First team coach Mark Newson analyses Dover’s 3-0 friendly win over Margate at Crabble on Saturday.
Category: Club News
VIDEO: TRAINING GROUND CHAT
Striker Ryan Bird on his friendship with Connor Essam, his goals for and against Hartlepool United and how he’s settling into life at Crabble.
NORTEY JOINS WHITES
Former Chelsea youngster Nortei Nortey has signed for Dover after impressing boss Chris Kinnear during the pre-season campaign.
The midfielder, who joined the Blues as 14-year-old before being released by the Premier League side aged 19, has put pen-to-paper on a one year deal.
After leaving Chelsea, the now 22-year-old Londoner has spent time playing in the National League for Welling United, Wrexham and Solihull Moors.
He made 32 league appearances for Welling in the 2015/16 season before playing six games for Wrexham at the start of last season.
Nortey then joined Solihull where he made 18 appearances, including coming on as substitute against Dover in the 0-0 draw at Crabble last March.
He will wear the number 18 shirt this season.
Welcome to Dover Nortei!!
WHITES SIGN ADEBOWALE
Dover have bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of imposing youngster Emmanuel Adebowale.
The 6ft 5in 19-year-old central defender (pictured in action against Tonbridge Angels on Monday) has signed a two-year deal after impressing during pre-season.
Born and raised in Stratford, Manny as he is known, came through the ranks at West Ham United before joining League One side Sheffield United on a two-year scholarship in the summer of 2013.
While he was with the Blades, Adebowale, also spent spent time on loan with Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division South clubs Goole AFC and Sheffield FC.
He will wear the number 15 shirt for Dover.
Welcome to Crabble Manny!!
VIDEO: ASSISTANT MANAGER REACTION
Assistant boss Jake Leberl gives his thoughts after seeing Dover beat Welling United 5-0 in their latest friendly on Tuesday night at Crabble.
FIVE GOAL WHITES CLIP WINGS
Jamie Allen scored twice as Dover eased past Welling United at Crabble on Tuesday night.
Allen (Pictured) and Femi Ilesamni grabbed their first goals for the club, with Ryan Bird and Mitch Pinnock also on the scoresheet as boss Chris Kinnear’s side registered their third win in four days.
The visitors, featuring former Athletic players Joe Healy, Jack Parkinson and Sean Francis, had the first chance of the match when Alfie Pavey’s angled effort was blocked by Mitch Walker and Dover’s stopper was quickest to the rebound.
The home side’s opener came from their first attack on the half hour mark.
Ryan Bird collected Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s deft through ball and fired into the bottom corner from inside the box.
The big striker turned provider for Allen minutes later. The diminutive forward latched onto Bird’s flick on, but was forced wide by a sprawling Chris Lewington.
Still with the ball, the forward passed for the onrushing Josh Passley to shoot, but the right back’s powerful strike was blocked by Welling’s goalkeeper.
Athletic doubled their lead just before the break thanks to Ilesamni, with Bird glancing Passley’s cross into the path of the wing back to sidefoot into the bottom corner.
The onslaught on the visiting defence continued after the restart.
Lewington tipped away Kane’s Richard’s curling effort after the winger pounced on Jack Parter’s error.
Connor Essam prodded over Manny Parry’s knock down from a Mitch Brundle corner and Richards went close again, this time heading wide Passley’s cross.
Athletic’s third arrived on 70 minutes, Richard’s skilfully beating his man and finding Allen free in the box to head home.
And the former Southport man grabbed another just three minutes later, sprinting clear and firing in thanks to another fine assist from Richards.
Bird seized upon a misplaced pass from Ben Jefford, only for Lewington to deny the former Newport man.
However, the rout was completed in injury time as Mitch Pinnock slotted in from close range.
Earlier, Kinnear made 10 changes from Monday night’s 2-0 win at Tonbridge Angels with Gallifuoco the only player to start both games.
Tobi Sho-Silva, Mitch Pinnock, George Essuman and Chris Barnard all dropped on the bench having started the previous evening.
Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesamni (Triallist 86), Essam, Parry, Gallifuoco, Brundle (Triallist 80), Richards (Pinnock 73), Triallist (Triallist 83), Allen (Sho-Silva 73), Bird.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Dover Athletic Football Club are now recruiting for a very special position – the chance to become our new club mascot!
You will be the first point of contact with many of our supporters and will have a natural ability to entertain, whilst building relationships and rapport – primarily with children – during both matchdays and at other community events.
Interaction with the crowd at all times is paramount, and you will need to be reliable, punctual and organised.
A positive attitude to dealing with children and adults is imperative, and you must be capable of working independently whilst meeting a range of responsibilities relating to matchday events such as our new pre-match penalty shoot-out and general fan engagement.
This opportunity is open to adults of all ages and genders, however you must be physically fit and able to work on your feet for several hours at a time in a busy environment whilst maintaining the professional standards we are looking for.
The successful applicant must be between 5”7 and 5”10 tall, and will initially work on a trial period of three months – attending all home fixtures – with a view to paid employment with our community scheme being offered at the end of this term.
You will need to undergo a full CRB check prior to taking on the role.
So, if you are interested in becoming the new ‘face’ of Dover Athletic Football Club then apply now!
Contact the office on 01304 822373 or email commercial@doverathletic.com
WHITES BEAT ANGELS
Athletic registered their second pre-season win in as many games, beating Tonbridge Angels 2-0 at the Longmead Stadium on Monday night.
An early tap in for a triallist and a smart second half finish from Tobi Sho-Silva was enough for Dover to overcome their Bostik Premier opponents.
The visitors made the perfect start in the first minute. Mitch Pinnock’s fierce freekick was parried wide, but Dover’s attack were quick to play the ball back into the box where a triallist was lurking to tuck the ball home.
Former Dover duo Craig Stone and Nathan Elder combined on the half hour mark for Angels, with the latter powering a header narrowly wide.
At the other end, some delightful wing play from one of the triallists ended with Sho-Silva stabbing the ball wide minutes before half time.
But Sho-Silva made amends for his miss in the 54th minute
Chris Barnard’s defence splitting pass found the in-form forward, who made no mistake from close range, slotting home via the post to make it three goals in two games.
Midfielder Barnard (Pictured) almost created another, this time sending substitute Kane Richards clear, but the winger was unable to get the better of the home keeper Anthony Di Bernardo.
Jamie Allen almost grabbed his first goal for Whites late on, but his near post effort was pushed away by the home keeper.
Substitute Connor Essam almost scored at the death, his deep cross striking the top of the bar.
Earlier, boss Chris Kinnear made six changes to the team that started against Folkestone.
Giancarlo Gallifuoco, George Essuman, Pinnock and Sho-Silva retained their place from the weekend with Barnard coming into midfield.
Whites host Welling United on Tuesday ay 7.45pm.
VIDEO: You can see Chris Kinnear’s post match thoughts here:
VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION
Summer signing Tobi Sho-Silva on his first brace for Dover in the 5-1 friendly win at Folkestone Invicta and how he is settling in at the club.
VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION
Watch Chris Kinnear’s post match thoughts following Dover’s 5-1 friendly win away at Folkestone on Saturday.