League: National League

The Vanarama National League. The top of the non-league pyramid and gateway to the Football League.

Dover Athletic v Woking

Ten-man Dover were made to pay for defensive errors as they were well beaten by a ruthless Woking on Tuesday evening.

Despite going ahead early on, Whites were hit for five at Crabble for a second time this season, having also conceded the same amount to Aldershot last month.

The home side’s misery was compounded by Oscar Gobern’s sending off for a dangerous challenge shortly after the hour mark.

The loss, Athletic’s sixth of the season, leaves Andy Hessenthaler’s men second-from-bottom on the National League ladder, one point from safety.

The hosts got off to a dream starting when Ade Azeez knocked the ball on for Steve Rigg to slot home for his first goal of the season.

The home side then went close to doubling their lead, but Azeez’s header from Sam Wood’s cross flew over the intended target.

Whites were duly punished twice in quick succession.  Josh Davison nodded in Josh Casey’s pinpoint cross to level matters, before Kane Ferdinand converted Charlie Cooper’s fizzing set piece.

Ferdinand doubled his tally just after the half hour mark as he headed home Woking’s third – another delivery from Casey.

Rigg then had two chances to haul Whites back in the game, only finding the side netting from close range and then seeing visiting keeper Craig Ross grab onto his drive from just inside the area.

Home stopper Tom Smith made a great save to deny Ben Dempsey from adding a fourth just before the break and Athletic’s task of avoiding back-to-back home defeats was dealt a blow shortly after the hour mark.

Gobern was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Charlie Cooper when both players challenged for a 50-50 ball.

Woking sealed the three points as Davison broke on the counter attack and found Max Kretzchmar to slot home.

The Cards were not finished there and made it five late on from a corner as Cooper’s ball into the area was bundled in by Kretzchmar.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made two changes to the side defeated by Altrincham at the end of October.  Gobern and De Havilland replaced Bayli Spencer-Adams and Louis Collins, who were both named as substitutes.

Dover next travel to King’s Lynn Town in the National League on Saturday 22nd November, kick off 3 pm.

 

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Dover Athletic v Altrincham FC

Fisayo Adarabioyo’s early first half goal condemned Dover to another National League defeat.

Altrincham’s new striker tapped in as Whites suffered their fifth defeat of the season.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men created enough chances to get back into the game, but were unable to convert the opportunities.

The visitors took the lead inside the opening 15 minutes when Adarabioyo tapped in Dan Mooney’s pass following some hesitation between home keeper Tom Smith and defender Bayli Spencer-Adams.

Tuesday night’s goalscorer Ade Azeez then went close, acrobatically volleying Josh Passley’s cross wide.

Shortly after, Steve Rigg had two attempts to level for Whites.  Firstly, having skipped past his man in the box, saw his low effort bravely blocked by visiting stopper Tony Thompson, with the ball bouncing agonisingly over the crossbar.

He was denied again moments later as his header from Sam Woods’ corner was well saved by the goalkeeper.

Dover chances continued in the second half with Louis Collins’ header from a set piece deflecting narrowly wide.

With time running out, Azeez collected substitute Omar Mussa’s pintpoint cross, only to fire high and wide from inside the area at the crucial moment.

Whites continued to press, but were unable to find a way past a stubborn visiting defence, with Marvel Ekpiteta seeing his late diving header tipped away by Thompson.

Earlier in the day, Hessenthaler named an unchanged team from the team who won 3-2 against Eastleigh on Tuesday.

Dover next travel to Wealdstone on Saturday 14th November, kick off 3 pm.

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Dover Athletic v Eastleigh FC

A late winner from Ade Azeez stopped Whites’ run of defeats as Dover won their first game since the opening day.

Athletic went behind early on through Tyrone Barnett, but were 2-1 up at the break thanks to goals from Sam Wood and Louis Collins.

Dan Smith levelled for the Spitfires in the second half, however Azeez was able to poke home a counter attack late on as Whites took all three points.

Barnett had his side off to the perfect start as the visitors went ahead inside the first 10 minutes when the experienced forward poked home from a cross from Sam Smart.

Eastleigh continued to attack and almost doubled their lead when Abdulai Baggie latched onto a flick[-on, only to fire off target at the crucial moment.

That chance proved costly as moments later Whites were level through Wood

The defender rose highest the meet Jack Munn’s swirling cross to the back post to score his second of the season..

Andy Hessenthaler’s men then took the lead on the half hour mark through Collins third goal in two matches, with the diminutive striker firing Azeez’ cutback into the corner of the net.

Kurtis Cumberbatch then almost put Whites further ahead on the stroke of half time, but his effort from outside the area flew just wide.

The post then came to Dover’s rescue shortly after the restart after Cav Miley’s looping head hit the inside of the upright.

Eastleigh continued to push in the second half and were level on the hour mark after a scramble in the box found its way to Smith to slot the ball home, moments after Athletic had cleared an effort off the goalline.

But the away side were caught cold as Whites retook the lead with 10 minutes of normal time left.  Substitute Ahkeem Rose sprinted onto fellow sub and debutant Omar Mussa’s through ball and found Azeez to fire home the winner into the far bottom corner.

Earlier in the day, Hessenthaler made three changes from the penalty shootout defeat to Yeovil in the FA Cup, with Wood, Steve Rigg and Azeez replacing Marshall Wratten, Bilel Hinchiri and Rose.

Dover next host Altrincham in the National League on Saturday 31st October, Kick Off 3pm.

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Torquay United v Dover Athletic

A first-half brace from Karl Cameron condemned Dover to a fourth consecutive league defeat.

The Gulls captain was on hand to nod in from visiting stopper Yusuf Mersin’s parry and then headed in a corner on the stroke of half-time.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men fought to find a way back into the match after break, but were unable to find way through a solid United defence.  

The loss leaves Whites second from bottom on the National League ladder with three points, however the result may well have been different had Athletic converted a guilt-edged chance five minutes prior to Torquay’s opener.

Steven Rigg tricked his way to the byline and presented TJ Bramble with the goal at his mercy, however the midfielder was unable to convert after getting his feet mixed up.  

Athletic had gone close to opening the scoring early in the game when Jack Munns sent a dipping volley the wrong side of the post,

Bayli Spencer-Adams, making his debut for Dover after signing on loan from Watford the previous day, then saw his shot well blocked by the home defence.

Bramble jumped to head Cameron’s bouncing header off the line, but the Dover defence was powerless to stop Torquay’s captain from opening the scoring in the first half.  

A corner was well parried by Mersin, only to kindly fall for Cameron, an invitation the centre-back was only too happy to accept as he headed the ball into an empty net, despite Bramble’s attempt to stop the ball from crossing the goal line.

Turkish stopper Mersin then tipped Aaron Nemane’s stinging drive onto the base of the post.

Dover’s mission to stop a run of three straight defeats was dealt a further blow on the stroke of half-time when Cameron headed a set piece into the bottom corner.

And that task was nearly made harder just seconds later, but for Mersin fisting over Adam Randell’s free-kick.

The Turkish goalkeeper continued to repel the Torquay attack, diving onto Danny Wright’s volley after the restart.

The Kent side almost reduced the arrears late on, as home stopper Lucas Covolan tipped Munns’ accurate effort behind for a corner and then grabbed onto Rigg’s header.

Torquay almost sealed the win in injury time, only for a mixture of the woodwork and Mersin to somehow prevent substitute Asa Hall from scoring.

Earlier, Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that started the 5-0 home loss to Aldershot on Tuesday night.  Mersin, Spencer-Adams, Kurtis Cumberbatch, Bramble and Josh Passley came in for Josh Bexon, Will Moses, Ade Azeez, Travis Gregory and Marvel Ekpiteta with the latter three all not involved due to injury.

Dover next travel to Yeovil Town in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying on Saturday 24th October 2020.

 

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Dover Athletic v Aldershot Town

Whites were comprehensively beaten by Aldershot on Tuesday evening at Crabble.

Harrison Panayiotou opened the scoring with Josh Rees and Mo Bettamer netting a brace apiece.

The visitors started the game with intent and almost took the lead twice in the first ten minutes when Craig Tanner saw his first effort go wide before the same player  was denied by home stopper Josh Bexon

Whites remained on the backfoot and were indebted to Steve Rigg for heading a dangerous shot off the line.

Travis Gregory’s looping shot almost caught out Shots goalkeeper Mitch Walker, but the former Dover goalkeeper was able to get back onto his line to turn the ball over for a corner.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men conceded after the half hour mark when Panayiotou tapped in from close range after Bexon parried a corner into his path.

A few minutes later, The Shots doubled their lead from a counter attack, which ended with Bettamer cutting inside and firing in from 25-yards.

Aldershot scored a third on the stroke of half-time when a poor pass set Rees free to poke home Tanner’s cross.

Rees slotted past Bexon to double his tally for the evening and Bettamer’s late deflected effort compounded a miserable night for Athletic.

Earlier in the evening, manager Hessenthaler made one change from the defeat at Stockport, with Akheem Rose replacing Bilel Hinchiri.

Dover next travel to Torquay United in the National League, kick off 3 pm.

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Stockport County v Dover Athletic

A John Rooney double condemned Whites to a second consecutive league defeat.

Last season’s National League Player of the Year, who joined Stockport in the summer from Barrow, slammed home a second half penalty, before slotting in his second and County’s third late on.

Substitute Alex Reid had earlier doubled the home side’s lead as Athletic were unable to build on a first half clean sheet.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men, including centre-back and academy youngster Will Moses making his National League debut, defended resolutely throughout the opening 45 minutes and nearly stunned the home side when Steve Rigg slid and narrowly missed Ade Azeez’ vicious cross into the Hatters’ area.

It took the hosts until just before the break to have their first meaningful effort on goal as Connor Jennings mis-kicked twice within the space of a couple of minutes.

The home side made their breakthrough when another Dover debutant, goalkeeper Josh Bexon, upended Reid in the area, with Rooney making no mistake from 12 yards as he sent Athletic’s stopper the wrong way.

Reid volleyed over from the edge of the box, but the attacker was more precise with his next opportunity.

The striker converted Richie Bennett’s pass, and despite protestations from Dover for a foul on Will De Havilland in the build up, the goal stood, leaving Hessenthaler’s side with the challenge of scoring at least two goals.

That task proved insurmountable for Whites and though Rigg went close with a close-range header, it was Stockport who put the game beyond doubt at the end when Rooney fired Sam Minihan’s lay-off into the bottom corner.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started the 4-1 against Bromley on Tuesday night, with Bexon, Moses and Bilel Hinchiri replacing Yusuf Mersin, TJ Bramble and the injured Harry Ransom.

Dover are back in league action on Tuesday 13th October when they host Aldershot Town, kick off 7:45 pm.

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Bromley v Dover Athletic

Dover’s first away league match of the National League campaign ended in a humbling 4-1 loss at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night, however the final score might well have been very different when Sam Wood reduced the arrears.

With his side behind to goals from Michal Cheek and Jack Holland either side of the break, Whites’ captain Wood, playing against the side he featured for last season, slotted in Travis Gregory’s driven pass across the box, with Steven Rigg and Ahkeem Rose both missing chances to level.

Unable to capitalise on their dominance, Athletic were punished when Bromley extended their lead via Ben Williamson’s smart finish with 17 minutes remaining.

A second consecutive defeat at Hayes Lane for Andy Hessenthaler’s men was confirmed in injury time when Cheek pounced on away stopper Yusuf Mersin’s mis-kick.

Harry Ransom’s injury was the first of a double blow for Dover as just after the defender had pulled up, Ade Azeez’s intended pass to the Millwall loanee was intercepted by Harry Forster.

The youngster, on loan from Watford, took full advantage of the space ahead of him, passing the ball across the box for Cheek to slide in the opener.

Mersin dived low to turn Williamson’s bottom-corner bound shot around the post and the same player was unable to keep a far post header on target.

Azeez’ spectacular back-heeled volley flew narrowly over the bar after the break, however the Raven’s scored a second despite initial heroics from Mersin.

The Turkish keeper saved Billy Bingham’s fierce free-kick and despite stopping Holland’s initial rebound, Mersin was unable to prevent Bromley’s captain from bundling the ball over the line.

Rigg saw an effort fly agonisingly wide and a well-worked corner routine from Jack Munns and Wood ended with Rose blazing high over the cross bar.

Dover through caution to the wind and introduced striker Louis Collins, making his National League debut, however were punished by two late goals.

Williamson sprinted onto a flicked-header and slotted the ball past Mersin to extend the home side’s two-goal lead, with Cheek pouncing to wrap up the points in the injury time.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made one change to the side that started against Notts County, with Gregory replacing the injured Josh Passley.

Whites next travel to Stockport County on Saturday 10th October, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

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Dover Athletic v Notts County

Millwall loanee Harry Ransom sealed his impressive debut with a match-winning goal against Notts County at Crabble on Saturday.

The big centre half headed home Jack Munns’ pin-point corner in the final minute of normal time to earn manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side  a deserved three points on the opening day of the National League season.

Dover started brightly and another debutant, striker Ade Azeez, saw his dangerous cross just evade the onrushing Munns.

The Magpies replied with Cal Roberts, who was a doubt for the game, saw his shot saved by Yusuf Mersin before Richard Brindley’s effort was deflected wide.

Steven Rigg tried his luck from distance just before half-time but his effort sailed wide.

Rigg then saw his header from Munns’s excellent cross well save by the keeper just after the break.

The second half looked more open than the first and Roberts went close for the visitors yet again after beating his man and shooting just wider.

Kyle Wootton then went close after the ball was played in from the corner, however his turn on the volley went wide.

Substitute Bilel Hinchiri saw his overhead kick go over before Ransom sealed the points with a thunderous header that crashed into the net off the underide of the bar.

Earlier in the day, Hessenthaler gave competitive debuts to new captain Sam Wood, TJ Bramble, Ransom, Azeez and Marvel Ekpiteta.

 

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