Dorking Wanderers 2-3 Bromley

This was one of those games where you’re really glad you made the effort to go. It’s probably the most I’ve enjoyed watching Bromley all season. Away from home, on a clear, crisp Saturday afternoon in November, with a couple of hundred Bromley boats moored at a proper non-league ground, the team grafted to pick up three points against all odds: injuries, an early red card, eighteen minutes of injury time, and a diabolical referee.

The Ravens went into the game on the back of eight matches without a win. But there were signs in the 1-1 draw with Halifax the previous Saturday that things might be about to improve, particularly with Michael Cheek re-discovering his goal-scoring touch. As a result, Andy Woodman’s team took just enough momentum into this game to pick up a vital win.

Dorking will give every team a tough game. They get the ball forward quickly with excellent movement and pace. On another day, they might have scored five. But Bromley’s defending, and Tom Smith’s goalkeeping, were exceptional.