League: Pre-Season Friendly
Pre-Season Friendly
Woking v Dover Athletic
WHITES ended their pre-season preparations with a draw at National South Woking.
Inih Effiong gave the visitors a first-half lead, but Duane-Ofori Acheampong headed in a free-kick after the break to equalise for the Cards.
Mitch Walker was forced to turn over Fabio Saraiva’s curling free-kick early on.
And Dover’s keeper was called into action moments later, bravely blocking at the feet of Max Kretzschmar after the midfielder was set free.
Walker could then only watch as a snapshot from Saraiva bobbled just past the wrong side of the post.
And home stopper Berti Schottel was soon in the thick of the action.
The big German was at full stretch to tip Nortei Nortey’s well-placed shot around the post.
On the half-hour mark, Effiong’s powerful header from Brundle’s corner flew off target.
But the big striker fared much better with his next effort moments later.
An accurate cross from wide bounced off Effiong’s thigh and into the bottom corner to give Athletic the lead.
And it was almost two for both Dover and Effiong within seconds. The forward beat Nathan Collier to the ball before thrashing his shot narrowly wide.
Jamie Allen was then within a whisker of finding the top corner after latching onto a blocked shot from Nortey and at the other end, Walker spectacularly denied Jake Hyde, palming away the attacker’s header on the goalline.
After the break, Effiong rose highest to meet Brundle’s pinpoint corner, his header just cleared the crossbar.
Ofori-Acheampong will feel he should have levelled after failing to connect with Dan Spence’s cross.
And Woking went even closer to equalising with their next chance.
Spence’s ball over the top found Kretzschmar, who could only watch as he touched the ball the inches wide of the mark.
Josh Casey almost headed Josh Passley’s cross into his own net and Dover’s right-back provided another assist, this time nodding the ball into Brundle’s path, but Whites’ skipper could only direct his header wide.
But Ofori-Acheampong had no such trouble for Woking.
The striker headed in from a free-kick from the left to equalise for the National South side just before the hour mark.
Walker needed to be alert to see away a cross from Saraiva that almost crept in.
The final chance of the match saw substitute Paul Hodges’ strike well blocked by the Dover defence as both sides start their domestic seasons in a week’s time.
Earlier, boss Kinnear made one chance to the side that started in the home friendly with Welling on Tuesday night. Nortey replacing the injured Anthony Jeffrey.
Athletic next entertain Wrexham in their opening National League game of the 2018/19 season on Saturday 4th August. Kick off 3 pm
Dover: Walker, Essam, Schmoll, Lokko, Passley, Trialist (Daniel 63), Brundle (c), Nortey, Gomis, Allen, Effiong.
DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION
1 v 1 
Dover Athletic v Welling United
JAMIE Allen’s winner five minutes from time saw Whites continue their National League preparations with a home win against National South Welling United.
The striker latched onto substitute Nortei Nortey’s through ball and slotted coolly into the bottom corner as Chris Kinnear’s men won their first friendly in three attempts.
Athletic fashioned the first chance with Connor Essam curling narrowly wide following a free-kick into the box.
Craig Braham-Barrett stung the palms of home keeper Mitch Walker and at the other end, Inih Effiong curled a sumptuous effort just past the post.
Dover skipper Mitch Brundle seized upon Charles Banya’s misplaced pass but skewed his shot off target.
And Kevin Lokko thought he had given Dover the lead minutes later.
The summer signing from Stevenage sent a looping header into the top corner, only to see the referee disallow his effort for a push.
Brundle’s scorching free-kick sailed narrowly over and Allen’s vicious volley just cleared the crossbar following hesitant Welling defending as Dover pressed for a lead.
Allen burst through but saw his low strike well saved by visiting stopper Dan Wilks.
Following the restart, Bedsente Gomis fired over when well placed and Nortey shot into the arms of Wilks.
And Essam thought he had put Whites ahead just after the hour mark.
The sweeper rose highest to meet Josh Passley’s cross but saw his header flash the wrong side of the post.
Gomis fired on target, only for his strike to deflect narrowly wide and Allen’s shot from close range was well blocked by the substitute trialist keeper.
But it was third time lucky for Allen as he converted Nortey’s pass before Kadell Daniel missed a golden opportunity to double Dover’s lead.
The substitute dived to meet Allen’s pinpoint cross but somehow headed the ball off target.
Athletic next travel to Woking on Saturday 28th July. Kick off 3 pm.
Dover: Walker, Passley, Lokko, Essam, Schmoll, Trialist, Brundle (c), Gomis, Jeffrey (Nortey 17), Allen, Effiong (Daniel 80).
Welling: Wilks (Trialist 78), Banya, Braham-Barrett (Trialist 55), Acheampong, Orlu (Trialist 63), Audel (Trialist 55), Jebb (Trialist 60), Mendy (Trialist 63), Mills (Trialist 87), Goldberg (Trialist 72), Kissock (Trialist 52).
DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION
MATCH GALLERY
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”259″ gal_title=”DAFC v Welling United 24/07/18″]
1 v 0 
Dover Athletic v Gillingham
WHITES suffered their second consecutive pre-season loss with a home defeat against League One Gillingham.
The match, played on Crabble’s new state-of-the-art hybrid pitch for the first time, was only 11 minutes old when David Nasseri opened the scoring.
And further strikes from Liam Nash and Nessari saw the side from two divisions higher run out comfortable victors.
Early on, Liam Nash curled narrowly over the bar as Gills looked to make their higher league status count.
And an early goal for the visitors arrived moments later.
David Nasseri’s took aim from range with an effort that struck defender Connor Essam and rolled into the bottom corner of the net.
Away keeper Tomas Holy dived onto Mitch Brundle’s low drive as Whites registered their first shot on target of the game.
Josh Parker’s curling free-kick flew just past the top corner and shortly after, a quick counter-attack ended with Regan Charles-Cook flicking the ball past Walker’s post.
Parker’s curling strike deflected off target and Max Ehmer volleyed ferociously wide from 30-yards out as Athletic ended the half a goal down to their League One opponents.
After the restart, Mark Byrne fizzed a shot just wide, but the defender played a part in the visitor’s second goal
Byrne passed the ball into the area from out wide to the oncoming Nash, who fired high into the net from close range.
Inih Effiong almost reduced the arrears, latching on Anthony Jeffrey’s clever pass and firing into the side-netting via the hand of Holy.
And at the other end, Nasseri grabbed doubled his tally for the afternoon just after the hour mark.
The midfielder took aim and fired past an outstretched Walker from 25 yards to make it 3-0 to the away team.
Parker skewed Byrne’s pass horribly wide and Nash had two opportunities to make it four goals for the afternoon, firstly beating the offside trap and lobbing just over and then blasting straight at Walker.
Jamie Allen almost grabbed a late consolation, running onto Nortei Nortey’s ball and firing just wide.
Dover next host Welling on Tuesday 24th July, kick off 7:45 pm.
DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION
MATCH GALLERY
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”258″ gal_title=”DAFC v Gillingham 21/07/18″]
0 v 3 
Chelmsford City v Dover Athletic
WHITES suffered their first defeat of pre-season, conceding the only goal of the game in injury time on Wednesday night in Essex.
With time running out, City substitute Amos Nasha fired into an empty net after visiting keeper Mitch Walker (Pictured) had parried an initial Chelmsford effort.
Chris Kinnear’s men almost took an early lead as Anthony Jeffrey’s cross-cum-shot fell at the feet of Kevin Lokko, but the big defender was unable to convert at the back post.
Mitch Brundle then took aim from range for Dover but dragged his 25-yard effort wide.
Moments later, a visiting triallist fired towards the Chelmsford goal, only for Ross Worner, on loan from Sutton for the season, to parry clear.
And it was the home side who were denied an opening goal on the half-hour mark.
Rob Swaine’s volley appeared destined for the top corner, however, Connor Essam reacted brilliantly to head the ball over his own crossbar.
Following the restart, substitute Kadell Daniel forced Worner into another smart save with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
And another triallist burst through 20 minutes from time, only to be denied by Worner once more.
But it was the hosts who won the match late on in a game of few chances.
Whites host League One Gillingham on Saturday 21st July. Kick off 3 pm.
WHITES: Walker, Passley, Essam (Adebowale 45), Lokko, Triallist, Fazakerley, Brundle(c) (Triallist 45), Gomis (Triallist 45), Jeffrey (Triallist 45), Effiong (Triallist 45), Allen (Daniel 45).
1 v 0 
Folkestone Invicta v Dover Athletic
WHITES battled back from a goal down at half-time to draw 1-1 at Folkestone Invicta in their third pre-season friendly of the campaign.
A triallist, one of six introduced after the restart, slotted the ball past the outstretched arm of substitute home keeper Nick Shaw to level matters after Johan Ter Horst had put the hosts ahead before the break.
Early on, Connor Essam volleyed over Kadell Daniel’s corner from six yards and Inih Effiong saw his close-range shot from Josh Passley’s cross blocked by Invicta stopper Tim Roberts.
But it was the hosts who went ahead on 24 minutes.
A mistimed tackle from defender Ejiro Okosieme allowed Kieron McCann to cross for the waiting Ter Horst to fire past a helpless Mitch Walker in the Athletic goal.
