INCREDIBLE HUK SAVES THE DAY AS DORKING MARCH ON
THE Incredible Huk left Corinthian-Casuals green with envy as Dorking Wanderers continued their remarkable ascent up the NonLeague Pyramid.
They didn’t deserve it on the day, but over the season? It’s harsh to say any side who ended the year essentially as joint champions while notching 105 points should ever hear that they’ve not done enough to go up.
But they owe their Slovakian keeper big time. Slavomir Huk pulled off top-class save after topclass save and his quality told from the penalty spot as his double save sent Dorking up.
Founded in 1999, just 13 years ago Wanderers were playing in the fifth division of the West Sussex League. Now chairman and manager Marc White will proudly see his side walk out in the Ryman Premier after their penalty shoot-out success.
He said: “We started this club a few years back as a bit of fun, somewhere for a group of mates to get drunk together after a game of football on a council pitch – now look at us!
“It’s hard to put into words really. We’ve come so far in a short space of time. I’m very proud.
“We rode our luck, we were second best for long periods but what a great season it has been.”
The game took a while to warm up, anxiety obviously on display but Casuals’ Shaun Okojie showed no sign of tension, wrapping his foot around the ball in the 27th minute for the game’s first chance. A beautiful effort was clawed out of the top corner by the quick-moving Huk, a sign of things to come.
Tom Tolfrey tried from outside the box at the other end, but losing attacker Tom Summerfield to injury midway through the first half, the already Giuseppi Sole-less Wanderers had another blow to contend with.
Mu Maan let fly for the south west Londoners before long and with ten minutes of the first half to play, their best chance arrived. Jordan Clarke’s free-kick delivery was perfection, Danny Dudley got a measured flick but Huk’s themendous save is the type of moment which can win promotion. He had no right to get such a strong finger to the defender’s
header. The runners up were living on the edge. More good work from Clarke, Okojie took the ball well and lashed it inches wide of the post.
Different half, same story. A great run from Dave Hodges was only stopped by Huk who twice flung his body at the ball – the keeper was in inspired form.
The goal looked like it was coming. Clarke’s corner was nodded on, back post lurked Jack Strange but he couldn’t apply the finish.
Extra time it was, and Casuals were in command. It was Huk’s fault it got this far, and he made himself big again to keep Corinthian substitute Warren Morgan from firing the visitors ahead with 100 minutes nearing.
Danny Bracken, the brother of Casuals manager James, was forced into action for the first time from Matt Briggs, who ran and ran – the first thing he had to do of any real note.
Dean Hamlin’s header then couldn’t beat Bracken, and at the other end Maan thought he had won it but for the Dorking keeper once again.
There was a rare goalkeeping mistake to come. Bracken raced out, Briggs laid it back but Jake Beecroft’s legs with 125 minutes gone had already turned to jelly.
But Huk had his day. Saving brilliantly from heartbroken Warren Morgan and left-back Dave Hodges, the amateur Casuals couldn’t quite complete the most romantic of chapters.
Boss Bracken said: “We’re all a bit numb really. To have come here and played so well, it’s very hard to take. Their goalkeeper has given a 10/10 performance. We just couldn’t get past him.”