CAFC vs Dorking Wanderers FC – Preview
Carshalton Athletic make the trip to Meadowbank Stadium next Tuesday for a pivotal Surrey Senior Cup semi-final clash against National League South Dorking Wanderers FC.
Robins Review
Carshalton Athletic signed off the 2024–25 season in emphatic fashion, dismantling Dartford FC 4-1 and crushing the Darts’ slim hopes of an improbable title charge. Kola Salami set the tone early, embarking on a dazzling solo run to open the scoring inside 11 minutes. The visitors doubled their lead soon after, with Bryan Ifeanyi tapping home following slick interplay between Kalvin Kalala and Salami.
Substitute Nabeel Ghannam came off the bench to add the gloss, netting a late brace to seal a dominant away performance. His first came from a sharp cut inside and near-post finish, before a sensational solo effort saw him weave through the Dartford defence and round the keeper with composure.
That said, the Darts successfully bounced back on Wednesday evening, edging Steve McKimm’s Cray Valley PM side 4-3 to book themselves a place in the Isthmian Premier Playoff Final after coming from two goals down at Princes Park.
The Robins finished seventh on 70 points in the Isthmian Premier—six ahead of Hashtag United, but just three shy of Chichester City, who themselves narrowly missed out on the playoffs. There is plenty to be optimistic about: had a few more results gone our way, Peter Adeniyi’s side could well have snuck into the top five—a reward many would argue was deserved. A three-match winning streak to close out the campaign made it four victories from the final six, placing Carshalton fifth in the form table across that stretch. There will be hopes that the Reds can carry that momentum forward into our crunch Surrey Senior Cup (SSC) Semi-Final against Step Two Dorking.
Entry to our SSC Semi-Final is completely FREE for all—NO advance registration or online booking is required. CAFC has waived its share of the gate to ensure that everyone can attend, not just those who bought tickets online.
The rise of Dorking Wanderers
Just before the turn of the millennium, five friends playing football in a local park made a bold decision to create their own club. Thus, Dorking Wanderers was born, starting in the Crawley & District League and playing at Brockham Big Field in Surrey. Led by player-manager and co-founder Marc White, it is hard to imagine even someone as visionary as White could have predicted that, just over 25 years later, the Wanderers would have earned 12 promotions, suffered just one relegation, and would now be competing in the sixth tier of English football, the National League South.
The club began life as a 16th-tier team and, today, they remain just two promotions away from the coveted English Football League. Starting in Division Five of the Crawley & District League, Dorking quickly moved across to the West Sussex Football League after just one season, a league that featured four divisions and a Premier League. From there, they progressed through the intermediate and county leagues, conquering every level along the way. Dorking’s rise through the ranks now stands as the most successful in British football history. If they had continued their pace of promotions between 2010 and 2020 for the next decade, the club would be in the Premier League.
Along the way, Dorking’s ambitions stretched beyond football itself. After their fifth or sixth promotion, the club faced a new challenge: securing proper facilities. Their first step was to rope off the pitch—an essential task that required raising money for the ropes themselves. Initially renting a council pitch for £50, the team later moved to West Humble, at the foot of Box Hill, which Marc now calls their “spiritual home”. The site was nothing more than a field with no power, no water—just a blank canvas. The club built their changing rooms from scratch, transforming West Humble into a suitable home ground, though it was best known for its mud and quagmire at times.
Marc White’s leadership and vision were key to the club’s rise. At just 24 or 25, he became the UK’s youngest sales director for a major blue-chip company, gaining invaluable leadership training. But his true passion was football. A lifelong Wimbledon supporter, Marc invested millions into Dorking Wanderers, contributing everything physically and financially, without a salary, because, as he puts it, “it’s not about money”. It is about the love of football in Dorking.
For Marc, the club is personal. His first Dorking match was at just five years old, when he was watching the old Dorking team take on Cray Wanderers. He remembers reading the match programme over and over again. Today, when he drives down the high street, passes the stadium, and sees children in Wanderers shirts with their dads, it brings him full circle—because that was Marc, twenty years ago.
From humble beginnings, Marc has created something special: a thriving club that now draws families of all kinds to support Dorking Wanderers week in and week out. For him, that’s the ultimate reward—the legacy of a dream realised.
The Story of the 2024-25 National League South campaign
Second-half substitutes James McShane and Rhys Murphy combined to great effect as Dorking Wanderers eased to a 2-0 win over Chesham United on the final day of the regular season. The result secured a sixth-place finish in the National League South, setting up a Play-Off Eliminator clash away to fifth-placed Boreham Wood on Tuesday evening. The winner would go on to face off against second-placed Torquay United in the semi-final on Saturday.
However, the Wanderers’ hopes of securing an immediate return to the National League were crushed on Tuesday following a dramatic 4-3 defeat away at the Wood.
Marc White’s side appeared to be on course for the Play-Off Final, leading 3-1 with just nine minutes of regular time remaining. Though in a stunning late collapse, the Wood mounted a comeback and snatched a last-gasp winner deep into stoppage time, bringing Dorking’s season to a heartbreaking end.
Post-Match Quotes following playoff exit – Marc White
“It was a game we lost, rather than one they won — we chucked it away. We were extremely dominant. Then Brennan made a poor decision with a back pass to Harrison Faulkes, and they scored from a slight mistake. At half-time, we were 1-0 down but still confident. We were doing the right things. But Jimmy’s red card changed everything. That’s why I always take players off when they’re on a yellow — you run the gauntlet. I’m disappointed with and for Jimmy. He’s a good lad, and we can’t afford to persecute him. At 3-1 up, we should win the game. But the red card changed things significantly — that was the turning point. The lads worked hard, and we were the better team. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. We were comfortable, playing the better football.”
He continued: “Even with ten men, they never had a man spare in our box. We still had a decent shape and were frustrating them. The red card mattered — massively — but we also should have defended better for their second goal. Faulkes needed to be more aggressive coming off his line for the corner. The game summed up our season, pulling defeat from the jaws of victory. Boreham weren’t going to win that game. We gave it away. Their fourth goal was scrappy, and we’ve seen a trend of conceding late. It was two yellows for Jimmy. But our defending had to be better in those final ten minutes.”
Dorking’s 2024-25 season began with an encouraging unbeaten three-match run before their first competitive defeat, a 1-0 loss to Torquay United. However, the Wanderers swiftly bounced back, securing a 2-1 victory over St Albans City less than 48 hours later. The month of August concluded with a 2-2 draw against Eastbourne Borough, leaving Dorking with a solid record of three wins, one draw, and one loss in their first month back in Step 2.
September proved more challenging, as a persistent injury crisis took its toll on the Surrey-based squad. Defenders George Francomb, Brennan Camp, and Bobby-Joe Taylor, midfielders Aaron Kuhl, Luke Moore, Josh Taylor, Jordan Norville-Williams, Seb Bowerman, and Jimmy Muitt, along with attackers Jason Prior, Rhys Murphy, and James McShane, were all sidelined for extended periods. This led to a series of three consecutive defeats: 3-1 to Aveley and 2-1 to Weymouth in the league, and a 2-0 loss to Horsham in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round. The Wanderers managed to halt the slide with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Weston Super Mare on 21 September. While the early part of the season had been slower than expected, especially for a team with such high standards, Dorking’s resilience was clear.
October marked a turning point, with a 3-1 win over Hornchurch sparking a run of positive results. A narrow 3-2 win over Hemel Hempstead followed, before a dramatic 3-3 draw against Salisbury. The club remained undefeated in their last four National League South matches. However, a tight 1-0 loss to Tonbridge Angels broke the streak, though Dorking quickly recovered with a 2-1 victory over Welling United, securing three wins in four games, including back-to-back victories on the road.
