League: National League

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

Leyton Orient v Dover Athletic

THREE second-half goals condemned Whites to a third consecutive National League defeat at Leyton Orient on Bank Holiday Monday.

An own goal from Kadell Daniel, along with late strikes from Josh Koroma and substitute Matt Harrold handed the O’s all three points at Breyer Group Stadium.

Earlier, Whites were on the front foot, with Daniel unfortunate to see his close-range shot blocked following Mitch Brundle’s corner.

At the other end of the pitch, visiting stopper Mitch Walker was able to grab hold of Charlie Lee’s header from Job McAnuff’s free-kick.

And it was the home side who almost went ahead on the quarter hour mark.

Koroma evaded the attention of Kevin Lokko, before firing a 25-yard curling effort narrowly wide of the top corner.

Daniel then collected Aryan Tajbakhsh’s pass, before swivelling and volleying into home goalie Dean Brill’s arms via a deflection.

Walker then had to stretch to prevent Miles Judd’s looping header from dipping in following a crossfield pass from Lee.

And Orient midfielder Lee was in the thick of the action soon after.

The 31-year old thundered a shot from the edge of the box, with Walker producing a fine save to keep the ball out of his net.

And Dover’s number one was one hand to catch James Dayton’s strike following a swift O’s counter-attack and was grabbed onto the same player’s low drive at the end of a frantic half.

But the whistle for the break had not been blown before the best chance of the game.

Lurking at the back post, Koroma latched onto Marvin Ekpiteta’s flick, only to see his volley spectacularly saved by Walker.

Jack Connors curled off target from Anthony Jeffrey’s pass inside.

At the start of the second half, Koroma struck the angle of post and bar following good work.

But the hosts did not have to wait long for their opening goal.

On 50 minutes, a short corner ended with Daniel deflecting Mcanuff’s Cross into his own net.

Lee went close to doubling the lead, volleying wide from distance and Daniel went close from range, firing just over.

And Josh Coulson was inches from scoring, just missing Koroma’s ball across the goalline.

Lokko headed Brundle’s pinpoint corner wide and Coulson nodded over from McAnuff’s set piece.

The home team looked the kill the game off with Koroma blazing wide from an angle.

But Orient had the three points sown up with five minutes of the match left.

Koroma ran onto Dayton’s through ball to slot past the onrushing Walker.

And Matt Harrold almost rounded things off in injury time, escaping his marker and shooting straight at Walker.

But the striker did get his goal with virtually the last kick of the match.

Harrold rose highest to head in Judd’s delivery as Athletic continued their search for a first clean sheet of the campaign.

Earlier, boss Chris Kinnear made two changes to the side that lost at Eastleigh two days previously. Jeffrey and Daniel replaced Inih Effiong and Nortei Nortey, who started as substitutes.

Dover next host Barnet on Saturday 1st September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

LEYTON ORIENT REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”265″ gal_title=”Leyton Orient v DAFC 27/08/18″]

3 v 0

Dover Athletic v Eastleigh FC

WHITES suffered back-to-back defeats after losing by a single goal to Eastleigh.

First-half goals from Ben Williamson and Paul McCallum had the visitors ahead at the break and though Mitch Brundle’s sublime second-half volley put Whites’ back in the game, Chris Kinnear’s men were unable to avoid their fourth loss of the current campaign.

Earlier, Williamson was first on target, forcing home stopper Mitch Walker down low with his snapshot.

But the striker was not to be denied on 18 minutes. Riley escaped down the right and passed for the onrushing Williamson to slam the ball into the roof of Walker’s net to open the scoring for the visitors.

Eastleigh forward Williamson continued to cause problems and had Walker at full stretch to tip his curling strike from the edge of the box around the post.

With just over half hour gone, Inih Effiong burst through and smashed a shot into the side netting.

But it was Eastleigh who doubled their lead on 37 minutes via another one of their strikers.

Josh Hare crossed from the right for McCallum to rise home and head past a helpless Walker.

Mark Yeates was off target after spotting Walker off his line and following the restart, Graham Stack saved well from Josh Passley and Allen touched the ball onto the post from Brundle’s corner.

