League: National League

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

Dover Athletic v AFC Fylde

WHITES’ title bid was dealt a blow following a single-goal loss to AFC Fylde at Crabble on Saturday.

Danny Rowe, currently top of the National League goalscorer charts, stunned a season-high home crowd of 2,860 – in attendance for the club’s second Community Day of the season, with a goal twelve minutes from the end.

The striker fired his eleventh of the campaign past Mitch Walker after capitalising on Manny Parry’s mistake as Chris Kinnear’s men slipped to a second consecutive defeat

Whites made a bright start and Zaine Francis-Angol nipped in ahead of James Alabi with the loanee waiting to pounce on Mitch Pinnock’s cross. Ryan Bird then headed straight at visiting keeper Jay Lynch from Pinnock’s accurate cross.

Andy Bond fired an effort straight at Walker and Dover’s stopper was able to grab onto Rowe’s low drive after evading a couple of challenges in the area.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco headed Mitch Brundle’s cross directly at Lynch and the Australian defender had another chance before the break but nodded his skipper’s back-post corner harmlessly over when well-placed.

After the break, Walker dived to block Bond’s piledriver, with the home stopper agile enough to catch Sam Finley’s rebound.

The hosts pressed for a winner but were unable to find a way past Lynch as the goalkeeper made a succession of impressive saves.

The goalkeeper tipped away Bird’s flicked header with Gallifuoco unable to head the rebound on target.

Then, an already diving Lynch lifted a glove to keep out Pinnock’s deflected shot after a run and pass by sub Anthony Jeffrey.

And the keeper turned Brundle’s goalbound free-kick around the post with some home fans already celebrating what seemed a certain goal.

But it Rowe who had the final say on the result.

As parry tried to dribble the ball out of defence, the attacker stole the ball off the defender and slotted in the winner in spite of Dover calls for a foul.

The result sees Whites drop to fifth in the standings, two points off top spot.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named an unchanged line-up from Tuesday’s defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Athletic next travel to Bromley on Saturday 2nd December. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”230″ gal_title=”DAFC v AFC Fylde 25/11/17″]

v

Dagenham & Redbridge v Dover Athletic

WHITES 10-match unbeaten league run came to an end following a narrow defeat at a rainy Victoria Road on Tuesday evening.

A first-half header from Morgan Ferrier and some stunning saves from home keeper Mark Cousins saw Dover relinquish their grip on top spot in the National League standings as Chris Kinnear’s men slipped into second place, two points behind new leaders Wrexham.

The Daggers almost took an early lead when Sam Ling snuck in at the far post to nod Corey Whitely’s zipped corner into the side netting.

Visitors Dover should have gone ahead two minutes later, but Cousin flung himself across his goalmouth to tip away James Alabi’s header after Mitch Brundle’s mishit volley fell kindly for the loanee.

The striker then blasted narrowly over following a powerful surge into the area.

Cousin’s opposite number Mitch Walker then performed his own acrobatics, stretching to divert John Robson’s dipping header from the edge of the box from underneath the crossbar.

But there was nothing Athletic’s stopper could do about the home side’s opener midway through the first half.

The impressive Ling latched onto Cousin’s inch-perfect throw and sent in a delicious ball for Ferrier to head home from close range.

Ling then blasted over from an acute angle and the winger forced Walker into a low save with a drilled effort from the edge of the box.

Dagenham’s keeper denied Alabi once again in first-half stoppage time. The attacker powered Mitch Pinnock’s pinpoint cross towards goal, only for Cousins to somehow claw the ball away to safety.

And the 30-year old goalie made his best save just after the break to prevent what seemed a certain equaliser for Whites.

Having beaten Jake Howells out wide, Pinnock’s goalward volley appeared destined for the top corner. But Cousins clearly had other ideas and was somehow able to turn the winger’s shot behind for a corner.

Walker then ensured his side stayed in the game, blocking Ferrier’s angled effort with Michael Cheek firing over the rebound.

And Cousins thwarted the visitors once again, smothering the ball before Pinnock could latch onto Nortei Nortey’s through ball.

Whitely’s strike from near the byline clipped the bar and the winger then forced Walker into a fingertip save with a curling effort.

And John Still’s team should have doubled their lead in injury time, but sub Dan Sparkes blasted past the post when put in the clear by Whitely.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the side that started away at Leyton Orient. Loui Fazakerley replaced the injured Josh Passley.

