Report

RICKY Modeste’s winner nine minutes from times saw Dover beat their local neighbours in an entertaining friendly on Saturday afternoon.

Athletic’s winger sprinted onto Inih Effiong’s pass and slotted home after rounding home keeper Tim Roberts to ensure Andy Hessenthaler’s side registered back-to-back friendly wins.

Kevin Lokko’s header cancelled out Jerson Dos Santos’ opener for the host and Inih Effiong had given Dover the lead after the break.

But Callum Davies had seemingly rescued a draw for Invicta, only for Grenadian international Modeste to grab a later winner.

The home side nearly had the lead on two minutes when Dos Santos fired goalwards after rounding visiting stopper Yusuf Mersin, Lokko, sporting the armband for the first time, was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Kieron McCann then fired wide for Folkestone and a former Athletic player then went even closer for the hosts.

Striker Ira Jackson fired towards the bottom corner, but Mersin punched away the initial effort and the Dover defence then blocked Jackson’s follow-up overhead kick.

Dover, sporting last season’s blue away strip, went close when Jack Munns struck low at home keeper Tim Roberts.

Alfie Pavey flung himself at Josh Passley’s cross and that miss was duly punished by the dangerous Do Santos on 18 minutes.

The striker picked the ball up 25-yards from goal and blasted past the outstretched arms of Mersin.

However, the lead only lasted three minutes thanks to Dover’s skipper.

After Roberts and tipped away Pavey’s header, Lokko rose above the Invicta defence to head in the resultant corner from Munns.

Mersin had to scramble to reach Johan Ter Horst’s angled effort and the Turkish stopper then tipped Finn O’Mara’s header over the crossbar for a corner.

O’Mara was then in the thick of the action at the other end, heading Scott Doe’s header from Reason’s free-kick off the line.

Pavey could only look up the sky after failing to put the visitors ahead shortly before the break.

The forward latched onto Michael Everitt’s poor back-pass but missed the target after taking the ball around Roberts.

Following the restart, Folkestone sub Alfie Paxman dragged a shot wide after Lokko’s last-ditch tackle on Ter Horst.

But Dover made no mistake with their first attack of the second half.

Oscar Gobern slipped in fellow sub Inih Effiong, who tucked the ball past Roberts into the bottom corner.

Bobby-Joe Taylor twice went close, firstly from a free-kick that Roberts tipped over, then crashed a right-footed shot inches wide.

De Havilland was unable to connect following good work from Nassim L’Ghoul and Oscar Gobern.

But Callum Davies had no problem with his header on 68 minutes.

The ex Dover loanee stooped to head in Scott Heard’s corner at the far post to level matters.

Hessenthaler’s men were not be denied victory as Modeste grabbed a late winnter.

Whites next travel to Beckenham Town on Tuesday 9th July, kick off 7:45 pm.

Dover First half XI:  Mersin, Doe, Lokko,Trialist, Passley, Rooney, Munns, Cumberbatch, Reason, Pavey, Rigg.

Dover Second half XI: Worgan, Passley (Trialist 68), De Havilland, Lokko (Trialist 68), Taylor, Woods, Gobern, L’Ghoul, Modeste, Effiong, Trialist.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION