League: National League

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

Dover Athletic v Chesterfield

Nassim L’Ghoul’s late equaliser ensured Whites extended their unbeaten run against Chesterfield to four matches.

The substitute dinked over away keeper Shwan Jalal to end a recent run of back-to-back league losses for Andy Hessenthaler’s men.

Tom Denton had fired the away side ahead from the penalty spot following Shadrach Ogie’s handball.

The point keeps Dover 12th on the National League table, four points behind seventh-placed Stockport.

Early on, Nathan Tyson took advantage of Dover defensive hesitancy to sprint clear, but with only Lee Worgan to beat, fired straight at the home keeper.

Jordan Cropper burst into Athletic’s penalty area and found Denton, but the big striker directed his header into Worgan’s arms.

As task opposite goalkeeper Jalal failed to do when dropping Jack Munn’s set piece at Kevin Lokko’s feet, but Whites’ defender scooped the ball over the crossbar from close range.

Dangerous on the counter-attack, Chesterfield fled forward from a Dover corner and though Josef Yarney found Tyson in space, Worgan was down quickly to make a one-handed save from the experienced striker’s angled drive.

Following the restart, Jalal was forced to tip Dominic Poleon’s cross-cum-shot, with Oscar Gobern headed the resultant corner over the bar.

Tyson headed Liam Mandeville’s swirling cross towards goal, an effort easily dealt by Worgan.

Dover’s stopper had more work to do on the visitors next attack.

Tyson skipped into the area, but Worgan was out quickly to block the forward’s shot from point-blank range.

At the other end, Will De Havilland’s looping volley from a corner dipped just wide of his intended target.

And his central defensive partner Paul Rooney, on for the injured Kevin Lokko at the break, went close with a header from Munn’s corner.

Whites were unable to hold onto their clean sheet when Ogie was penalised for a handball in the area with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Denton stepped up from 12 yards and sent Worgan the wrong way to give the away side the lead.

But Dover were back in the contest when one of their substitutes struck with two minutes remaining.

L’Ghoul latched onto Munns’ pinpoint through-ball and chipped the ball over the onrushing Jalal to restore parity.

But Whites were unable to muster a late rally to find a winner as they drew their ninth league game of the campaign.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that lost to Yeovil last week.  Ogie, Kurtis Cumberbatch and Steven Rigg came in for Bobby-Joe Taylor, L’Ghoul and the injured Inih Effiong.

Whites next travel to Eastleigh on Tuesday 17th March, kick-off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

CHESTERFIELD REACTION

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”408″ gal_title=”DAFC v Chesterfield 14/03/20″]

v

Dover Athletic v Yeovil Town

A wonder goal dented Whites’ play-off chances against their promotion rivals at Crabble on Saturday.

Experienced striker Marc Richards blasted into the top corner from 20-yards to hand Andy Hessenthaler’s men their first home defeat of 2020.

The loss leaves Athletic two points outside the play-offs in 11th position on the National League table.

Carl Dickinson was forced to head Nassim L’Ghoul’s early cross over the bar to prevent the ball reaching Ricky Modeste at the far post.

Dominic Poleon then flashed a ball across the goalmouth, a cross that none of his Dover teammates gambled on.

Richards went sliding into the area to try and connect to Dickinson’s swirling cross, only to miss the ball by a matter of inches.

The visitors went close twice more, Courtney Duffus firing wide of the mark from the edge of the box and Jimmy Smith heading Remeao Hutton’s cross straight at home stopper Lee Worgan.

With half-time looming, Luke Wilkinson went for the spectacular with an overhead-kick from Charlie Lee’s long throw, an effort too high to trouble Worgan.

There was time for the away side to have another effort, with Duffus volleying onto the back stanchion after Matt Worthington’s initial shot had been blocked.

Inih Effiong then sprinted clear after Lee had flicked a goal-kick towards his own net and with just away keeper Stuart Nelson to beat, the striker was felled in the area after Wilkinson took both the man and ball with a last-ditch challenge.

After the restart, Worgan redeemed himself after dropping the ball, rushing out to block Smith’s effort.

But Athletic’s keeper had no chance with Yeovil’s next chance.

Duffus held off Will De Havilland on the touchline and passed back to Richards to send a shot from the edge of the area into the top corner, with Worgan only able to push the ball into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Albi Skendi couldn’t match his teammate’s fine finish with Yeovil’s next attempt as the Albanian blazed over following good work out wide from Hutton.

Duffus thought he had doubled the Somerset side’s lead after running on to Skendi’s pass and slotting through Worgan’s legs, only for the assistant to rule the finish out for offside.

The striker then went close again, nodding Smith’s knock-back into the box against the bar with the same player lashing the rebound wide.

Having used all his substitutes, one of Hessenthaler’s replacements nearly leveled matters when Ade Yusuff forced away keeper Stuart Nelson to parry his close-range volley from Bobby-Joe Taylor’s cross.

With time running out, Inih Effiong volleyed towards goal, but his strike lacked the power to trouble Nelson.

A lacklustre Dover attack were unable to find a route to goal as the Kent side remain outside of the top seven with nine league games remaining.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that lost at Solihull last weekend.  Gobern, Lokko, Passley and Poleon replaced Michael Woods, Paul Rooney, Aaron Simpson and Shadrach Ogie.

Whites next host Gillingham in the quarter-final of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday 10th March, kick-off 7:30 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

YEOVIL TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”404″ gal_title=”DAFC v Yeovil Town 07/03/20″]

v

Solihull Moors v Dover Athletic

White slumped to defeat at the hands of their play-off rivals in the Midands on Saturday.

A first-half own goal by Aaron Simpson and a brace from Callum Howe after the break saw Andy Hessenthaler’s men well beaten by the Moors, a result that lifted the hosts above Athletic in the National League table.

Earlier, Jake Beesley was sent clear to go one-on-one with Lee Worgan, only to take too heavy a touch, allowing Athletic’s stopper to come out and gather easily.

In the swirling winds, Tyrone Williams found space to run into out wide.  Though his ball was heading in the direction of the two Moors attackers in the area, Worgan was out to dive onto the right-back’s pass.

Michael Woods was almost left red-faced when his back-header only found Beesley, however Dover’s captain was relieved to see Darren Carter blaze over his teammates’ lay-off.

The home fans were left stunned when Beesley failed to convert his next chance.

Paul Rooney’s slip saw the striker sprint clear, however Beesley got his angles all wrong and smashed the ball clear over Worgan’s crossbar.

Instead it was James Ball to have the game’s first shot on target.

Ball ran onto Darren Carter’s pass and arrowed a shot towards the bottom corner, an effort well saved by Worgan with Simpson on hand to clear the danger.

Bobby-Joe Taylor saw his effort from the edge of the area deflect just wide and moments later, after out-muscling Darren Carter, Ricky Modeste fired over from the angle.

Instead it was the hosts who went ahead nine minutes before the break when Carter’s floated free-kick was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Simpson.

Nassim L’Ghoul took aim after the restart from 20-yards, a shot that whizzed past the wrong side of the foot of the post.

Moors double their advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

Rooney’s header from Beesley’s cross flew high into the air, only for the ball to land back in the area, with Callum Howe quickest to react, stealing in ahead of the Dover defence to sweep the ball underneath Worgan.

Inih Effiong nearly delivered a swift response for the away side, seeing his close-range strike deflect just wide.

An away defeat for Dover was confirmed with nine minutes left, when Worgan palmed Geraldo Bajrami’s header from Carter’s corner onto the bar, with the lieing-in-wait Howe on hand to tap in his second of the game.

Williams almost added a fourth when stabbing the ball goalwards in the penalty area, but Simpson was across to clear away the danger.

It made no difference as Dover were unable to register back-to-back wins in the National League, slipping outside the play-offs into eighth.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made two enforced changes to the side that started the 5-1 home win against AFC Fylde last weekend, with Worgan and Taylor replacing the injured duo of Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Dominic Poleon.

Whites next host Yeovil Town in the National League on Saturday 7th March, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SOLIHULL MOORS REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”402″ gal_title=”Solihull Moors v DAFC 29/02/20″]

 

v

Dover Athletic v AFC Fylde

A five-star performance saw Dover register their biggest win of the campaign against struggling Fylde at Crabble on Saturday.

Tom Walker’s early penalty had the visitors ahead, however Andy Hessenthaler’s men were in the lead at the break thanks to Dominic Poleon’s finish and an Inih Effiong penalty.

Effiong completed his treble with two quick-fire strikes after the restart, with substitute Bobby-Joe Taylor completing the rout late on.

Is was the worst possible start for Whites when Fylde were awarded a spot kick for a handball against Aaron Simpson, much to the home crowd’s disagreement.

Midfielder Tom Walker seemed unfazed by Dover’s protestations, slotting into the middle of the goal to give the away side the lead.

Will De Havilland then found himself in space inside the area, only to make minimal contact with the ball and leaving visiting keeper Sam Hornby with the simplest of saves.

Dominic Poleon received the ball on the edge of the box, only the see his shot fly into Hornby’s arms via a deflection.

Moments later, on his first start for Dover, the Newport loanee gave Hornby no chance just after the 30-minute mark with Dover’s equaliser.

Following a slick one-two with Simpson, Ricky Modeste swung over a cross for Poleon to take a touch and slide in his first goal for Athletic via the inside of the post.

On the stroke of half-time, the referee then awarded his second spot-kick of the game, this time in favour of the home team.

Away skipper Lewis Montrose was penalised for tugging Paul Rooney’s shirt in the area as a free-kick was floated towards the box.

Effiong stepped up to slam the ball into the middle of the net, his 14th league goal of the campaign.

After the restart, Jack Munns’ long ball landed at Modeste’s feet, only for the Grenada international to take too heavy a touch, with the ball rolling forward for Hornby to gather.

The Coasters went close to levelling when Jamie Proctor was unable to divert Tyler French’s header from a corner towards goal.

Michael Woods then forced Hornby to turn his stinging 20-yard drive behind for a corner and Modeste was soon combining with Effiong as Hornby pushed aside the striker’s low drive.

Another foul on Rooney in the area saw Effiong presented with the chance to score his second of the match.

Though Hornby saved his initial penalty, both Ade Yusuff and Effiong raced onto the rebound, with both players claiming they got the final touch.

There was no doubting the scorer of the fourth as Effiong raced onto Woods’ through ball and slotted past Hornby to complete his treble.

Home keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer stopped sub Danny Philliskirk from grabbing a consolation and Dover completed a five-star performance with a fifth goal of the game minutes before full-time.

Woods sent a ball into the area for Taylor to volley home with his right foot under Hornby and add gloss on an impressive win for the Kent side.

The win sees Dover move up to sixth on the National League table, two points inside the play-offs.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that started at Barrow, with Poleon, Rooney, Modeste and Nassim L’Ghoul replacing Steven Rigg, Kevin Lokko, Jai Reason and Taylor.

Whites next travel to Solihull Moors on Saturday 29th February, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

AFC FYLDE REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”400″ gal_title=”DAFC v AFC Fylde 22/02/20″]

v

Barrow v Dover Athletic

A second half winner from Dior Angus saw Whites lose at top-of-the-table Barrow in windswept conditions on Tuesday night

The striker followed up to slot in after home keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer had initially denied Scott Quigley.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men, who lost captain Kevin Lokko to a serious looking injury just after the break, almost fashioned a late leveller when substitute Dominic Poleon struck the crossbar.

Early on, Quigley saw his shot bravely blocked by Will De Havilland from point-blank range inside the penalty area, with Maynard-Brewer then saving Angus’ cheeky back-heel on the follow-up.

The Bluebirds then had a goal disallowed for offside when Quigley nodded in after Maynard-Brewer had pushed away Angus’ initial header.

There was no flag when Angus was presented with his next chance.

Patrick Brough swung in a dangerous cross, only for the Barrow striker to miss the ball with the goal gaping.

Aaron Simpson then came to Dover’s rescue, nodding Sam Hird’s header from a corner off the line, with Maynard-Brewer then coming flying across his goal to stop Quigley’s top-corner-bound header with his fingertips.

Maynard-Brewer continued to deny the hosts, flinging himself of front of Josh Kay’s strike after the winger burst into the penalty box.

However the danger was not over as Kay collected the rebound and fired goalwards, only for Lokko to put his body in front of the ball.

Following the restart, John Rooney found himself free in the area, only for Dover captain Lokko to sprint across and launch himself in front of Bluebirds’ playmaker to send the ball away for a corner.

Dan Jones found Rooney from a throw-in, but the midfielder could only slice his volley wide of the target.

Following the restart, an injury to Lokko forced a lengthy delay after a nasty collision between Athletic’s skipper and Maynard-Brewer, with Lokko eventually stretchered off and replaced by Paul Rooney.

Jai Reason let fly from the edge of the box following good work from Inih Effiong, an effort palmed away by home keeper Joel Dixon.

The home side made the dominance count with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Quigley sprinted clear out wide and though Maynard-Brewer superbly tipped away the league top scorer’s strike, Angus followed up by driving the rebound home from an angle.

Hotshot striker Quigley was then left stunned after being unable to both his 19th league goal of the campaign.

Rooney broke and laid the ball on for the striker to slot into an empty net, but Maynard-Brewer flung himself across his goal to deny Quigley.

Poleon then sent a stinging volley against the top of the crossbar after a surging run and cross out wide by Michael Woods.