Athletic next face AFC Fylde at Crabble on Saturday 25th November at Crabble. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”229″ gal_title=”Dagenham & Redbridge v DAFC 21/11/2017″]

v

Leyton Orient v Dover Athletic

MITCH Walker’s spectacular late save preserved a hard-earned point for Whites at a rain-swept Brisbane Road on Saturday.

Athletic’s keeper blocked Macaulay Bonne’s point-blank header from six yards with his legs as Chris Kinnear’s men extended their unbeaten league run to 10 matches.

Nortei Nortey had curled the visitors ahead in the first half, but a deflected effort from Craig Clay 12 minutes from time had the O’s level.

The away side almost made the perfect start for when James Alabi bore down on goal following a mistake by Joe Widdowson, but home keeper Sam Sargeant, a late addition to the starting line-up after Orient’s first choice stopper Charlie Grainger injured himself in the warmup, denied the striker with his feet.

Bonne then nodded Alex Lawless’ corner narrowly over and at the other end, both Alabi and Ryan Bird were close to connecting to Femi Ilesanmi’s dangerous ball across the box.

Mitch Pinnock’s 30-yard free-kick dipped just wide of Sargeant’s goal and Clay blasted just wide in a breathless first quarter of an hour.

Former Premier League star Jobi McAnuff drilled just past the post and Alabi volleyed just over from a tight angle.

But Chris Kinnear’s men were not to be kept out for long and Nortey collected Alabi’s pass and fired past a diving Sargeant much to the delight of the 537 travelling fans.

McAnuff and Swindon loanee James Brophy struck efforts wide for Orient and Mitch Pinnock flicked Josh Passley’s pinpoint cross narrowly over.

Passley was then replaced by Loui Fazakerley five minutes before the break after an unfortunate collision with an advertising board following a 50-50 challenge.

And in first-half stoppage time, Walker dived low to push Brophy’s shot from outside the box to his right.

Dover’s keeper then tipped away Bonne’s header from a corner, but a goalmouth scramble ensued with Zimbabwe international Bonne poking an effort towards goal with Connor Essam clearing off the line.

But Leyton Orient’s pressure finally paid off as Clay run onto Brophy’s pass and found the net from inside the box via a deflection in spite of Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s best efforts to keep the ball out.

And the home team, with caretaker boss Russ Embleton in charge following the dismissal of Steve Davis as manager earlier in the week, almost snatched a late winner as Bonne leapt highest to meet James Dayton’s ball into the box, only to be denied by Walker.

McAnuff fired a free-kick narrowly over in injury time as Dover kept their place at the top of the table, one point clear of Wrexham in second spot.

Earlier, Kinnear kept with the same side that beat Eastleigh last week. Anthony Jeffrey, signed on loan from Sutton, started as a substitute.

Whites next travel to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday 21st November.  Kick off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

LEYTON ORIENT REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”228″ gal_title=”Leyton Orient v DAFC 18/11/17″]

v

Dover Athletic v Eastleigh FC

DOVER maintained their one-point lead at the summit of the National League table with victory against Eastleigh at Crabble on Saturday.

James Alabi and Connor Essam both grabbed their first goals of the season as Chris Kinnear’s men extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches.

Dover started strongly with Nortei Nortey drilling a 20-yard effort into the arms of visiting keeper Ross Flitney.

And the home side appeared refreshed following a two-week break with Alabi and skipper Mitch Brundle narrowly off target with shots from range.

Mitch Walker received a fright when Mark Yeates’ free-kick took a deflection, but the ball landed straight into the arms of the home keeper.

But normal service was resumed on the half-hour mark as Alabi grabbed his first goal in a Dover shirt.

The striker, on-loan from Tranmere, nodded in Mitch Pinnock’s long throw at the second attempt to put the leaders ahead.

Josh Passley then almost notched his first strike for Whites seconds later, but his curling effort fizzed agonisingly wide.

Some neat intricate play ended with captain Brundle volleying Femi Ilesanmi’s cross just wide as Athletic continued to pepper Flitney’s goal with shots.

Ilesanmi was indebted to Walker after Dover’s stopper denied Ben Williamson in the box after the Nigerian defender passed the ball straight to the attacker.

Flitney saved well top scorer Ryan Bird a 10th of the season, getting down quickly to palm the forward’s low drive away for a corner.

And following the restart, the visiting keeper had to be at his best deny Alabi.

The striker collected Pinnock’s throw, turned smartly and fired goalwards, but his strike was well blocked by Flitney.

But there was nothing Flitney could do about Dover’s second on 57 minutes. After Bravely blocking Essam’s header from a Brundle corner, he could only watch the sweeper slam home his first of the campaign from the rebound.

Alabi fired over after a lung-busting run and cross from Nortey and Ilesanmi’s drive from sub Kadell Daniel’s lay-off flashed wide of the mark.

Dover’s claims for a handball in the area against Callum Howe were waved away by the referee after a shot from Nortey appeared to bounce off the Lincoln loanee.

And Walker spectacularly tipped away Howe’s injury-time blast from the edge of the box.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that drew at Gateshead, with Ilesanmi returning to the starting line-up following suspension, replacing Loui Fazakerley who was a substitute.

Dover next travel to Brisbane Road to face Leyton Orient on Saturday 18th November.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

EASTLEIGH REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”227″ gal_title=”DAFC v Eastleigh 11/11/17″]

v

Gateshead v Dover Athletic

WHITES kept their place at the top of the league ladder after battling to a goalless draw in windy conditions at the International Stadium on Saturday.

Luke Hannant struck the bar once in each half for the hosts as Chris Kinnear’s men held on for a point in Gateshead manager Steve Watson’s first home game in charge.

With the wind in their favour before the break, Heed midfielder Hannant blazed over and Jordan Preston dragged wide, with both efforts coming from outside the area.

Jordan Burrows then volleyed over Scott Barrow’s cross from ten yards as the Tyne and Wear side continued to press.

Home keeper Dan Hanford blocked Ryan Bird’s stabbed effort at goal following a Mitch Pinnock knock-down and at the other end, Paddy McLaughlin blasted Burrows’ lay-off narrowly wide from 20-yards.

Bird blazed over Pinnock’s accurate cross from close range, but it was Gateshead who went closest midway through the half.

McLaughlin’s ball into the penalty area found Hannant in space and the midfielder’s volley looped over Mitch Walker and bounced off the underside of the bar into the grateful arms of Dover’s keeper.

Hannant then struck an effort inches past the wrong side of the post and in a rare Athletic attack at the other end of the pitch, Pinnock fired into the side-netting after beating Newcastle loanee Callum Williams for pace.

Hannant twice flashed balls across the box after the break, but out of reach of any of his teammates.

An unmarked Giancarlo Gallifuoco headed Mitch Brundle’s corner well wide and Dover’s skipper then curled a free-kick into Hanford’s arms.

Burrow headed Barrow’s long throw straight at Walker and the same striker then blasted sub Richard Peniket’s knock-down wide.

And Whites were almost flying back home to Kent without a point after Gateshead hit the woodwork for a second time.

Hannant rose highest to meet Burrows’ cross, but his header struck the crossbar and bounced out of play, much to the relief of Walker.

Earlier, Kinnear made two changes to the side that beat Woking 3-1 on Tuesday night at Crabble.  Loui Fazakerley replaced the suspended Femi Ilesanmi and Nortei Nortey came in for Paul Lewis, who returned to Cambridge following his loan.

Dover now have an extended break in the league, with their next game against Eastleigh at Crabble on Saturday 11th November.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

GATESHEAD REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”226″ gal_title=”Gateshead v DAFC 28/10/2017″]

v

Dover Athletic v Woking

WHITES soared back into top spot after beating promotion rivals Woking in an entertaining match at Crabble on Tuesday night.

Ryan Bird’s brace and a Manny Parry header two minutes after Joe Ward had reduced the deficit saw Chris Kinnear’s side move into first place on goal difference.

Anthony Limbrick’s men, looking to bounce back from defeat at Bromley three days earlier, fashioned the first chance with Josh Staunton heading Chez Isaac’s early corner narrowly wide.

Nathan Baxter was forced to tip over Mitch Brundle’s dipping volley, but there was nothing the visiting keeper could do about Bird’s fifth-minute opener.

The striker pounced at the back post to slot in his eighth of the season after Mitch Pinnock’s corner eluded all the yellow shirts in the box.

Brundle then tried his luck again from range, but this time the skipper’s lob cleared the crossbar.

On the counter-attack, Inih Effiong outpaced Manny Parry on the wing, but could only blast wide and James Alabi headed over Josh Passley’s cross at the other end.

After tackling Nathan Ralph, Passley surged into the penalty area and passed to Bird, but the goalscorer miskicked when well-placed.

But the forward made no mistake with his next chance on 21 minutes.

Pinnock’s long throw was inadvertently flicked on by Joey Jones into the path of Bird, who fired in his ninth of the campaign to move joint top of the National league scoring chart.

Woking went close before the break, but Jamie Philpott headed Ralph’s cross wide and then fired at Walker with a low drive.

Dover’s stopper also held onto Regan Charles-Cook’s curling shot, but his best efforts were not enough to prevent the away team from pulling a goal back on 52 minutes.

The keeper superbly denied Joe Ward following a clever pass from Effiong, but the ball ricocheted off Femi Ilesanmi and back into the striker’s path to reduce the arrears.

Pinnock unleashed a 30-yard sizzler that flew past the upright and Jordan Wynter was relieved to see his interception bounce over the bar following a dangerous run and cross by Alabi.

But Whites restored their two-goal cushion on 54 minutes as Parry rose highest at the far post to head in Pinnock’s deep corner.

Paul Lewis almost grabbed the hosts fourth of the evening, but Baxter tipped away the midfielder’s inswinging shot.

Jamie Philpot fired wide under pressure from Passley and Isaac blazed over from distance as Whites extended their unbeaten run to seven league matches.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the team that started Saturday’s draw with Maidenhead as Giancarlo Gallifuoco replaced Loui Fazakerley, who started as a substitute.

Dover travel next to Gateshead on Saturday 28th October. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

WOKING REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”225″ gal_title=”DAFC v Woking 24/10/2017″]

v

Dover Athletic v Maidenhead United

JAKE Hyde’s last-minute tap-in denied Whites a fourth consecutive league home win at a wet and windy Crabble on Saturday.

The striker pounced at the death to tap in sub Adrian Clifton’s knockdown following Rene Steer’s run and cross.

Ryan Bird’s header seemed to have secured the win for Chris Kinnear’s side.  The striker headed sub Kadell Daniel’s deep cross back across visiting keeper Carl Pentney and into the net via the post.

Moses Emmanuel fired over a volley from close-range and Dean Inman had the game’s first shot on target, heading a long throw straight at Dover keeper Mitch Walker.

The home stopper was then quick off his line to grab the ball from Emmanuel after Hyde’s cross deflected into the striker’s path.

Mitch Brundle tricked past his marker, but his low curling effort was comfortably held by Pentney.  Dover’s skipper then let fly from twenty-yards, this time narrowly missing the post.

Walker beat away Alan Massey’s tight drive and Hyde blazed wide after following up on Inman’s initial shot, which deflected into his path.

Mitch Pinnock’s low goalbound drive was cleared away by Massey and Manny Parry nodded a corner from the winger wide shortly after.

Jake Goodman’s turn and shot seemed to catch Walker off-guard, with the ball striking the bar and bouncing over much to the relief of the Whites keeper.

Bird opened the scoring and Dover had further opportunities to seal victory.

Daniel struck the outside of the post with a vicious 25-yard drive and Paul Lewis aimed too high with a shot from outside the box.

Bird fired into the side-netting and then flicked Daniel’s pass the wrong side of the post with Pentney beaten.

But Hyde had the final say with the last kick of the game following a scramble in the box.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to the side that started at Bromley on Tuesday night.  James Alabi made his debut having signed on-loan from Tranmere Rovers, with Loui Fazakerley and Lewis also starting.

Nortey Nortey and Daniel started as substitutes, with Giancarlo Gallifuoco missed out through injury.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”224″ gal_title=”DAFC v Maidenhead United 21/10/17″]

v

Torquay United v Dover Athletic

A HEADED goal in each half from Paul Lewis and Ryan Bird saw Dover run out comfortable winners at bottom-of-the-table Torquay at a windy Plainmoor on Saturday.

Cambridge loanee Lewis nodded in Mitch Pinnock’s cross after six minutes to give Chris Kinnear’s men an early lead and Bird powered in Jamie Allen’s assist off both the bar and home goalkeeper Vincent Dorel to double the advantage in the 64th minute as Athletic extended their unbeaten run to five games.

After the visitors had gone in front, Pinnock headed Passley’s cross harmlessly over and was then denied by the woodwork minutes later.

The wideman struck the underside of the crossbar with a fierce volley after latching onto Femi Ilesanmi’s lobbed pass.

Lewis thought he had doubled the lead after flicking in Bird’s shot, but the linesman chalked off his effort for offside and the midfielder was booked for protesting.

Ryan Higgins fired well wide from 20-yards and at the other end Bird nodded Allen’s cross just wide just before the break.

Luke Young drove a free-kick into Mitch Walker’s arms a minute before Bird struck Dover’s second.

The points were almost secured when Giancarlo Gallifuoco struck the post against his old side from sub Kadell Daniel’s corner.

