Let’s jump back to the 2002/03 season in the Dr. Martebs League Premier Division when The Whites did the double over local rivals Folkestone. Read both match reports below:
Monday 26 August 2002 – Folkestone Invicta 1 – 2 Dover Athletic Tait (Pen 71) – Dent (5, 7) | Att: 1446
DOVER ATHLETIC: Hyde, Browne, Norman, Readings, Arnott, Chapman, Day (James 81), Spiller, Glover (Godden 68), Dent, Carruthers Substitutes Not Used: Humphries, Davies, Williams
A bumper crowd of over 1400 witnessed a strange game of football at Folkestone’s Cheriton Road ground on Bank Holiday Monday. Bouyed by the return of ex-Folkestone favourite Nicky Dent, wearing a Dover shirt for the first time in nearly ten years, the Whites made a stunning start to the match and ran a shell-shocked Invicta side ragged in the first half but ended up holding on for a narrow 2-1 victory.
Dent, one of several players involved who had played for both clubs, clearly had a point to prove, and he wasted no time getting started. Some supporters were still taking up their positions when Dent struck for the second time, in the seventh minute, to put the Whites two goals ahead. The 34-year-old first struck in the fifth minute, with his head from close range after Simon Glover had failed to convert the chance at the first attempt. Then just two minutes later he found himself one-on-one with Folkestone keeper Dave Wietecha, and although the highly-rated Invicta shot-stopper got a hand to the ball it wasn’t enough to keep it out.
Dover continued to dominate in the opening half hour and spurned numerous chances to kill the game as a contest. A fine Matt Carruthers effort went just wide in the 23rd minute and Simon Glover could have had a couple.
It wasn’t until the 30th minute that Paul Hyde was forced to make a save, and 2-0 at the interval was flattering to the home side.
The second half was a more even affair and although there were a couple of early chances for Dover, they struggled to put the game beyond Folkestone.
The home side were given a lifeline in the 71st minute when a Lee Spiller challenge from behind conceded a penalty just inside the area. Ex-Deal forward Adam Tait confidently converted the spot-kick and suddenly it was a different game. Folkestone pushed forward more in pursuit of an equaliser and Dover defended deeply.
Athletic resisted the pressure and held on for the points that their first half performance deserved but it was a lot closer than it should have been.
Thursday 26 December 2002 – Dover Athletic 2 – 1 Folkestone Invicta Spiller (37), Dent (80) – Chandler (65) | Att: 1601
DOVER ATHLETIC: Hyde, Browne, Norman, Patterson, D.Readings, Carruthers (James 85), Day, Spiller, Tyne, Dent, Glover Substitutes Not Used: Davies, Cloke, Smissen, K.Readings
Dover’s most local of local rivals made the short trip to Crabble on Boxing Day but ultimately went home empty handed despite a spirited display that kept Dover on their toes right until the final whistle.
With four key players unavailable and unhelpful playing conditions, manager Clive Walker will be more than happy with a third 2-1 victory over Invicta this season. Illness ruled out Kenny Dyer and injuries to Andy Arnott, Danny Chapman and long-term casualy Nicky Humphrey forced Walker to field an attacking 3-4-3 formation with Tyne, Glover and former Folkestone hero Nicky Dent forming a three-pronged attack.
Like Welling on Saturday, Folkestone were left cursing the form of Dover assistant manager Paul Hyde in goal as he denied Ayling, Dryden and Tait. At the other end ex-Dover stopper Maurice Munden, fittingly given a warm welcome by the home crowd, was unable to keep out Lee Spiller’s deflected shot, from Tony Browne’s cross, as it looped into the top corner in the 37th minute.
Despite being 1-0 down at half time and having won only twice season, Folkestone continued to play their football and were rewarded when Mark Chandler converted Dryden’s incisive through-ball. Miller then could have given the visitors the lead but sliced his shot well wide.
Folkestone looked good value for a point but Dover’s hard work was rewarded 10 minutes from time when they forced a winner. Glover’s looping chip was kept out of the top corner by the fingertips of Munden only to fall to Tyne who drove it back at the goal from a narrow angle and it was bundled over the line from just inches out by a combination of Dent and Folkestone defender John Guest.