A similar error at the other end almost saw Effiong equalise, but the burly forward was unable to connect properly with the ball.
And Dover’s summer signing felt he should have been given a free shot on goal just before the restart.
Effiong burst through and appeared to be felled in the area, however, the referee thought otherwise and waved play-on, in spite of the visitor’s protests.
Boss Chris Kinnear made ten changes after the restart and two of the triallists almost made the breakthrough for Whites after Folkestone’s Ian Draycott blazed over substitute keeper Chris Lewington’s bar.
Firstly, one of the triallists saw his curling effort from the edge of the box tipped away by Roberts and Kinnear’s men went even closer to restoring parity on 77 minutes.
Another of the triallists turned smartly and fired on target, only to see his shot cleared away by the Folkestone defender back on goalline.
But in hot conditions, Dover were able to muster an equaliser a minute later to continue their unbeaten pre-season run.
Athletic next travel to Chelmsford City on Wednesday 18th July. Kick off 7:45pm.
Whites XI: Walker (Lewington 45), Triallist, Passley (Fazakerley 45), Essam (Adebowale 45), Lokko (Diarra 45), Okosieme (Triallist 45), Gomis (Triallist 45), Brundle (Triallist 45), Jeffrey (Triallist 45), Effiong (Triallist 45), Daniel (Triallist 45).
DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION
1 v 1 
Hythe Town v Dover Athletic
KADELL Daniel’s curling second-half free-kick was the difference as Dover battled to a single-goal victory at Hythe Town on Monday night.
The winger found the bottom corner of the net from 25-yards as Athletic registered their second consecutive pre-season win.
And the visitors could have been ahead earlier, but both Jamie Allen and Inih Effiong were both off target.
Allen then seemed destined to find the back of the net following a wonderful solo run but placed his effort wide with only the home keeper to beat.
Effiong then more than matched his strike partner’s effort, running at the Hythe defence before forcing the goalie to tip over his fierce shot.
But it was the hosts who almost had the lead on the stroke of half-time, striking the inside of the post from the edge of the box with Mitch Walker relieved to see the ball bounce across the line before being cleared from danger.
Allen, Effiong and Tobi Sho-Silva were all denied by goalline clearances following the restart and Effiong went even closer to breaking the deadlock just minutes later.
The striker volleyed Loui Fazakerley’s pinpoint cross goalwards, but could only find the top of the crossbar from just outside the six-yard area.
However, Daniel duly delivered the winner, though the home side almost mustered an injury-time equaliser.
Substitute keeper Chris Lewington was at full stretch to tip away a low drive as Dover added to their 5-1 friendly win at Deal Town a week earlier.
Chris Kinnear’s men next travel to Bostik Premier Folkestone Invicta on Saturday 14th July, kick off 3 pm.
DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION
0 v 1 
Deal Town v Dover
JAMIE Allen, Mitch Brundle, Inih Effiong (Pictured) and a triallist were all on the scoresheet as Whites started their pre-season schedule with a comfortable win at The Charles Ground.
But it was the hosts who were almost ahead within minutes of the kick-off, with visiting keeper Mitch Walker forced to make a flying save to tip an accurate header around the post.
Forward Tobi-Sho Silva went close on two occasions. Firstly heading over from close range and then was inches from connecting to Brundle’s dangerous cross-cum-shot.
Connor Essam was then denied by the linesman flag after nodding in Kadell Daniel’s pinpoint free kick, however, Dover were not be kept out for long.
Ten minutes before the break, Allen’s clever anticipation saw the striker run through and lob over a helpless Deal Town keeper.
Captain Brundle then doubled Dover’s lead just before half time, collecting a pass and firing low into the bottom corner.
Manager Chris Kinnear opted to make nine changes at the break and two of the substitutes played a big part in Athletic’s third goal of the evening.
Loui Fazakerley trickery was too much for the home defence, who fouled the defender in the area, allowing recent signing Effiong to slam in his first goal for Dover from twelves yards.
The hosts pulled one back midway through the half, a fine header evading the clutching grasp of Chris Lewington.
However, Whites’ three-goal cushion was restored within seconds as a Triallist tapped in.
Fazakerley then went close with a rasping drive, but the scoring was completed late on when a triallist deftly lobbed the home stopper.
Dover next travel to Hythe Town on Monday 9th July, kick off 7:45 pm.
WHITES XI – First half: Walker, Essam, Okosieme, Passley, Lokko, Triallist, Allen, Brundle, Sho-Silva, Daniel, Triallist.
WHITES XI – Second half: Lewington, Essam, Okosieme, Adebowale, Triallist, Fazakerley, Triallist, Triallist, Effiong, Triallist, Triallist.
DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION
1 v 5