And the hosts continued to pepper the Spitfires goal with Kevin Lokko blasting Jack Connors’ pinpoint cross just wide.

Allen could then only head Passley’s cross straight at Stack.

But the fightback was started by Mitch Brundle on 64 minutes.

Dover’s captain collected a loose ball from 25-yards and volleyed beautifully into the top corner.

Connors must have thought he had levelled five minutes from time for Dover, only for Joey Jones to clear his goalbound shot.

James Constable sprinted clear at the end to seal the win for Andy Hessenthaler’s men, only to skew wide when one on one with Walker.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the team that started at Fylde last weekend, with recent signing Aryan Tajbakhsh replacing the injured Bedsente Gomis.

Whites next travel to Leyton Orient on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”264″ gal_title=”DAFC v Eastleigh 25/08/18″]

1 v 2

AFC Fylde v Dover Athletic

DANNY Rowe’s double condemned Whites to a second consecutive defeat at Mill Farm on Saturday.

The National League marksmen fired the Coasters ahead just before the break as Chris Kinnear’s side continued their unwanted record of having lost every meeting against Dave Challinor’s team.

Joe Cardle had doubled the home side’s lead when his cross looped over Walker just after the break and James Hardy rounded things off in injury time, running clear and chipping an onrushing Mitch Walker.

Earlier, Andy Bond was first to strike on target for the home side, with Walker comfortably diving onto his low drive.

And Inih Effiong came close to scoring his first competitive goal for Whites just minutes later.

The striker curled a 20-yard effort goalwards, leaving Fylde keeper Jay Lynch with no choice but the tip the ball over the crossbar.

At the other end, Rowe somehow directed his free header from Cardle’s cross wide.

And Fylde thought they had opened the scoring on 14 minutes.

Neil Byrne headed in Cardle’s accurate centre, only for the linesman to disallow the effort for offside.

Cardle himself then tried his luck, escaping out on the right and dragging his shot wide of the far post as the hosts continued to apply heavy pressure.

But it was dangerman Rowe who opened the scoring on 41 minutes, controlling Lynch’s goal kick and firing past a statuesque Walker in the Dover goal.

Josh Passley prevented the Coasters from doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time, heading Ryan Croasdale’s header off the goalline.

But the lead was eventually doubled just two minutes after the restart in fortuitous circumstances.

Cardle’s cross from the right-hand side looped over Walker’s head and into the back of the net via the upright.

Connor Essam almost pulled one back with his head, but could only find the side-netting from Brundle’s corner.

Rowe then almost grabbed a second, fizzing his set-piece centimetres wide of the woodwork.

And Walker was on hand to fist away Danny Philliskirk’s piledriver following a swift Fylde counter attack.

But the game was over two minutes from time after Diarra clipped substitute Gime Toure in the box, leaving Rowe to slam in his fifth goal of the season from the spot.

And with the visitors pushing forward, Hardy rounded thing off at the end.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same starting line-up for a fifth consecutive game.

Whites next host Eastleigh on Saturday 25th August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

AFC FYLDE REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”263″ gal_title=”AFC Fylde v DAFC 18/08/18″]

4 v 0

Dover Athletic v Havant & Waterlooville

DOVER overturned a two-goal deficit to win 4-3 in a thriller at Crabble on Tuesday night.

Kevin Lokko headed in Mitch Brundle’s corner five minutes from the end to put Chris Kinnear’s men ahead for a second time in the match after conceding three quick-fire goals just after the break.

Whites had led by Nortei Nortey fine individual strike at half-time, but a Jamie Allen penalty and a stunning volley from Mitch Brundle levelled the scores at 3-3.

And with time running out, Lokko slotted in Brundle’s corner as Athletic registered their first win of the campaign at the fourth attempt.

Earlier, visiting keeper Ryan Young did enough to turn away Allen’s angled drive.

Havant’s number one was then a mere spectator a few minutes later as Nortey curled a sumptuous effort narrowly past the far post.

And Young played a major role in keeping the scores level on the half-hour mark.

The stopper was out quickly to deny Inih Effiong from close range and then pulled off a smart save to keep out Josh Passley’s fierce drive.

