This weekend was the culmination of a nine point week for any clubs lucky enough to pick up all three wins as the Bank Holiday fixtures provided an extra opportunity.
Being so early in the season though it’s not a make or break week like Christmas or Easter can be, there is plenty of time and games left to define a season.
Saturday was the opportunity to take in some Step 2 action for the first time this season, having dipped into all the other levels from 1-6 so far in this fledgling season.
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Both Eastbourne Borough and Dorking Wanderers are expected to be in the top seven this season, Marc White confidently predicting his side will pick up 100 points and anyone finishing above them will be the league winners.
Borough survived with a few games to spare last season after an eventful first campaign as a full time club, but with a good summer of recruitment they are fancied to be at least an outside bet for a play-off place.
A sunny but windy afternoon gave way to a few showers during the course of the game, and the wind making it tough for both sides to get much cohesion in passages of play.
Borough had pace down the wings and seemed to have control of the midfield phases too, chances though for both sides were at a premium with the struggle to get the ball down and play.
The visitors took the lead out of nowhere on the half hour mark, Matt Briggs caught keeper Finn Holter in possession leaving the winger to roll the ball into the empty net.
The hosts had a glorious chance to equalise six minutes before half time Jayden Davis’s effort was superbly tipped over by ex-Borough keeper Harrison Foulkes, Wanderers going into the interval in front.
No doubt the message from Marc White at half time was to keep it tight early on, Borough were level on 52 minutes, Davis finding an inch of space inside the box and the ball going in off the far post with Foulkes rooted to the spot.
But it wasn’t long until the visitors were back in front, precisely five minutes. Charlie Carter’s effort after escaping the defender’s challenge was cleared off the line, the ball rebounding to Seb Bowerman whose effort found it’s way into the net via a Borough defender, possibly Moussa Diarra for Dorking’s second of the afternoon.
Wanderers defender well against a mountain of set pieces as the second half wore on, looking to sit in rather than go for broke and secure a third goal. Chances were had by the home side throughout the final ten minutes but again Dorking held firm and looked to be taking the points back to Surrey.
But, in the twelve added minutes after injuries to players from both sides, Borough popped up with an equaliser. Yet another set piece into the box saw the ball not get cleared and substitute Will Harley head home and a 2-2 draw in the books when the final whistle sounded.
Probably a fair result given the conditions of the afternoon, despite Dorking defending very well after they took the lead. Both sides were missing a few starters injured and seeing one each from both sides go off during the match it doesn’t get any easier.
A good first half performance from Charlie Carter gave the home side a lot to think about with his marauding runs from deep, ex-Bees Moussa Diarra and David Sesay having solid games for the home side.
Great to catch up as always with James Lampard after the game, the guy with the mic for Marc’s post-match interviews, certainly lamented rightly Alfie Rutherford’s decision to lash the ball towards goal in those stoppage time minutes instead of heading for the corner flag, the ball actually sliced and ending up down the other end for that equalising goal.
So, the end of August and all the levels covered from 1-6, September starts off with a cup game on Tuesday evening, a theme of the month with no end to the midweek fixtures either.
