League: National League

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

Andy Hessenthaler

Whites’ gaffer Hessenthaler returned to Crabble in October 2018.

A combative midfielder on the pitch for the likes of Watford, Gillingham and Barnet, Hessenthaler had great success as Athletic’s player-boss between 2007 and 2010, winning back-to-back promotions to take Dover from the Ryman South division to the Conference South.

And after ending the 2009/10 season as runners-up in the second tier of non-league, Hessenthaler returned to Gillingham as boss for two campaigns, steering the Gills to two consecutive eighth-place finishes in League Two.

A third stint at Gillingham followed two seasons later, this time as assistant boss, a similar role he held at Leyton Orient the following year, before being made manager at Brisbane Road in 2016.

Dismissed by the O’s later that same year, it wasn’t long before Hessenthaler was back in football, joining Eastleigh before the start of the 2017/18 season, initially as assistant manager, before taking over from Richard Hill as boss just eight months after joining the club.

Hessenthaler left the Spitfires 15 games into the 2018/19 campaign for a Dover side second-bottom of the National League on seven points.

Athletic were not in the relegation zone for long as Hessenthaler successfully steered the club to safety with three games to spare, as Dover finished last season in 13th place on 60 points.

Harrogate Town v Dover Athletic

AN INJURY-TIME leveller from Kelvin Langmead denied Andy Hessenthaler a debut win in the first match of his second spell in charge of Dover.

Two second-half strikes from Inih Effiong cancelled out Aaron Williams first-half opener for the home side, but Langmead stooped to head home in the fifth minute of time added on.

And Anthony Jeffrey was sent off a minute later for his part in a confrontation with George Thomson.

Earlier, Dover’s first chance fell to Kevin Lokko, with the defender volleying over Jeffrey’s corner.

And visiting keeper Mitch Walker was needed soon after to keep Liam Kitching at bay.

Walker denied Harrogate’s 19-year old, before palming the ball away before any of the home players could follow up.

But the hosts were ahead on 26 minutes.

A free-kick from Muldoon was headed back across goal by Callum Howe into the path of Aaron Williams to slot his side in front from just a few yards.

Walker fisted away Joe Leesley’s swerving shot as Whites went into the break a goal down.

But that stat changed just after the restart thanks to Effiong’s first goal for Dover.

After Jeffrey had beaten his man out wide, Effiong collected the winger’s pass and fired low past Belford.

The striker then almost put Athletic in front just moments later, cutting inside and striking just wide of the post.

And Effiong also had an impact at the other end of the pitch, heading off the line from a Harrogate corner.

Another chance for Dover saw Jamie Allen strike the crossbar, volleying Effiong’s deep cross into the ground and onto the woodwork.

But striker Effiong was not finished yet.

The forward doubled his tally of the season, running into the penalty area before planting the ball into the bottom corner.

Josh Falkingham forced Walker into a smart save from range, diving onto the home captain’s long-range drive.

And Walker then rescued the away team with a fine stop.

Howe rose highest to meet a corner, only to see the keeper acrobatically tip the ball over the bar.

But Whites were unable to hold out for the three points as Langmead headed in a Kitching’s cross.

And the away team ended the match with ten men after Jeffrey was given his marching orders following a skirmish with Thomson.

However, the red card had little impact with the referee calling for time on an entertaining match just seconds later.

Earlier, Hessenthaler kept just four players from the side that started against Salford last week, including debuts for Stuart Lewis and Josh Debayo, who signed permanently from Maidstone and on loan from Cheltenham respectively.

Whites next travel to Concord Rangers in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifier on Saturday 20th October, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HARROGATE TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”275″ gal_title=”Harrogate Town v DAFC 13/10/18″]

2 v 2

Dover Athletic v Salford City

A HAT-TRICK from Adam Rooney saw Whites well beaten by top-of-table Salford at Crabble on Saturday.

Two quick-fire strikes in the first half, followed by a tap-in to cancel out Bedsente Gomis strike for Whites just after the break saw the forward move clear at the top of the National League goalscoring charts.

And an error from home keeper Mitch Walker saw Carl Piergianni head in a corner to complete the scoring as Athletic’s first game since the dismissal of Chris Kinnear as manager ended in defeat.