Daniel then tried his luck with an audacious volley that flew into the arms of Gulls stopper Dorel.

Jamie Reid’s blast into the side netting summed up a disappointing day in front of goal for United.

The win sees Whites remain second in the standings, one point below current leaders Macclesfield Town.

Earlier, boss Kinnear kept the same side that started at Sutton on Tuesday night. Aziz Deen-Conteh replaced Tobi Sho-Silva on the bench, who missed out through injury.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”221″ gal_title=”Torquay United v DAFC 07/10/2017″]

v

Sutton United v Dover Athletic

MANNY Parry scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to grab a point for Athletic in an exciting encounter at the Knight’s Community Stadium on Tuesday night.

The defender reacted quickest in the box to fire home after Connor Essam had headed sub Kane Richards’ deep cross back into the goalmouth.

Chris Kinnear’s men had taken a first-half lead through Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s smart turn and shot, but two stunning strikes from Tommy Wright and Keiron Cadogan after the break put the hosts in front until Parry struck.

The visitors started brightly with Ryan Bird heading Josh Passley’s pin-point cross wide and Paul Lewis firing past the post via a deflection.

Home keeper Jamie Butler was out quickly to block Jamie Allen after the forward found himself in space, with Bird’s follow-up cleared off the line.

The stopper then acrobatically tipped away Femi Ilesanmi’s header as Whites continued to press.

And that pressure paid off as Gallifuoco struck on 36 minutes.

The Australian controlled Mitch Pinnock’s free-kick, before swivelling and firing past a helpless Butler to grab his third of the season.

Mitch Walker had to tip over United’s first shot on target – a set-piece from Simon Walton just before half-time.

Following the restart, Gallifuoco drove forward and tested Butler with a low drive and Sutton manager Paul Doswell introduced striker Wright from the bench on 68 minutes.

And the substitute made an immediate impact, arrowing a volley into the top corner from the edge of the box two minutes after entering the action.

Ross Lafayette tested Walker moments later with a stinging drive, but the host’s turnaround was complete on 80 minutes.

Cadogan’s 20-yard volley flew through a crowded area and flashed past Walker before the Dover stopper could react.

But Parry had the final say as Whites dropped one place in the table, a point behind new leaders Macclesfield Town.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the side that beat Solihull Moors on Saturday.  Allen started in place of Kadell Daniel, who started as a substitute.

Athletic’s next league match sees them travel to Torquay United on Saturday 7th October. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SUTTON UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”220″ gal_title=”Sutton United v DAFC 03/10/17″]

v

Dover Athletic v Solihull Moors

RYAN Bird’s late goal put Dover back onto top spot and sent a bumper Crabble crowd home happy.

In front of a season-high of 2,795, the striker powered home Cambridge loanee Paul Lewis’ cross in the 81st minute to finally break the deadlock.

Bird had volleyed high and wide early on and Mitch Brundle was off target with a low drive as the home team took the game to the visitors.

Moors’ keeper Nathan Vaughan tipped over Mitch Pinnock’s fierce free-kick after Kadell Daniel had been felled just outside the box.

Pinnock then tried his luck with an acrobatic overhead kick that bounced the wrong side of Vaughan’s post.

A spectator for much of the half, home goalie Mitch Walker was quick off his line to deny Shepherd Murombedzi from poking the ball underneath his body.

The stopper then palmed away the same player’s strike from the edge of the area shortly after Mitch Brundle’s cross-cum-shot eluded both Manny Parry and Daniel at the other end of the pitch.

Joe Payne fired wide after the break for the away side and Pinnock’s header had Vaughan scrambling across his goalline to catch the ball.

Captain Brundle thought he had given his side the lead following a rampaging run from his own half, but his shot deflected agonisingly wide of the post.

But Athletic finally made the breakthrough thanks to Bird and the lead was almost doubled minutes later.

Lewis’ scorching drive from Brundle’s lay-off whistled the wrong side of the post leaving the home side to hang on for the remaining few minutes.

And Whites were nearly punished in injury time.

Firstly Darren Carter curled over a free-kick and goalkeeper Vaughan – up for a Solihull corner, headed over when well placed.

But Chris Kinnear’s men held firm until the final whistle to secure all three points.

Earlier, Dover’s boss made one change to the side that started at Guiseley last weekend as Lewis replaced Nortei Nortey, who started on the bench.

Whites next travel to Sutton United on Tuesday 3rd October.  Kick off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”219″ gal_title=”DAFC v Solihull Moors 30/09/17″]

v