
