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- Dorking Wanderers have signed experienced defender Femi Ilesanmi, 34, from Boreham Wood, where he made more than 250 league appearances across two spells
- Wanderers travel to Billericay Town on Saturday off the back of two Bank Holiday wins, including a dramatic late winner away at Truro City
- Billericay have made a mixed start to life back in the National League South, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their opening five matches since promotion via the playoffs
Billericay Town Trip Next For Wanderers
Dorking Wanderers head to Billericay Town on Saturday looking to build on a six-point bank holiday haul, with experienced defender Femi Ilesanmi arriving through the door at Meadowbank this week.
Ilesanmi now turns his attention to Saturday's trip to Billericay Town, who returned to the National League South after finishing third in the Isthmian Premier Division and beating Brentwood Town in the playoff final.
Billericay's start back at this level has been something of a mixed bag: they beat Dover on the opening weekend and thrashed Farnham 4-2 away from home, but they've also suffered narrow 1-0 defeats away to AFC Totton and Salisbury, and were held 1-1 at home by Tonbridge.
The two sides have met on three previous occasions. Billericay won both meetings 1-0 in the 2017/18 Isthmian Premier Division season, a campaign in which they went on to win the title with 99 points. The clubs then played out thrilling 2-2 and 4-4 draws in the 2019/20 National League South season, with Matt Briggs scoring an injury-time equaliser after Dorking had trailed 4-3. Most recently, in 2021/22, Dorking won both meetings — 2-1 at home and 5-0 away, the latter featuring a James McShane brace and a goal from Alfie Rutherford.
Dorking go into the game in decent form, having won four of their last six (LWDLWW), while Billericay have won two of their last five (WLWDL).
Dorking Wanderers Update: Weekly Exclusive Free Competitions, Insight From Marc White & The Players
Wanderers Welcome Ilesanmi After Bank Holiday Six-Pointer
Dorking Wanderers have strengthened their defensive options with the signing of Femi Ilesanmi, who joins from Boreham Wood after two spells at the club that yielded more than 250 league appearances.
The 34-year-old was a familiar and unwelcome sight for Wanderers supporters in recent seasons, having scored a 96th-minute winner against Dorking in a playoff eliminator during the 2024/25 campaign. Last season he made 51 appearances as Boreham Wood narrowly missed out on promotion to the Football League, losing on penalties to Rochdale in the playoff final.
It's a timely addition, with the club looking to add know-how at the back as they push for promotion this season.
What Manager And Chairman Marc White Said:
Marc White praised his squad's efforts over what he called a demanding bank holiday period, with the win at Truro City a particular highlight.
"A lot of hard work went into those six points over the bank holiday weekend," White said. "We had to rotate the squad across two games and had to be very strategic with who played and who didn't. It's still a very thin squad and some of the boys that are returning are, Harry Pinchard for example, limited in what they can do. So the management team and the performance team did a great job to get through the weekend."
On the win at Truro: "In Truro, we came up against a top opposition who are no doubt going to be at the very top of this league. I thought we edged the game and I thought we deserved the win — it was just amazing to send the fans into raptures in that manner. It felt like the season had begun."
Looking ahead to Billericay, White added: "Billericay will prove a stern test — all promoted teams do. It's been a few years since we've been there and we're looking forward to it. We're expecting, as always, a tough game but we'll be looking to really build on this away form with two wins, and a draw in three games."
What Midfielder George Francomb Said:
George Francomb, who scored a last-minute winner over the bank holiday, is hoping to carry that momentum into the trip to Essex.
"Scoring the winner on Saturday was a great feeling, of course. Everyone loves a last-minute winner and I think it will create some momentum for us going into this next run of fixtures," Francomb said.
"I came into the season feeling strong off the back of a good pre-season but had a minor setback a couple of weeks ago with a hamstring tweak which was disappointing. I think my role this season will be to cover multiple positions like usual and bring calmness and experience to the group throughout a long season filled with tough fixtures and situations."
On Saturday's game, he added: "Billericay on Saturday will no doubt be a tough game, every game takes winning. It's all about our mentality, not to get complacent and apply the game plan on the day."
What CEO Jonathan Bines Said:
Chief executive Jonathan Bines reflected on a productive bank holiday both on and off the pitch.
"We had a fantastic weekend — six points from two matches is a real boost and a testament to all the hard work that's going in," Bines said. "They were two very different games, two very different challenges. I'm sure if we'd have taken a point against Truro, we would have felt very positive about that given the strength of that side but to nick three points at the death... We know that we'll have our fair share of moments that go against us so we'll take that moment that went for us!"
"Celebrations, in reality, don't last long. Within 24 hours the coaching staff, Marc and the players are all focused on the next opportunity to pick up three points."
Bines also had good news off the pitch: "We're excited to welcome back all of our youth setup ahead of their competitive matches starting in the next two or three weeks. We're always excited to see our budding youngsters in action and hope the first-team can produce another three points on Saturday!"
Next Up
Billericay Town vs Dorking Wanderers.
National League South.
Saturday 5th September, 15:00.
