Mann’s up to see City home against impressive Wanderers

Adam Mann’s first league goal of the season was enough to see City to a second successive single goal victory over Dorking Wanderers at a wet Twerton Park this afternoon. Despite the difficult conditions both sides contributed to an entertaining game, with Mann’s neatly taken 55th minute goal turning out to be the decisive moment. After City started the game positively Dorking began to show the form that had contributed to their impressive start to a first season at this level. It took a stunning point-blank save from Ryan Clarke to deny Barnham on 27 minutes and further chances for the visitors came and went. City’s best opening saw Connor Riley-Lowe just fail to get on the end of a Sam Pearson cross eight minutes before the break. Ten minutes into the second half a ball forward sent Mann clear on goal and he confidently slid the ball past Huk. On 72 minutes City almost doubled their lead when Dan Bowry diverted Mann’s cross-shot onto the bar. Pearson then lifted a great chance past Huk only for it to drift agonisingly wide of the far post. City largely kept Wanderers at bay in the closing stages of the game, with only one nervous moment when Clarke did brilliantly to hold Prior’s low shot, especially given the conditions, and moments later the referee’s whistle signalled another narrow, hard-fought win for the Romans.