Mitch Walker then had to be alert to block Daniel Strugnell’s rocket before blocking Nicke Kabamba’s follow up, even though the striker was flagged offside.

And that save proved crucial as Dover went ahead on 36 minutes in spectacular fashion.

Nortey picked the ball up in midfield and unleashed an unstoppable curling strike over the head of Young from 35 yards.

Havant almost responded just before the break, a clever free-kick ended with Walker parrying a blaster from Lewis from the edge of the area.

But the game was turned on its head within minutes of the restart.

Walker parried substitute Alfie Pavey’s header, but Wes Fogden was on hand to nod in the rebound to level matters.

And the two players combined to put the Hawks ahead seconds later.

Fogen this time turned provider, crossing for Pavey, who directed his header into the bottom corner.

Athletic’s chances of earning their first points at Crabble this season took another dent a minute later.

Strugnell slung a ball into the area for the outstretched Lewis to prod the ball over a helpless Walker.

But Whites were given a lifeline on 65 minutes after Allen was felled in the box.

The striker picked himself up to slot in his third goal of the campaign.

Brundle then unleashed a long-range shot over the bar and Rory Williams was on hand to head Tim Schmoll’s goalbound header off the line.

The pressure continued and no Dover player was unable to get on the end of Jack Connors’ fizzed pass across the ball.

But Chris Kinnear’s men got a deserved equaliser from their captain with 13 minutes remaining.

Brundle crashed a 25-yard volley through a crowded area into the bottom corner to make the scores 3-3.

And the turnaround was completed on 84 minutes.

Brundle’s corner found it’s way to Lokko to fire Dover ahead and send the home crowd into a frenzy, even though Pavey almost scored in the dying seconds, blazing a free-kick a mere centimetres wide.

However, the home side held on to move up to 13th in the National League ladder.

Earlier, Kinnear named the same starting line-up for the fourth consecutive match.

Whites next travel to Fylde on Saturday 18th August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE REACTION

https://youtu.be/CFHkrw3ADw0

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”262″ gal_title=”DAFC v Havant & Waterlooville 14/08/18″]

4 v 3

Gateshead v Dover Athletic

A LATE winner from Luke Armstrong saw Whites leave Gateshead pointless.

The striker, on loan from Middlesbrough, blasted home his fourth goal of the season on 87 minutes after substitute Steve Rigg had an initial shot blocked.

Jamie Allen had put Dover ahead after 20 minutes, with Robbie Tinkler levelling for the home side nine minutes later.

Early on, Mike Williamson headed over Greg Olley’s corner on ten minutes.

And Armstrong went even closer moments later.

The forward robbed Mitch Brundle and sent a 25-yard screamer past the wrong side of visiting keeper Mitch Walker’s far post.

Dover’s goalie then had to be wary enough to stop Tom White’s looping cross from heading straight in.

But the opening goal of the afternoon came at the other end of the pitch.

Essam headed Brundle’s corner goalwards and Allen was on hand to flick the ball into the back of the net with the faintest of touches.

But the scores were level soon after.

Tinkler nodded Olley’s corner downwards and though Jack Connors was able to stick his foot in the way, the defender was unable to prevent the ball from spinning up and into the back of the net via the crossbar.

And the woodwork came to Athletic’s rescue three minutes later.

Williamson headed Olley’s cross onto the top of the bar as home team Heed pushed to move ahead for the first time in the match.

Following the restart, Cameron Salkeld sent a dangerous ball into the area, but no home player was able to take advantage.

Inih Effiong then poked wide from Connors’ pass into the box and Brundle sent a 20-yard free-kick narrowly over.

And towards the end of a low key second-half, Armstrong found space and drove home the winning goal.

There was almost even more late drama when sub Kadell Daniel saw his late free-kick fly narrowly wide.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same side that started the 2-2 draw at Bromley in midweek.

Whites next host Havant & Waterlooville on Tuesday 14th August, kick-off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

GATESHEAD REACTION

2 v 1

Bromley v Dover Athletic

A LATE penalty denied Dover a first win of the season in the Kent derby.

