Match Preview

Match Information

BOSTIK League Premier Division
Blues v Dorking Wanderers
Saturday, August 12th 2017
Kick Off 3pm
LTAA, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308
 
Admission charges
Adults £10
Concessions £7
Students (with ID) £5
Under 16’s Free
 
Matchday Programme £2
 
Car Parking (free of charge)
Main Car Park and overspill car park available
 
Catering Information
Large bar, Internal and external catering facilities with hot and cold food
 
MATCH SPONSORS – SYCAMORE PARK
MATCHBALL SPONSOR – STEVE COOPER
 
Match Preview
The Blues kick off their sixth season at Step Three with a first ever meeting with Dorking Wanderers. Since joining the Isthmian League in 2011 the Blues have been at home five times of their seven opening day fixtures and will be protecting not only an unbeaten record on opening day but will be looking for a fifth successive opening day victory. The Surrey based visitors secured promotion from the Ryman Division One (South) with a dramatic play off penalty shoot-out victory over Corinthian Casuals back in May to take their place at Step Three for the first time ever after finishing last season agonisingly second to champions Tooting & Mitcham albeit on goal difference. Just seven goals separated the two sides that finished on 105 points apiece.

It’s been a busy summer at Victory Road with 9 departures and 7 new faces including the return of loanee Byron Lawrence to enthuse the home faithful. The player movements have been well documented but it will be important the Blues get off to a good start. A similar start to last season would be great when the Blues won their opening seven games and boss Glenn Driver scooped the August Manager of the Month award. 2016/17 was a tremendous season as the side spent two months top of the tree while the final seventh placed finish not only saw a highest ever finish but also our lowest placing all season. The side agonisingly missed out on the play offs but the final quarter of the season saw the Blues collect just 15 points from 36 points compared to 30 points from their opening 12 games which was the likely catalyst for just missing out on the end of season play offs.

We don’t know a great deal about this weekend’s visitors but Dorking Wanderers were only formed in 1999. After securing promotion to the Isthmian League from the Sussex County League in 2015 they spent two seasons in Division One South before claiming promotion last term so they have come a very long way in just 18 years. They are also soon to move into a new Meadowbank Park ground equipped with a 3G playing surface in the very near future but unlikely before we visit in October.

The pitch is looking fantastic and the ground is looking very smart and after a 16 week gap it’s all systems go for another exciting season.