By mid-November, a tough run of fixtures loomed. The Wanderers suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to Slough Town, were knocked out of the FA Trophy on penalties (4-2) to Eastbourne Borough, and were held to a 1-1 draw by Enfield Town in harsh conditions, all within a short span. Nonetheless, Dorking extended their unbeaten home run to six matches. As the festive season approached, the team delivered their most commanding performance of the season, a resounding 7-1 win over Hemel Hempstead, although they were held to a goalless draw by Truro City.
December brought a two-week break, but the Wanderers returned with a bang, securing back-to-back wins over Chippenham Town (2-1) and Chesham United (5-0). By Christmas, Dorking sat in fourth place, level on 40 points with third-placed Boreham Wood but having played one game more. Torquay led with 43 points, while Truro sat second with 41. A 2-1 Boxing Day loss to Worthing, courtesy of Nicky Wheeler’s late first-half goal, was a setback, but Dorking’s form in January was promising. A 1-0 win over Bath City marked the start of the new year, and the Wanderers went on to record four wins and a loss, including a 3-0 win over Aveley to cap off an excellent month.
By the end of January, Dorking had climbed to second place in the National League South, bolstered by an eight-goal haul across wins over Farnborough and Chelmsford. February saw them maintain momentum, with a 3-1 win over Slough Town, a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Hampton and Richmond, and a three-match winning streak over Salisbury, Tonbridge Angels, and Welling. This extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, before a 2-2 draw with Farnborough slowed their charge.
Dorking continued their strong cup form with a commanding 3-1 victory over Farnham Town, champions of the Isthmian League South Central (Step 4), to book their place in the Surrey Senior Cup quarter-finals. They followed that up with a ruthless 5-1 win over Merstham on 25 February to seal a spot in the semi-finals. Rhys Murphy led the charge with a clinical brace, while Jack Young, Niall McManus, and Hayden Gayle each found the net in a dominant all-round performance.
As March approached, Dorking were top of the National League South with 66 points, four points clear of second-placed Eastbourne Borough. Despite a solid start to the month with a 2-0 win over Enfield, consecutive 2-2 and 1-1 draws with Chelmsford City and Maidstone meant they had dropped points in key matches. A devastating 1-0 loss to Torquay United, following an 82nd-minute winner from Jordan Dyer, left Dorking’s title hopes in doubt. By early April, they had slipped to fifth place, level on points with Boreham Wood and Torquay, but with a worse goal difference.
A much-needed 3-1 win over Eastbourne Borough at the end of March revived their hopes, but a series of draws, including a 1-1 result against St Albans and a 2-2 draw with Bath City, saw them remain fifth in the standings with 79 points. However, their hopes were reignited with a crucial 4-2 win over Hampton and Richmond, powered by a stunning six-minute hat-trick from Charlie Carter and a first-half goal from Alfie Rutherford.
By Good Friday, Dorking had positioned themselves in a three-way title race, with just three points separating the top five clubs. Heading into their penultimate match on Easter Monday, Dorking were still within striking distance of the top, with 82 points, just behind Torquay and Truro, both on 83 points, and Worthing leading with 84 points. A 1-1 draw with Worthing secured a play-off spot for the Wanderers, but their hopes of winning the league were dashed by a series of late-season slip-ups.
The final day of the season saw Dorking, Torquay, Truro, Eastbourne, Worthing, and Boreham Wood all in contention for the title, with the Wanderers needing a dramatic four-goal margin victory over Chesham United to stand any chance of finishing top, depending on results elsewhere. In his post-match Worthing interview, manager Marc White expressed frustration at the team’s recent tendency to drop points late in matches, feeling they had the potential to be leading the title race heading into the final day. Despite the setbacks, he remained hopeful and urged the fans to stay with the club. The objective was still within reach, but with crucial rebuilding and recruitment on the horizon for the next season, the Wanderers would aim to regroup and push for promotion once more.
