Report

GEORGE Essuman’s stunning overhead kick set Dover on their way to victory in their first pre-season friendly at a rain-soaked Charles Ground on Tuesday evening.

The defender, making his first start since joining from VCD Athletic in March, spectacularly volleyed home Mitch Brundle’s corner to open the scoring midway through the first half.

A fierce strike from one of the triallists and a neat finish from another debutant, Ryan Bird, sealed victory for the visitors after the break.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s new-look side, featuring six summer signings, showed their attacking intent straight from kick off.

Connor Essam powered an early header over and Brundle, wearing the captain’s armband, fired a long-range effort narrowly off target shortly after.

Whites continued to press and Mitch Pinnock’s pin-point cross found Tobi Sho-Silva at the back post, but the former Bromley forward’s volley was deflected behind.

Deal Town’s defence continued to hold firm, this time recovering to block Jamie Allen’s angled effort following some sublime skill from the pacy striker.

But the home team were unable to hold out any longer as Essuman fired home the resulting corner to give Dover a deserved lead.

A rare attack minutes before the break saw Town hit the post with a header and at the other end Kane Richard’s tight drive stung the palms of Deal’s goalkeeper.

Boss Kinnear made nine changes at half time. Striker Bird, midfielder Chris Barnard and seven triallists were all given 45 minutes.

The home team almost levelled twenty minutes after the restart after some pinball in the box ended in the ball being stabbed wide.

The lead was doubled on 73 minutes after one of the trialists’s found the bottom corner from range.

Bird wrapped the game up late on, collecting a clever through ball and slamming the ball into the bottom corner.

Dover’s next friendly is at home to League One Gillingham on Saturday with a 3 pm kick-off.

Dover starting XI: Walker, Fazakerley, Ilesamni, Essam, Parry, Essuman, Pinnock, Brundle(c), Richards, Allen, Sho-Silva.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION