Bosham battle - but they're downed by Dorking in leaders' clash

League leaders Dorking edged the top-of-the-table clash at Walton Lane with the Evans brothers both on the scoresheet in the second half to break Bosham's hearts.

The visiting Blues seemed to settle more quickly and Leroy Hyett looked dangerous every time he got the ball.

Just before the half-hour, the Reds were dealt a blow when Kieran Hartley, who had looked sharp, was forced off with a reccurrence of an ankle injury. This left a gap down the right.

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Soon, Andy Hounsome was penalised for a challenge and a penalty kick awarded. Hounsome was lucky to stay on the park as referee Paul Gaffney adjudged the penalty was punishment enough.

Dorking couldn’t take advantage: Hyett drove the ball wide of the post.

Could the tide turn for the Reds? Yes it could.

After a period of good pressure from the restart, Bosham forced a corner which was swung in by Bradley Miles. The Dorking defence were slow to pick up the run of Joe Hancock, who headed in bravely at the near post.

Dorking set their stall out to turn things around. Thunderous challenges went in and frustrations were close to boiling point, but it didn’t seem to affect the Reds.

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Lee Arnell made some crucial saves to keep Bosham in front but could do nothing to prevent the towering Matt Evans from equalising with a header with a quarter of the game to go.

Both teams put everything into it to try to find a winner, and the Blues found it in injury time, when Matt Evans turned provider for his brother Dan to slot home under the diving Arnell to sink Bosham at the death.

It was a major boost to Dorking’s title aspirations, but with so much of the season left, Bosham certainly aren’t out of the running yet.

BOSHAM: Arnell, Carrigher, Probee, Miles, Hancock, Hartley, Hounsome, Rehill, Phillips, Blanshard, Grantham. Subs: Redman, Rehill, Laherty.

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