Any side in the top six could have won the National League South title going into the final round of matches, with Truro heading into the weekend top on goal difference from nearest neighbours Torquay United. Torquay won 4-1 at mid-table Hemel Hempstead, while the rest of the top six, including Dorking 2-0 at home to Chesham United, all won too. However, it did not matter as Truro got the victory they needed to clinch the title and become the first club ever from Cornwall to win promotion to the National League.
Truro concluded the campaign on 89 points, level on points with Torquay, but winning the title by virtue of having a better goal difference of just two goals. All of the top six sides won their matches in the final round of games, meaning they all ended the day in the position they started. So, White’s side finished in sixth place, level on 86 points with fifth-place Boreham Wood.
As alluded to at the start, it set up a Play-Off Eliminator clash away to the Wood on Tuesday – the winner going on to face second-placed Torquay United in the semi-final on Saturday. That said, Dorking Wanderers’ hopes of securing an immediate return to the National League were crushed following a dramatic 4-3 defeat away at the Hertfordshire-based outfit.
Marc White’s comments on the season overall via Dorking Wanderers TV
“I said I wanted 100 points this season, and people laughed. I got 86 — with half a squad for half the season. Brennan Kamp missed 14 games with a dislocated shoulder, Josh Taylor 16, and Charlie Carter 12. But it comes down to controllables and uncontrollables.”
“We were four points off the title. Did the problems at the start of the season cost us those four points? Absolutely. Did our performances cost us four more once we hit the top during that brilliant run? Yes again. It’s a mixed bag. We didn’t hit our target.”
Likely line-up
Carshalton Athletic
Watkins, Shonibare, Pepe, Read, Hamilton-Downes ©, Saraiva, Dada, Saunders-Henry, Ifeanyi, Smith, Salami
Dorking Wanderers
Foulkes, Camp, Craig, McManus, Gallagher, Prior, Rutherford, Carter ©, Taylor, Gallagher, Norville-Williams
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Captain Paris Hamilton-Downes made his return to the matchday squad against Dartford FC, named on the bench after missing out over the Bank Holiday. While Fikayo Atewologun remains sidelined with a long-term injury, he is on the road to recovery, and there was a welcome sight as Kwaku Frimpong made a substitute appearance at the weekend. Michael Dada, who picked up a knock in training, was also named on the bench but featured late on—an encouraging sign ahead of the upcoming cup tie. Josh Shonibare was ruled out through injury, prompting a reshuffle that saw Read slot in at right-back and Horsley-McKay fill in at centre-half.
Kalvin Kalala led the line-up front, supported by Bryan Ifeanyi and Kola Salami on the flanks to complete a lively and dynamic front three. With competition for places fierce across this talented Robins squad, all eyes will be on how Adeniyi chooses to set up for the upcoming clash against White.
Dorking Wanderers
Following the Wanderers’ dramatic play-off exit on Tuesday, Manager Marc White remained focused on the challenges ahead. “We’ve got our Surrey Senior Cup semi-final next week, and we’ll keep working hard — hopefully all the way to the final,” he said.
“We believe we’ve finally got things right in the physio department — the improvement in player availability speaks for itself.”
“Next season, we have to step up. We need deeper cup runs and a league campaign where we aim to dominate from day one.”
With the play-offs now out of the picture, the Surrey Senior Cup remains the club’s final opportunity to salvage something from an otherwise frustrating season. As a result, White is expected to name a strong lineup in the semi-final, with hopes of progressing to the final and securing silverware.
In their previous outing against Merstham, Dorking fielded a mixed lineup featuring players returning from injury, emerging youngsters, regular substitutes, and a few first-team regulars. While a similar strategy was previously considered, Tuesday’s disappointment makes a full-strength selection far more likely.
