It’s been a week of contrasting experiences and emotions for our young professionals honing their skills elsewhere.
Morgan Williams got a feel for the FA Cup, when he was given a start for Woking in their fourth qualifying round replay last Tuesday.
The Welsh attacking midfielder played for 72 minutes, as the Cards asserted home advantage and saw off Hemel Hempstead Town at the second attempt, to book a first round proper date away to Ramsgate.
At the weekend though, there was to be late disappointment. Morgs came on for the experienced Padraig Amond with twenty-one minutes to go. However, with the scores level and six minutes of added time, they conceded in the 93rd minute and went on to lose 2-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge in the National League.
"It’s been another really positive week, on a personal note, with another 100 minutes in the bank,” said Morgs. “Winning the FA Cup replay was fantastic, and it was great to see the gaffer, Terry and Rob all there on the night. To concede late on against Dagenham was so frustrating, but we’ll get straight back on it on Tuesday at Eastleigh.”
Paris Lock initially found out the hard way, but again couldn’t be stopped by the opposition with his pace and trickery for Dover Athletic.
He created numerous chances throughout the game, but Paris came under close scrutiny from Hemel Hempstead on Saturday in front of a crowd of 1,675 at The Crabble. The visitors were reduced to ten men for three quarters of the game, following a second yellow for successive fouls by one of their players on our young forward.
With ten minutes of regulation time remaining, Paris provided the assist for Zidan Sutherland who gave The Whites a 2-1 lead. However, as Dover edged close to a vital win in National League South, a 95th minute penalty was awarded against them, and it finished 2-2.
Tonight, Dover visit Chelmsford City - where our former defender Luke Jenkins has been performing well since joining in the summer. However, he was sent off after being shown a second yellow and seeing red in the 76th minute of their goalless draw at Slough Town.
Defender Ben Mason had to settle for a place on the bench for Braintree Town, in their 2-0 victory over Weston-Super-Mare in the same division.
Before that though, Ben was also involved in an FA Cup replay last Tuesday. He got in a vital challenge and a shot from distance during normal time at Chesham United, but the hosts turned it around in extra time to win 3-1 and book a place in the first round.
Ben may well seek out some advice from Morgan and Paris in the build-up to Tuesday night, as he could become the third Wimbledon loanee to face Hemel in a matter of days as the Essex club will be making a visit.
Attacking midfielder Marcel Campbell missed Saturday’s goalless draw for Corinthian-Casuals against Binfield at King George’s Field with a minor injury. He too is aiming to be back involved tomorrow night, when the Tolworth-based club visit South Park Reigate in Isthmian South Central.
Striker Zach Robinson and defender Will Nightingale will be hoping the recent bad weather north of the border will relent, so that Dundee can host Ross County in a re-arranged Scottish Premiership fixture.
What with the international break as well, both clubs haven’t played since September 30 and Zach has also been dealing with a niggling Achilles injury at Dundee.
Pic credits: Phil Fiddes (Morgan Williams, Woking), Steve Johnson (Paris Lock, Dover Athletic).