Report

A LATE goal from Jamie Allen saw Whites complete the double over their Kent rivals Maidstone with a narrow win at the Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day.

With the score goalless on 85 minutes, the substitute latched onto Kevin Lokko’s flick-on and buried the ball past the onrushing home keeper Ross Worner.

An early chance for Whites’ saw Alfie Pavey’s drilled cross deflect off a player towards Inih Effiong, with the striker narrowly off target with his low drive.

Jake Cassidy, in his final loan game for Stones before heading back to parent club Hartlepool United on loan, fired straight at visiting keeper Mitch Walker from 25-yards.

Cassidy then turned creator with a ball into Elliott Romain, however, the diminutive forward was unable to connect to his strike partner’s pass.

Loanee Cassidy then volleyed well over after racing onto a ball over the Dover defence.

Will De Havilland headed over Jack Payne’swell placed corner and Maidstone’s captain had to scoop away Brundle’s dangerous ball into the box from underneath his crossbar.

Nortei Nortey’s crossfield ball found Mitch Brundle in space, however, the captain’s lofted finish was not high enough to beat Worner in the home goal.

Walker then had to deny the home side following a swift counter-attack.

A misplaced corner ended with Walker beating away Cassidy’s fierce effort from the edge of the box after Romain had found his fellow forward.

Shortly after the restart, Walker was able to hold onto Jack Powell’s powerful cross from the byline.

It was ball into the Maidstone area that nearly had Andy Hessenthaler’s men ahead.

A flicked on throw-in somehow rolled across goal to Effiong, but the striker saw his shot blocked the home defence.

Effiong went for goal again, beating both Worner and Charlie Wassmer to the ball, but flicked over.

Bedsente Gomis then tried from 20-yards with a deflected shot narrowly wide.

A long throw caused mayhem in the Maidstone penalty area, ending with Brundle seeing his driven effort well blocked.

The away side continued to threaten and sub Jamie Allen volleyed fellow replacement Ricky Modeste’s header straight at Worner following a corner.

But the substitute made no mistake with his next chance and almost doubled his tally for the afternoon, forcing Worner to tip away his low shot.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler kept the same side that started in Saturday’s home match against Leyton Orient.  Ricky Modeste returned from injury to replace Joe Bedford as a substitute.

Whites next travel to Wrexham on Saturday 5th January, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MAIDSTONE UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”289″ gal_title=”Maidstone United v DAFC 01/01/2019″]