Tim Schmoll’s handball was duly punished by Frankie Sutherland’s fierce spot-kick two minutes from time after goals from Jamie Allen and Kevin Lokko had cancelled out Dan Johnson’s early opener for the hosts.

Whites almost made a great start, Allen lobbing wide after latching onto Mitch Brundle’s ball – instead, it was a perfect beginning for the home team after three minutes.

Defender Johnson strode forward and fired a deflected effort into the bottom corner of Mitch Walker’s net.

Dover responded and a long throw from Brundle, flicked on by Schmoll, almost reached Allen, but home keeper David Gregory was faster than Dover’s striker to the ball.

But Allen did not have the wait long for his first goal of the season.

Josh Passley’s exquisite pass found Brundle and after beating his man, Athletic’s skipper fizzed in a pass for Allen to slot in.

Gregory then needed to be at his best to stop the visitors taking a 2-1 lead.

The stopper stretched to tip Brundle’s 30-yard piledriver onto the top of the crossbar.

George Porter’s swirling volley flew past the wrong side of the post and Allen was furious to see the referee wave away the claims his header crossed the line.

Following the restart, Walker was quick off his line to beat Bobby-Joe Taylor to a long ball.

And Brundle went close once again, bustling through the Bromley defence and curling an effort narrowly off target.

The Dover pressure continued and a flowing move involving Nortei Nortey and Allen ended with Passley seeing his shot blocked at Gregory’s near post.

Jack Connors was in the right place on the back post to stop Omar Bugiel’s header from creeping in from a corner.

But Connors had a big say as Whites’ went ahead for the first time this season.

Substitute Reece Meechams kicked the ball against the defender, allowing Connors to whip in a ball for the lying-in-wait Lokko to slide home into the far corner.

Brundle had his hands on his head after his free-kick only just cleared the bar.

And substitute Kadell Daniel could only curl wide as Dover hit Bromley on the counter-attack.

Those misses proved costly as Sutherland converted his penalty to ensure the points were shared.

Earlier, boss Chris Kinnear named the same side that started the previous match against Wrexham.

Whites next travel to Gateshead on Saturday 11th August.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

BROMLEY REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”261″ gal_title=”Bromley v DAFC 07/08/18″]

2 v 2

Dover Athletic v Wrexham

WHITES were unable to make a winning start to their National League campaign after Mike Fondop’s spectacular first-half strike.

The striker, with his back to goal, converted Luke Summerfield’s cross to hand visitors Wrexham a first-ever win against Chris Kinnear’s men at the ninth attempt.

And Whites will feel they should have equalised, but away keeper Rob Lainton saved Inih Effiong’s spot-kick after the burly striker was fouled in the area just before the break.

Earlier, Paul Rutherford was the first to try his luck, firing wide from the edge of the box.

And Jamie Allen went even closer moments later, striking the top of the crossbar from 20-yards with a dipping effort.

Fondop’s rampaging run ending with a disappointing shot wide and great work from Summerfield ended with Luke Young scuffing an effort off target.

But it was Fondop who carried on his pre-season form with the first goal of the afternoon, though Dover almost bounced back with Bedsente Gomis and Kevin Lokko unable to convert their chances.

Whites almost responded immediately after the break, with Allen heading narrowly wide.

Walker then had to be alert to keep out James Jennings’ free-kick from floating straight in and also clasp onto Summerfield’s fiercely struck free-kick.

At the other end, Tim Schmoll headed a long throw-in into the arms of Lainton and Shaun Pearson went close to doubling the lead with two minutes to go, heading a corner goalwards, with Nortei Nortey on hand to clear the ball from danger.

Lainton dropped Jack Connors’ deep cross, but Kevin Lokko was unable to convert the rebound.

And the visiting stopper was at the centre of controversy with three minutes remaining.

After colliding with his own defender, Lainton spilt a high ball, which Allen gleefully slotting in, but the striker was adjudged to have fouled Pearson in the build up.

Earlier, Kinnear kept with the same side that played Woking in their final pre-season friendly last week.

Whites next travel to Bromley on Tuesday 7th August, kick-off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION