Dial Square opened up their league campaign with a disappointing home defeat at the hands of a strong Worplesdon Phoenix side who have been a firm fixture in the Guildford and Woking Alliance Prem for many a year.

Dial started poorly and sluggishly and Worplesdon were first to every ball and took control very much from the start. Two quick fire goals from the visitors inside quarter of an hour was just too much for Dial to claw back, and, despite a stronger second half performance, Phoenix always looked the stronger of the two sides. Mo Ceesay seeing red early in the second half compounded Dial Square’s misfortune and really summed up the afternoon. The first was an illustration of how most of the game went, with Worplesdon Phoenix first to a loose ball inside the six yard box to tap in after Dial had failed to clear. Five minutes later, Dial were undone with a ball over the top, and Phoenix striker, Nic Donaldson tidily chipped the onrushing Borges.

After half an hour, Dial Square had gained some control back and were beginning to put some passes together, but failed to create any clear cut chance from it. Then, just before the half time whistle, Ceesay received his first booking, perhaps unfortunately.
The game restarted, and Ceesay, who had had a good game with his central midfield composure we have become accustomed to, had received nothing from the referee, despite repeatedly being tugged and kicked, saw his frustration get the better of him, and after mistiming a strong tackle, was sent off for a second yellow.

Any chance Dial had had to get back in the match became much, much harder. However, they fought hard to keep themselves in the game and were unlucky to concede two more late in the game. The third was a tidy finish from Worplesdon striker Mark Watkins after a quick break, and the fourth came from another contentious decision, Worplesdon being awarded a penalty after the ball struck the arm of a Dial player as he was trying to clear. Watkins completed his hat-trick, sending Borges the wrong way, and so it ended 4-0 to the visitors.

A poor result start, but Dial will take plenty of encouragement, especially playing most of the second half with ten men, against arguably the league favourites, into next week’s home game against Virginia Water.

Match Report by Jack White

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