At the other end, Quigley rounded the onrushing Maynard-Brewer, but sent his 20-yard effort over the bar and behind the home supporters.

Ogie almost sent the visiting ten fans delirious with a dipping 30-yard volley that flew just over the crossbar.

However valiant Dover were unable to a muster an equaliser during the ten minutes of injury time.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made one change to the side that one the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, with Ogie replacing the injured Josh Passley.

Whites next host AFC Fylde on Saturday 22nd February, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

 

v

Dover Athletic v Barrow

Michael Woods’ late goal gave Whites an impressive win against league leaders Barrow in a pulsating encounter on Tuesday evening.

The midfielder smashed in sub Shadrach Ogie’s ball to move Andy Hessenthaler’s men up to eighth on the National League ladder, level on points with Notts County and Bromley in the two positions above them.

Will De Havilland had slotted the hosts ahead, but it looked like The Bluebirds would leave Crabble with a point thanks to John Rooney’s late penalty.

However Woods’ goal handed Athletic back-to-back wins, extending their unbeaten run at Crabble to four matches.

Earlier, Inih Effiong had a sight of goal after Jai Reason’s mis-kick had moved into the path of Dover’s top scorer, however the striker smashed wide from close range.

A quick counter-attack then saw Reason released out wide, with visiting stopper Joel Dixon forced to turn away the midfielder’s angled drive.

Reason instead turned provider for the opening goal.

The midfielder’s corner landed at the feet of De Havilland, leaving the centre-half with the simple task of steering the ball into the bottom corner.

Dior Angus then had a sight of goal at the other end, but blazed over from the edge of the area.

Barrow’s top scorers then combined to create their best chance of the half.

Rooney threaded through a pass for Scott Quigley to run onto, however keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer, making his home debut, spread himself at the feet of the National League’s top scorer to make a vital block.

The hosts thought they had doubled their led just before the break when Effiong nodded in Bobby-Joe Tayor’s free-kick, but the referee ruled the goal out for offside.

The decision almost proved vital as Lewis Hardcastle curled just wide of the post from 20-yards following Rooney’s smart dummy.

Angus outpaced Lokko out wide and sent a low cross in the direction of the onrushing Quigley, however Josh Passley came across to divert the ball away, though a goal kick was given much to Quigley’s visible bemusement.

Striker Angus continued to cause the home side problems, this time turning his marker from Bradley Barry’s throw-in and smashing straight at Maynard-Brewer from the tightest of angle

Rooney then fired towards the bottom corner from 20-yards, a shot parried by Maynard-Brewer straight to Quigley, but the target man ran out of pitch as he tried to round Athletic’s Australian keeper.

As the pace of the game of intensified, a smart one-two with Aaron Simpson’s ended with Effiong blazing narrowly over.

Rooney then found teammate Quigley again, but the striker was off target, volleying into the side-netting with just Maynard-Brewer to beat.

The away side kept pushing and were awarded a spot kick 10 minutes from time when Ogie fouled fellow sub Byron Harrison in the area.

Rooney made no mistake from 12 yards, blasting the ball down the middle to level the scores.

But the drama was not over as Hessenthaler’s men went ahead with two minutes remaining.

Ogie’s rampaging run and teasing cross found Woods at the far post, with the midfielder lashing in his third goal of the season past Dixon.

Barrow went back on the attack with Harrison somehow getting in the way of teammate Jack Hindle’s goalbound effort.

And Dover held on to win their third win in four matches to move themselves firmly into the play-off picture.

Earlier, boss Andy Hessenthaler made one change to the side that started the 2-0 win at Stockport County on Saturday with Bobby-Joe Taylor coming in for the injured Oscar Gobern.

Ricky Modeste and Shadrach Ogie returned from injury and illness respectively and were named as substitutes.

Whites will next travel to Eastleigh on Saturday 15th February.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”397″ gal_title=”DAFC v Barrow 04/02/20″]

v

Stockport County v Dover Athletic

Two second half goals from Inih Effiong saw Whites bounce back from midweek defeat with a victory at 10-man Stockport on Saturday.

After Paul Turnbull had been sent off shortly before half-time for a dangerous foul on Effiong, Athletic’s striker bagged his 12th of the season soon after the break.

And the striker had his 13th of the campaign ten minutes before the end, volleying home after his initial shot was saved by home keeper Ben Hinchcliffe to give Andy Hessenthaler’s men a second win in three league matches.

Earlier, Michael Woods blazed over from the edge of the box early on and Liam McAlinden slashed wide from a similar position at the other end.