Earlier, Mitch Brundle was first to try his luck, forcing visiting keeper Chris Neal into a low save with a 20-yard strike.

And George Smith drove inches wide from a similar distance as Whites started the game brightly.

At the other end, Rory Gaffney escaped down the left, but the angle was too tight for the striker to find the target.

And Tom Walker crashed Rooney’s pass wise after the forward’s initial shot was bravely blocked by Ejiro Okosieme.

But the league leaders were ahead on 17 minutes thanks to dangerman Rooney.

The striker prodded the ball into the bottom corner following good work from Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick, with the winger beating Bradley Barry for pace and passing inside for the forward to bag his tenth goal of the season.

And Rooney’s eleventh arrived two minutes later.

The attacker beat his marker the far post to head Danny Whitehead’s cross past a statuesque Mitch Walker in the Dover goal.

Okosieme nearly halved the arrears, heading Brundle’s corner into the side netting.

Walker then denied Gaffney with his chest after the striker cut inside and fired on target.

But Dover were back in the game six minutes after the restart thanks to Gomis.

Sub Loui Fazakerley crossed for the Frenchman to slide home his first goal for the club.

But Salford’s two-goal cushion was restored just five minutes later as Rooney netted his first National League treble.

A combination or Okisieme and Walker cleared Scott Wiseman’s low volley as far as Carl Piergianni, whose low shot was steered into the net from just yards out by the poacher.

And the Lancashire side added a fourth on 65 minutes.

Defender Piergianni headed Lloyd-McGoldrick’s corner goalwards, but a misjudgement from Walker allowed the ball to bounce over the line.

Mark Shelton almost made it five goals for City, but he poked Wiseman’s cross narrowly wide.

Earlier, caretaker manager Jake Leberl made four changes to the side that started against Barrow last week. Jack Connors, Nortei Nortey, Kadell Daniel, Bradley Barry all started in place of Josh Passley, Moussa Diarra, Tim Schmoll and Inih Effiong.

Whites next league match is away to Harrogate Town on Saturday 13th October. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SALFORD CITY REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”273″ gal_title=”DAFC v Salford City 6/10/18″]

1 v 4

Dover Athletic v Barrow

SUBSTITUTE Jack Hindle’s brace saw Whites’ extend their winless run in the National League to ten matches.

The midfielder’s bagged two goals as Chris Kinnear’s men suffered back-to-back losses at Crabble.

Barrow had the first shot of the game early on, John Rooney forcing home keeper Mitch Walker into a fingertip save from the edge of the box.

And George Smith, later taken to hospital following a nasty collision, let fly shortly afterwards for Dover, narrowly clearing the crossbar.

Calls for a foul on Bedsente Gomis were waved away, allowing Carroll-Burgess to slip in Tyler Smith, though Walker was able to clutch onto the striker’s low shot.

A slip by Rory Holden almost let in Inih Effiong, but the referee adjudged the big forward to have fouled the defender.

But it was the visitors who almost had the lead five minutes before the break.

Josh Kay’s immaculate first touch and cross found Caroll-Burgess to fire an effort on target, only for Smith to divert the midfielder’s shot just wide.

Walker beat away Kay’s fierce driver after the break and Athletic’s keeper was relieved to see Connor Brown’s cross find the side netting following a quickly taken free-kick.

Rory Holden’s dragged a shot well wide and Tobi Sho-Silva could only fire straight at Andrew Firth when found in space by Effiong.

Sub Jamie Allen almost scored with his first touch, but misdirected Moussa Diarra’s cross.

And defender Diarra went close to scoring on the hour mark.

The Frenchman rose highest to meet Mitch Brundle’s ball, only to find Firth in the way.

Hindle pounced on Bedsente Gomis’ misplaced but Walker bravely blocked his effort.

But the substitute was not to be denied as he opened the scoring on 70 minutes.

Hindle was in the right place to tap in after Kay’s slid Smith’s cross goalwards.

And it was almost two following a lightning-quick counter-attack, but Walker rescued Dover with a fine block to deny Hindle.

Firth acrobatically denied sub Kadell Daniel’s curling 25-yard free kick, but three points were heading to Barrow thanks to the man Hindle again.

The winger fired low into the corner following another Barrow break ending with Smith finding his teammate.

And with all three substitutions made, an injury to Diarra saw Whites’ finish the match with ten men.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that drew on Sutton on Tuesday night. Gomis and Sho-Silva replaced Dave Smith and the suspended Aryan Tajbakhsh.

Dover next host Salford City on Saturday, October 6th, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

BARROW REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”272″ gal_title=”DAFC v Barrow 29/09/2018″]

0 v 2

Sutton United v Dover Athletic

A LATE goal from Tim Schmoll saw ten-man Whites came back from two goals down to draw at Sutton United.

Schmoll headed in off the crossbar three minutes from time after home keeper Jamie Butler had parried sub Kadell Daniel’s volley.

Sutton had raced into a two-goal lead within 20 minutes, though Mitch Brundle pulled one back before the break from the penalty spot.

Aryan Tajbakhsh was shown a red card with ten minutes remaining, but Chris Kinnear’s men fought back to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

It was the worst possible for the visitors after two minutes.

Tommy Wright broke clear and though keeper Mitch Walker was able to parry his strike, the rebound fell for Craig Eastmond to gleefully tap in.

And the lead was doubled as the hosts deservedly went two goals up on 17 minutes.

A corner from the right was met firmly by the head of Nicky Bailey who planted the ball powerfully into the corner.

Josh Passley headed over George Smith’s well-placed header and at the other end, Bailey’s swirling set piece bounced narrowly wide.

However, Dover were handed a lifeline ten minutes before half-time.

Mitch Brundle’s shot was handled by Eastmond in the area, leaving Dover’s skipper to send Sutton keeper Jamie Butler the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Inih Effiong fired wide on the turn and George Smith volleyed straight down the throat of Butler.

Following the restart, Walker was across his line quickly to turn away Bailey’s free-kick.

And Walker was needed once more to thwart the same player, this time acrobatically saving the midfielder’s pile-driver

Sub Tobi Sho-Silva then went even closer to scoring.

The striker’s overhead kick crashed onto the bar with Butler rooted to the spot.

Charlie Clough volleyed wide for United and Dover’s task was made more difficult when Aryan Tajbakhsh was shown a straight red card.

The midfielder was given his marching orders following a strong challenge on Bailey.

But the ten men of Dover were able to find a late equaliser.

Sub Kadell Daniel’s volley was parried upwards by Butler, but the lurking Schmoll was there to head in off the bar to send the travelling fans wild.

Earlier, Chris Kinnear made three changes to the side that lost at Aldershot on Saturday. Dave Smith, Inih Effiong and Ejiro Okosieme replaced Jamie Allen, Tobi Sho-Silva and Bradley Barry.

Whites next host Barrow on Saturday 29th September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”271″ gal_title=”Sutton United v DAFC 25/09/18″]

2 v 2

Aldershot Town v Dover Athletic

A DEBUT brace from Adam May saw Whites remain at the bottom of the National League table.

The Portsmouth loanee scored in each half as Chris Kinnear’s men suffered back-to-back defeats.

Midfielder May almost had a dream start for his new club, hitting the bar from close range from Dominic Bernard’s cross with less than a minute gone.

But the 22-year old didn’t have long to wait for his first Shots goal.

The loan signing fired in Bernard’s accurate pass to put the home side ahead on 18 minutes.

Jamie Allen couldn’t beat home keeper Jake Cole from an angle, while the stopper was well placed to hold on to Tobi Sho-Silva’s low drive.

Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong cut inside and fired narrowly wide as the hosts pushed to double their lead.

Following the restart, Berkeley-Agyepong found May in space, but Mitch Walker was out quickly to deny the player.

But a goal on the counter-attack midfielder May grabbed his second for his new side on 66 minutes.

Berkeley-Agyepong broke clear and found the midfielder who tapped in at the back post.

Sub Nortei Nortey could not beat Cole from distance as Dover were unable to find a way back into the match and extended their winless run to eight matches.

Earlier, Chris Kinnear made four changes to the side that started against Solihull last week. Aryan Tajbakhsh returned from suspension to replace Nortey Nortei, Josh Passley and Jamie Allen came back from injury for Ejiro Okosieme and Anthony Jeffrey, while new loan signing Bradley Barry replaced Kadell Daniel.

Dover next travel to Sutton on Tuesday 25th September, kick-off 7:45 pm

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

ALDERSHOT TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”270″ gal_title=”Aldershot v DAFC 22/09/18″]

2 v 0

Dover Athletic v Solihull Moors

WHITES slipped to the bottom of the National League ladder after two second-half goals saw their Midland visitors run out winners at Crabble on Saturday.

Jermaine Hylton and Danny Wright both found the net to condemn Chris Kinnear’s men to their seventh defeat of the season.

George Smith broke clear early on but blasted a shot low and into the arms of visiting goalie Ryan Boot.

And home stopper Mitch Walker was alert to clutch onto Liam Daly’s header on the quarter hour mark.

Walker was called into action again when a slick one-two between Darren Carter and Kwame Thomas ended with the latter seeing his drive saved at the near post.

Kadell Daniel’s cross-cum-shot just evaded the far target and the same player’s corner saw Ejiro Okosieme head against the top of the bar.

Jamey Osborne’s long-range effort was well off target and following the restart, Kadell Daniel was inches away to converting Anthony Jeffrey’s cross.

Nortei Nortey curling strike forced Boot to tip the ball wide before the stopper was able to gather at the second attempt.

Thomas then found himself with the goal at his mercy following Wright’s ball into the area but was denied by brave Dover defending.

But the visitors did grab the opening goal on 72 minutes. Mitch Walker’s clearance was heading back into the path of the onrushing Hylton to volley home, in spite of protests of offside from the home team.

And the lead was doubled six minutes later.

Wright took advantage of some slack Dover defending to pick his spot from the edge of the area.

Substitute Dave Smith fired at Boot late on and another sub, this time Moors’ Adi Yussuf, saw his placed effort turned away by Walker.

But Tim Flowers’ side held on to leave Whites’ still awaiting their second win of the season.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made four changes to the side that started at Chesterfield last week.

Okosieme and Daniel replaced the injured duo of Josh Passley and Jamie Allen. George Smith, ineligible to play against Chesterfield last week, returned in place of Jack Connors and Nortey came in for the suspended Aryan Tajbakhsh.

Whites next travel to Aldershot on Saturday 22nd September, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”269″ gal_title=”DAFC v Solihull Moors 15/09/18″]

0 v 2

Chesterfield v Dover Athletic

TEN-MAN Whites gained their first clean sheet of the season with a goalless draw at Chesterfield, though the points almost stayed at the Proact Stadium in a dramatic finale.

After Aryan Tajbakhsh was shown a second booking, both Bradley Barry and Curtis Weston struck the woodwork in the dying moments.

It was almost the dream start for Chris Kinnear’s men as Tim Schmoll, diving at full stretch, headed over Mitch Brundle’s cross following a short corner.

And Lee Shaw blazed over from inside the area for the hosts after some trickery from Joe Rowley.

Brundle’s 20-yard shot lacked the power needed to trouble home keeper Shwan Jalal.

But Mitch Walker in the Dover goal had to produce a fine save on 25 minutes.

Schmoll’s well-timed tackle on Curtis Weston in the area fell for Shaw, but a combination of Walker and Moussa Diarra kept out the forward’s angled drive.

Chigozi Ugwu struck a 25-yard effort straight down the throat of Walker just before the break.

Following the restart, Binnom-Williams nodded Rowley’s corner inches over.

And set piece taker Rowley smashed sub Zavon Hines pass wide of the angle in a bright start from Martin Allen’s men.

Schmoll and Tajbakhsh fired over from distance for Whites, but the best opportunity of the match so far came at the other end.

Barry’s devilish cross ended with Walker denying the lying-in-wait Rowley at his near post in spectacular fashion.

Sub Kadell Daniel’s shot with his first touch was no match for Jalal and Walker tipped Hines’ fierce drive around the post.

And Michael Nelson almost scored from the resultant corner, scuffing wide when well placed at the back post.

Athletic ended the game a man light as Tajbakhsh was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence in injury time.

And it almost proved costly as the hosts struck the post and crossbar seconds before the final whistle.

