TONIGHT, Dorking Wanderers host Hornchurch in the biggest game of the National League South season so far.
Marc White’s Dorking took to the top of the table on Saturday for the first time this season. There have been three different leaders in three weeks with Hornchurch and Torquay United dropping points recently.
Not only that but they are also the form team in the division, winning their last five-in-a-row and are unbeaten in 2026.
Despite this form, Marc White has many absentees to deal, as captain and leading scorer Charlie Carter fractured his wrist in training less than a fortnight ago being the biggest loss.
Other names on a long injury list includes Jimmy Muitt, James McShane, Pat Casey, Dan Pybus and Josh Taylor all expected to be out for the rest of the season; Paul McCallum is also missing, but should be back before the season’s end.
The importance of the result cannot be understated; three points separate the sides with Hornchurch having a game in hand. Dorking Wanderers could stretch their lead at the top to five points with a win over second place Torquay.
White is hoping that the big crowd expected at Meadowbank can be their 12th.
“Meadowbank will have one of the biggest night attendances for a few years, they will be important for the boys tonight.”
Hornchurch got back to winning ways on Saturday with a late winner from Angelo Balanta, this is after the Urchins picked up one point from their previous two games.
In what will be regarded as the surprise package of the season, Hornchurch have been leading the way at the top for several months.
New recruits such as Josh Rees, Charlie Pegrum and Henry Sandat have paved the way for their success.
This is the second season for Hornchurch at step 2 level after their title winning 2023/24 season in the Isthmian Premier Division. Last season the Urchins came a very respectable 9th place, just 2 places outside the play-offs.
Daryl McMahon’s team are well and truly in the promotion battle. Sitting 3rd, they have a game in hand on the hosts tonight which could prove pivotal in the run in.
The London based side have never made it higher than the National League South, this season they have the chance to make history.
With just a third of the fixtures remaining in the season, we could be looking back on tonight for its importance on the title fight.
Team Form:
Dorking: WWWWW
Hornchurch: WDLWL
Max Cochran will be reporting live at the fixture, and you can catch his live updates and thoughts on our video and radio livestreams.
