Hat-trick hero Ruben Soares-Junior led the line in the Whites 5-2 victory against newly promoted Chichester City.
Forward George Nikaj also scored a brace in front of 825 fans at The Megger Community Stadium to make it seven goals in four league matches so far this season. Prior to the game, the club announced the signing of goalkeeper Claudio Boakye-Sarfo. The former Horsham and Cray Wanderers man will be backup to Mitch Walker between the sticks.
It was a wet and windy afternoon at Crabble, the sort of weather we have come to expect on an August Bank Holiday weekend in the UK. Manager Jake Leberl made some attacking changes to the starting lineup, giving a debut to Alfie Matthews while Jaiden Drakes-Thomas was rewarded after 2 goals from the bench in his last two appearances. Eniye Amgbaduba replaced Lindell Stewart in the front line and in defence, Jeremiah Gybei came in for Luca Cocoracchio.
The game kicked off with Dover shooting towards the River End and it wasn’t long before Ruben Soares-Junior scored the first goal of the game. After 5 minutes, Dover found themselves with a free kick on the edge of the Chichester box, the ball floated beautifully in by Alfie Matthews, was met by the head of Ruben and looped in over the keeper.
Just five minutes later, Dover had another chance at goal as the referee blew for a penalty on a foul against Ruben Soares-Junior in the box. Luke Baptiste took the spot kick, but the Chichester keeper got down well to deny a Dover double within the first 10 minutes of the match.
The missed penalty unsettled the young Dover side and gave Chichester the confidence to find a footing in the game with Mo Jammeh equalising in the 22nd minute. Dover took the lead again 10 minutes later with Ruben Soares-Junior getting his second with a lob over the keeper. The sides traded goals once again with Chichester’s Isaac Bello delivering the equaliser this time just a few moments later. The referee blew for half time with the teams going in level at 2-2, a welcome break for the home side.
Athletic went ahead once again, just six minutes into the second half. George Nikaj finding the net this time, making it six for the season- and only four minutes later he had a seventh. At 4-2, Jake Leberl made some changes and brought on reinforcements across the field. Soares-Junior completed his hat trick with fifteen minutes remaining and assured the Dover win in a man of the match performance.
Dover climb to fifth in the table and head to Horsham on Monday.
Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 825
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Megger Community Stadium
Dover Athletic – 5
Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (5′)
Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (33′)
George NIKAJ (51′)
George NIKAJ (55′)
Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (75′)
Chichester City – 2
Mo Jammeh (22′)
Isaac Bello (36′)
Dover Athletic: 1 Mitch WALKER (C), 2 Roman CHARLES-COOK, 3 Fuad SESAY, 5 Joe TENNENT, 4 Jeremiah GYEBI, 7 Luke BAPTISTE, 10 George NIKAJ, 9 Eniye AMGBADUBA, 14 Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR, 8 Alfie MATTHEWS, 20 Jaiden DRAKES-THOMAS SUBS: 6 Luca COCORACCHIO, 11 Lindell STEWART, 19 Jayden SILCOTT-BROWN, 15 Tamas AMGBADUBA, 23George WILKINSON.
Chichester City: 1 Kieran Magee, 2 Emmett Dunn, 3 Rob Hutchings (C), 4 Joe Moore, 5 Connor Cody, 6 Ben Pashley, 17 Oliver Munt, 8 Joe Clarke, 9 Dion Jarvis, 10 Mo Jammeh, 11 Isaac Bello SUBS: 14 Curtis Da Costa, 15 Jimmy Wild, 16 Lloyd Rowlatt, 18 Ryan Davidson, 20 Billie Clark