Dial kicked-off 2024 with a resounded 8-2 victory against arch nemesis Laleham & Kempton (6 Jan) in the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Premier Division.

Due to the unavailability of Alwyns Lane, which was flooded, the match was switched to Royal Holloway University Sports Centre to avoid two false starts.

It was an opportunity for Dial to tear up the form guide from the past two seasons to finally get one over their local rivals.

It was the first time this season that manager Steve Brown could name a full-strength squad, and it showed when defender James Vass connected with Jordan Carter’s cross to head Dial in front after 17 minutes.

Charlie Marshall doubled Dial’s lead six minutes later when dispossessed goalkeeper Jamie Mackinnon on the edge of the box, before stroking the ball into an empty net.

Marshall turned provider for Dial’s third goal when he headed the ball back into the path of Harry Rice, who riffled the ball into the top corner on the half-hour mark.

The visitors were notably rocked by Dial’s dominance in the first half, and it didn’t stop in the second period when Marshall headed in his second, Dial’s fourth, just 50 seconds after the restart.

Mackinnon made a great point-blank save to deny Louie 'Trigger' Rogers from making it five, but the Laleham shot-stopper could do little to stop Carter from getting on the scoresheet (60') after being put through on goal by Rice.

Ethan Bennett Gant pulled a goal back for the visitors nine minutes later when he capitalised on a defensive error. However, Dial continued to run riot in the final third, with Rice notching a sixth on 79 minutes, before intercepting a poor pass for Mackinnon to complete his hat-trick to make it 7-1 two minutes later.

An unforced goalkeeping error from Andy Rider enabled Tommy Goatmann to pull another goal back for Laleham, but Aidan Phillips ensured the hosts ended on a high when he cooly despatched Dial’s eighth-goal three minutes from time to compete the rout.

Speaking after the match, Brown said: “What a way to start the new year. The players were aware of the history between the two clubs; they were determined to right the wrongs, and they did it in style.

"The players knew the fixture could be pivotal in the title race. They started positivity and produced some excellent passages of play, along with some clinical finishing.

"Although we could have easily avoided the two goals we conceded against Laleham, to score eight is testament to how good the team performance was. Hopefully, it will stand us in good stead for the second half of the season,” added Brown.

Dial Line-up: Rider, L.Rogers, Vass (Vassell), Phillips, Bunyan (Linturn), Neville, Carter (Auns), Rose-Davies, Rice, Lawrence (McDermaid), Marshall (Cenzano).

MOTM: Charlie Marshall
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