Pre-Match Analysis
Dorking Wanderers have built a reputation for their thrilling, attack-minded style of play. Under the guidance of Marc White, the Surrey-based side has embraced an exciting, high-tempo brand of football that’s become part of the club’s identity. Whether playing at home or on the road, Wanderers’ matches are often high-scoring, end-to-end affairs that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
White’s footballing philosophy is rooted in an aggressive high press, designed to win the ball back in dangerous areas and immediately punish defensive lapses. The relentless approach not only puts constant pressure on opponents but also wears them down over the course of the match, creating more opportunities as legs tire.
Typically lining up in a 4-3-3 formation, Dorking aim to dominate possession and apply sustained attacking pressure. However, they’re also comfortable switching to a 5-3-2 when needed, offering tactical flexibility. In either setup, wide players are crucial—providing pace and width and stretching opposition defences to exploit space on the flanks. This dynamic, front-footed style has made Dorking one of the most watchable sides in the National League South.
Unsurprisingly, Dorking Wanderers finished the season as the National League South’s top scorers, finding the net an impressive 89 times. Their free-flowing, attacking style paid dividends in front of goal. Defensively, they also held their own, conceding 54 goals over the campaign, placing them seventh in the league for goals conceded level with Hornchurch and Weston-Super-Mare, a respectable figure given their all-out attacking approach.
In terms of form, Dorking Wanderers currently sit fifth, having collected 12 points from their last six matches—three wins and three draws. Crucially, they have navigated a challenging run against promotion contenders Torquay United, Boreham Wood, and Eastbourne Borough, winning two of those three encounters. Their only defeat in the last ten games prior to Saturday came against Torquay.
Away from home, Dorking boast the best record in the National League South, suffering just four defeats in 23 games and amassing an impressive 43 points on the road. At Meadowbank, however, their home form has been more mixed, ranking eighth overall with 11 wins, seven draws, and four losses.
In his post-match interview, White made clear that “seeing out games in the dying embers” is something the Wanderers need to work on.
Key Player
Captain Charlie Carter has been the standout performer for Dorking Wanderers during the 2024–25 National League South campaign. In his first full season with the club since joining from Eastleigh in October 2023, the 28-year-old midfielder has made a major impact, scoring 14 league goals and consistently driving the team forward with his energy and leadership.
Up front, the Robins will have their work cut out against Dorking’s potent attacking options. The experienced duo of Jason Prior and Alfie Rutherford—both former Bognor Regis Town strikers—have been prolific, with Prior netting 13 times and Rutherford leading the line with 19 goals to his name. Either one could pose a major threat.
And if Marc White opts to start the seasoned Rhys Murphy, Peter Adeniyi’s side will face an even sterner test. The 33-year-old forward has enjoyed a prolific career across the football pyramid, amassing over 110 goals. Some of his most notable seasons came recently, scoring 28 goals for Chelmsford City in 2018/19, followed by 29 across two seasons with Yeovil Town in the National League. After a two-year stint with Southend United, Murphy returned to Yeovil at the start of last season, finishing with 10 goals in 25 appearances—taking his tally in Somerset to an impressive 49 goals in 95 games over two spells.
In goal, Harrison Foulkes has been ever-present, playing every minute of the league season. However, substitute goalkeeper Magnus Norman may be handed the gloves. Norman, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Ebbsfleet United, is a capable and composed presence between the sticks and will be equally difficult to beat.
The Gaffer
Marc White is arguably the most recognisable figure in non-league football. Since founding Dorking Wanderers with a group of friends in 1999, he has uniquely served as both owner and manager, guiding the club from grassroots park football all the way to the National League South. White’s passionate leadership, hands-on approach, and remarkable rise through the divisions have made him a standout personality in the game.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 6 May 2025
Venue: Meadowbank Football Ground
Kickoff: 7:45 pm (turnstiles open from 6 PM)
Admission: PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR TICKETS ON DWFC WEBSITE – THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIER TICKETING SYSTEM. Entry on the day is completely FREE for all—NO advance registration or online booking is required. CAFC has waived its share of the gate to ensure that everyone can attend
