A great solo strike from Dan Cenzano gave Dial Square a share of the spoils away to early pacesetters, Wimbledon Casuals, at the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub this evening (23 Sept).

After managing to soak up the early pressure, Cenzano's second half strike gave Dial some much-needed breathing space, only for Liam Marshall to pop-up late on for The Dons on secure a 1-1 draw.

Remarkably, it was the first time that the hosts have dropped points at home since 30 November 2024, after going the whole of the 2024/25 season unbeaten in the league and county cup.

Dial boss Steve Brown was able to field a strong side for the trip to Walton-on-Thames, with only Aidan Doran and Callum Abraham-Barlow unavailable, and striker Michael Burton failing a late fitness test after limping off against Cranleigh nine days earlier.

The Dons enjoyed a good spell of early pressure, with Tom Phillipson and Daniel Wanyonyi both passing up good opportunities to take the lead within the opening 25 minutes.

Harry Rice, who has been the subject of a seven-day approach from Southern Football League Premier Division South side Hanwell Town, also passed up a good opportunity to give the visitors the lead when he twisted and turned his marker one too many times in the box instead of shooting.

For the second match running, Dial were forced into a change of personnel when Brown pulled up with a calf-strain and Jonathan Corners turned his angle, which prompted the swift introduction of Tommy Adag and Finley Rose-Davies on the half-hour mark.

And Adag soon found himself in the thick of the action when he connected with Charlie Marshall’s lofted freekick, but his header was unable to test Adam Lee in the home goal shortly before the interval.

Questions of whether the hosts could retain their high press and high energy in the second period were perhaps answered when Cenzano muscled his way past two defenders, before burying his shot in the bottom corner to give Dial the lead just one-minute after the restart.

At the other end, Wanyonyi and Matt Hinks were both denied by George Mead midway through the second period, and Phillipson skied his shot from close range when it seemed easier to score as The Dons searched for an equaliser.

However, the hosts arguably got just-reward for their endeavours when Liam Marshall managed to turn in a well-worked set-piece to level the proceeding in the 75th-minute.

Mead, who was outstanding for Dial in-between the sticks, needed to remain on-guard when he tipped over a cross-shot from Wanyonyi, before mustering another fine save to deny Mark Parson.

With George Frith sent off for a second bookable offence, it created a nervy final 10 minutes for Dial, but Dial held firm to earn a well-deserved point against the reigning champions away from home.

Speaking after the match, Browm said: “It was always going to be a difficult game against Wimbledon [Casuals]; they’re an experienced side that are difficult to break down.

“I thought they had the better of the first half, but we come into the game in the second [half] and should have created more changes with some of the possession that we had. All in all, though, I thought it was a fair result. I thought the lads put in a really good shift to come away with a point,” he added.

DIAL SQUARE: Marshall, Corner (Rose-Davies), Vass, Brown (Adag), Marshall, Phillips, Carter, Hawker, Rice, Frith, Cenzano (Lawrence). Unused subs: Xavier, Vassell.

MotM: Charlie Marshall

•Dial return to Alwyns Lane tomorrow (27 Sept) when they entertain AFC Royal Holloway in the league. 2pm k.o. For more information, go to www.dialsquarefc.com