Danny Lloyd then intercepted Jack Munns’ loose ball, running half the length of the pitch and sending a teasing cross that just evaded teammate McAlinden.

Oscar Gobern then headed Munns’ corner on target, only for Turnbull to nod off the goalline.

However, County captain Turnbull’s afternoon would take a turn for the worse five minutes before the break.

The defender went clattering into Inih Effiong as the two opposing players challenged for the ball, with Turnbull given his marching orders by Simon Mather after Athletic’s striker was left in a heap on the floor following the dangerous tackle.

Whites were able to make the breakthrough four minutes after the restart.

Jai Reason intercepted Ash Palmer’s miscontrol to then find Effiong, who after taking a touch, slammed his 12th goal of the season into the bottom corner.

Kevin Lokko’s heart was almost in his mouth when he inadvertently diverted Adam Thomas’ cross onto the inside of his own post, with substitute Bobby-Joe Taylor on hand to clear the danger.

Ashley Maynard-Brewer was then called into action for the first time since signing on loan from Charlton Athletic earlier in the week.

The visiting keeper dived to keep out Lloyd’s fizzing shot at his near post.

At the other end Effiong made no mistake with his second goal of the game.

The striker outmuscled his marker to latch onto Steven Rigg’s flick and though home stopper Ben Hinchcliffe saved his first effort, Effiong was on hand to volley the rebound into the bottom corner, his 13th strike of the campaign.

Effiong nearly had a first hat-trick for Dover after sprinting clear, only to fire into the side netting after Hinchliffe had come sprinting out of his goal.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started the 4-2 loss at Halifax on Tuesday evening.  Aaron Simpson and Munns replaced the ill Shadrach Ogie and Taylor, who started on the bench.

Ashley Maynard-Brewer, signed on loan from Charlton Athletic earlier in the week, was also handed a debut, with other recent loan signing Dominic Poleon named as a substitute.

Whites next host Barrow on Tuesday 4th February, kick-off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

STOCKPORT COUNTY REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”395″ gal_title=”Stockport County v DAFC 01/02/20″]

v

FC Halifax Town v Dover Athletic

Whites were on the wrong end of four goals in cold conditions at the MBi Shay Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men had twice fought back to level through a Jerome Binnom-Williams own goal and Michael Woods’ fine second half finish after Town had gone ahead through Devante Rodney and Binnom-Williams’ bullet header.

A comical Dover own goal by Will De Havilland handed the hosts the advantage and the win was sealed when Rodney grabbed his second.

Inih Effiong went close with the game just three minutes old, sending Woods’ ball fizzing narrowly past the wrong side of the post.

Dover’s top marksmen was not far off again minutes later, stabbing into the side netting following Jai Reason’s corner.

Bobby-Joe Taylor’s loose pass nearly resulted in the opener for the hosts, however Jack Redshaw could only fire his first-time volley into the side of the goalmouth.

The visitors were punished by the Shaymen’s next attack.

Away keeper Yusuf Mersin parried Rodney’s shot, after Redshaw’s next effort was blocked by the away backline, Rodney did not turn down a second invite to put his side ahead, slotting into the bottom corner.

However Athletic only had to wait seven minutes to level the scores.

Shadrach Ogie sent a swirling cross into the Halifax box, a ball that Binnom-Williams could only slot into his own net to level the scores.

With the game evenly matched, De Havilland flicked Reason’s free-kick narrowly off-target.

The away side then went close to taking the lead just before the restart.

Taylor started a counter-attack and after exchanging passes with Reason, fired at Sam Johnson, with Effiong unable to poke the ball past the home stopper.

Instead it the was Town who were ahead at the break.

A corner from Redshaw was met by Binnom-Williams as the big defender atoned for this earlier error by heading past Mersin.

Hessenthaler’s men game out firing in the second half and equalised within four minutes of kick-off.

Taylor passed to Reason and the midfielder spotted the run of Woods, who ran onto his teammate’s pass and slotted underneath Johnson.

Mersin then saved Jeff King’s fizzing shot at this near post and Rodney went close to getting his second, running clear and blasting narrowly over.

The Shaymen were back ahead in comical circumstances.

Cameron King’s dangerous ball across the goalmouth was cleared by Josh Passley, only to cannon off De Havilland and into the back of the net.

Jamie Allen was denied when Mersin’s fingertips stopped his cornerbound shot, but the substitute played a key role in Halifax’s fourth moments later.

The substitute evaded his marker and laid the ball for Rodney to slot in his second of the game.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler named the same side that started the 2-0 home win against Aldershot Town on Saturday.

Whites next travel to Stockport County on Saturday 1st February, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

v