Barry headed against the post from a cross with Walker somehow touching Weston’s rebound shot onto the bar, seconds before the referee called time on the game.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that drew with Ebbsfleet. Anthony Jeffrey and Jack Connors replaced sub Nortei Nortey and George Smith, ineligible to face his parent club.

Whites next host Solihull Moors on Saturday 15th September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

CHESTERFIELD REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”268″ gal_title=”Chesterfield v DAFC 08/09/18″]

0 v 0

Dover Athletic v Ebbsfleet United

CONNOR Essam’s first-half equaliser saw Whites end run of four consecutive National League defeats against Kent rivals Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night.

The defender headed in Mitch Brundle’s free-kick to cancel out Darren McQueen’s early goal.

Ebbsfleet almost opened the scoring early on, Myles Weston’s cross-cum-shot narrowly clearing the crossbar.

But the visitors were not to be denied an opening goal and took the lead on 12 minutes.

McQueen skipped past Moussa Diarra, with his shot from the edge of the area deflecting off Tim Schmoll’s foot and skidding under the body of the diving Mitch Walker.

Brundle’s aim was too high after latching onto Moussa Diarra’s knock down.

Dean Rance then connected powerfully to Jack Powell’s corner, but his header was just off target.

And Athletic made their opponents pay for that missed chance with the leveller on 34 minutes.

Essam stole a march on Jack King to nod in his second goal of the season from Brundle’s set piece.

Nortei Nortey tried to put Dover ahead but fired George Smith’s assist tamely at away keeper Nathan Ashmore.

Following the restart, substitute Sam Magri headed downwards and wide from Weston’s cross.

And in a half of few chances, Sean Shields’ whipped strike almost caught Walker out but found the side netting.

Sub Inih Effiong’s shot didn’t quite match his surging run from deep and at the other end of the pitch, Fleet sub Danny Kedwell headed Shield’s ball inches above the crossbar.

And Smith almost won the game for Whites in injury time.

The Chesterfield loanee saw his strike palmed away by Ashmore after Chris Bush had ended Josh Passley’s lung-busting run with the ball running for the left back to strike the ball on goal.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that started against Barnet on Saturday. Tobi Sho-Silva and Moussa Diarra replaced Kevin Lokko and Ntumba Massanka.

Dover next travel to Chesterfield on Saturday 8th September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

EBBSFLEET UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”267″ gal_title=”DAFC v Ebbsfleet 04/09/18″]

1 v 1

Dover Athletic v Barnet

MITCH Brundle’s second-half header was not enough as Whites went down to a fourth consecutive National League defeat.

First-half goals from Jack Barham and Byron Harrison had the away side ahead at the break and though skipper Brundle pulled one back, the Bees held on to leave Athletic rooted in the bottom four of the league ladder.

And Whites’ bid to get their season back on track took a dent in the third minute.

Barham was quickest to react to Harrison’s knockdown and after sprinting clear of the Dover defence, curled the ball into the top corner.

And the mood around Crabble was further dampened on 26 minutes.

Harrison released Barham and though Walker saved the midfielder’s initial shot, striker Harrison was on hand to head home the resultant cross back into the area.

Tim Schmoll headed straight at visiting keeper Mark Cousins from Aryan Tajbakhsh’s lay-off.

And following the restart, Charlee Adams tested Walker with a stinging volley.

But Chris Kinnear’s men were handed a lifeline on 65 minutes.

Josh Passley swung in a cross from the right for skipper Brundle to nod into the bottom corner.

And substitute Anthony Jeffrey almost levelled, blasting fellow sub Inih Effiong’s ball to him into the side netting.

Cousins saved well from Brundle’s accurate free-kick and at the other end, Walker was alert enough to prevent a swift Barnet counter-attack, grabbing the ball off Tutonda’s toes.

And a third straight win for John Still’s Bee’s was almost secured with ten minutes remaining.

Cheye Alexander cut inside Schmoll and drilled an effort onto the bottom of the post, before sub Josh Walker scuffed wide.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to the side that started at Leyton Orient on Monday. Nortei Nortey, along with new loan signings Ttumbu Massanka and George Smith, replaced Jack Connors, Kadell Daniel and Jeffrey.

Dover next host Ebbsfleet on Tuesday 4th September. Kick off 7:45 pm

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION