Dover Athletic suffered their third consecutive defeat as they fell 2-0 to Whitehawk at the Megger Community Stadium. A goal in each half saw the visitors leave with all three points, with Harry Bridle capitalising on an early defensive lapse before Billie Clark sealed the win in stoppage time.

The hosts started brightly, showing early intent when Ruben Soares-Junior delivered a cross in the second minute, though no one was able to meet it. Dover continued to press, with George Nikaj and Soares-Junior linking up well in the opening exchanges. However, Whitehawk struck first in the eighth minute after a defensive error gifted Bridle a chance, and he made no mistake in slotting the ball past Jordan Gillmore.

Dover attempted an immediate response, with a trademark long throw from Tamas Amgbaduba causing some trouble in the Whitehawk box, but the visitors’ defence held firm. The home side struggled to create clear-cut chances despite enjoying good spells of possession.

The best opportunity of the half for Dover came in the 21st minute when Nikaj floated a ball in for Soares-Junior, whose header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Whitehawk goalkeeper Joseph Osaghae.

Tempers flared on the touchline, with Dover’s assistant manager Mike Sandmann receiving a yellow card in the 15th minute. Meanwhile, the visitors pushed for a second goal, forcing Gillmore into a series of superb saves in the latter stages of the half to keep the deficit to just one goal at the break.

Dover came out with renewed purpose after halftime, pinning Whitehawk back in their own half. Despite dominating possession, the Whites struggled to break down a resolute defence.

A promising spell saw Dover get their first shot on target of the second half in the 57th minute, but Osaghae was equal to it once again. As the game wore on, Whitehawk focused on frustrating their hosts, absorbing pressure and making frequent stoppages, which disrupted Dover’s attacking flow.

As the clock ticked down, Dover intensified their efforts, launching wave after wave of attacks. However, the final product remained elusive. The closest they came to an equaliser was in the 89th minute when Soares-Junior’s effort inside the box was well saved by Osaghae.

With eight minutes of added time, Dover pushed men forward in search of a late leveller, but they were caught on the break in the 94th minute. Whitehawk substitute Billie Clark broke free and finished clinically to secure the victory, sparking celebrations among the small traveling support.

Dover Athletic:
27 Jordan Gillmore, 5 Joe Tennent, 3 Fuad Sesay, 6 Luca Cocoracchio, 7 Luke Baptiste, 15 Tamas Amgbaduba, 10 George Nikaj, 14 Ruben Soares-Junior (C), 23 George Wilkinson, 16 Harrison Pont, 26 Jacob Mensah SUBS: 25 Charlie Naylor, 9 Eniye Amgbaduba, 2 Roman Charles-Cook, 28 Kweku-Conrad Lucan, 24 Francis Mampolo

Whitehawk:
1 Joseph Osaghae, 2 Stefan Wright, 3 Will Seager, 4 Andrew Briggs, 5 Geofrey Okonkwo, 19 Jamie Watson, 7 Emmanuel Mensah, 9 Harry Bridle, 8 Rob O’Toole, 10 Charlie Walker (C), 11 Imran Kayani SUBS: 14 Luke Cook, 12 Charlie Lambert, 15 Josh Nandhra, 16 Billie Clark, 17 Eugene Asike

Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 645
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: George Lynch

MITCH WALKER says it is time to remain calm as Dover Athletic start to move into the business end of the season.

The Whites keeper, speaking to Justin Allen on DAFCtv, is out of action until mid-April at the earliest.

But he will be part of Jake Leberl’s backroom team as the players prepare for the remaining games.

The team’s form has dropped recently but Mitch insists that for this team to even be in the promotion argument is a great achievement.

He said: “It’s time to remain calm. The fans have had tough times in recent years and I understand why some have showed concern about recent results.

“But we must remember this is a young team and they are still learning. 

“The expectation was to be mid-table this season so to be in the play-off places is a great achievement. There’s no need for panic. There’s a lot of football still to be played and I’m confident we’ll be up there.”

Fancy watching the Whites take on Whitehawk in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

• Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
• A three-course meal served at your table
• Reserved undercover premium padded seating
• Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus a dedicated paid bar before and after the match
• Complimentary match day programme

The very special experience costs £29.95 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Starter:

Tomato Soup with a Ciabatta Roll

Main:

Cumberland Sausage Ring, Mash Potato, Vegetables and Onion Gravy

Dessert:

Honeycomb Cheesecake served with Cream

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your VIP ticket please email [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373

Dover Athletic welcome Whitehawk to The Megger Community Stadium.

Dover Athletic

On Saturday night, Dover Athletic fell to a 2-1 defeat against Wingate & Finchley in North London despite a spirited performance after going down to ten men. Dover started strongly, nearly scoring early, but Ryan Lowe’s long-range strike put the hosts ahead in the 34th minute. Alfie Matthews’ second yellow card in the 53rd minute left Dover with ten men, yet Luke Baptiste equalised with a stunning volley in the 66th. However, Roman Charles-Cook’s own goal nine minutes later sealed Dover’s fate. Kweku-Conrad Lucan nearly rescued a point in stoppage time, but his shot went narrowly wide.

In our previous encounter with Whitehawk this season Dover secured a solid 2-0 win at The Enclosed Ground. Despite dominating early chances, including a penalty shout and a close free-kick, Dover went into halftime 0-0. The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Luke Baptiste fired a powerful volley into the net. Whitehawk hit the crossbar in the 79th minute, but Dover quickly responded as George Nikaj headed in his 11th goal of the season.

From the Manager

“Whitehawk have had a new manager and picked up results. It’s going to be difficult. But we need to show a little bit more fight in certain periods of the game than we did on Saturday. But we have got stick together as a group group and as a club, there’s still a long way to go. We desperately need to get out of this little rut.”

Whitehawk

On Saturday, Horsham handed Whitehawk their first home defeat since Shaun Saunders’ return, winning 2-1 despite a spirited second-half fightback from the Hawks. Horsham dominated the first half, going 2-0 up through Isaac Philpot’s close-range finish and a James Hammond penalty. After halftime, Whitehawk gained momentum, with Imran Kayani scoring just after the hour mark following a controversial quick free kick. Despite forcing several corners, the Hawks couldn’t find an equaliser.

Whitehawk sits in 17th place in the Isthmian Premier League with 34 points from 29 matches. Their season has been a mixed bag, recording 9 wins, 6 draws, and 14 losses. At home, they’ve managed 7 wins from 14 matches, while their away form has been less impressive with just 2 wins from 15 games. They have scored 33 goals but conceded 51, resulting in a goal difference of -18.

Last 6

08/02 – Horsham (H) – Lost 1-2
02/02 – Potters Bar Town (A) – Lost 2-3
25/01 – Cray Wanderers (H) – Won 2-0
21/01 – Lewes (H) – Won 2-1
18/01 – Cheshunt (A) – Won 4-1
13/01 – Carshalton Athletic (A) – Drew 2-2

The Venue

We look forward to welcoming Whitehawk to the Megger Community Stadium. More information on getting to the ground can be found here: https://doverathletic.com/visit-crabble/

Megger Community Stadium. Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB.

Admission  

Adults: £15
Concessions: £14
U18: £9
U11: FREE with a paying adult

We now only accept card on the gate and operate a cashless ground.

Dover Athletic suffered a frustrating afternoon in North London as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Wingate & Finchley, despite a spirited response to going down to ten men early in the second half.

Dover started brightly and nearly had the perfect opening when Ruben Soares-Junior collided with the Wingate goalkeeper in the second minute, allowing George Nikaj a chance at goal, only for his effort to be dramatically cleared off the line. The Whites dominated possession in the early stages, delivering dangerous balls into the box but struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. However, their promising start was undone in the 34th minute when Ryan Lowe unleashed a long-range strike into the far corner, giving the hosts the lead.

Dover responded well and went close just before the break, with a near-post header looping over the bar. Despite their efforts, they went into halftime trailing 1-0. Their task became significantly harder in the 53rd minute when Alfie Matthews was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, leaving the visitors with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they continued to push forward, keeping possession well and searching for a way back into the match.

Their persistence paid off in the 66th minute when Luke Baptiste produced a stunning acrobatic volley to equalise, finishing superbly after an excellent cross from Roman Charles-Cook. The goal gave Dover renewed hope, and they looked capable of securing a result. However, disaster struck just nine minutes later when Charles-Cook inadvertently headed into his own net from a Wingate corner, handing the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Dover made attacking changes in an attempt to salvage something from the game, and they nearly snatched a point deep into stoppage time. Substitute Kweku-Conrad Lucan fired narrowly wide in the 97th minute, agonisingly close to an equaliser. The defeat marks back-to-back losses for the Whites, who will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Whitehawk.

Wingate & Finchley:

1 Matteo Salamon, 2 Rhamar Garrett-Douglas, 3 Toby Byron, 4 William Cracknell (C), 5 Ben Frempah, 6 Ben Watt, 7 Ore Bello, 8 Ryan Lowe, 9 Ogo Obi, 10 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, 11 Camilo Restrepo, 12 Cain Keller, 14 Theo Alexandrou, 15 Loic Hernandez, 16 Andronicos Georgiou, 17 Zack Newton

Dover Athletic:

27 Jordan Gillmore, 2 Roman Charles-Cook, 3 Fuad Sesay, 6 Luca Cocoracchio, 7 Luke Baptiste, 8 Alfie Matthews, 10 George Nikaj, 14 Ruben Soares-Junior, 24 Francis Mampolo, 16 Harrison Pont, 26 Jacob Mensah, 25 Charlie Naylor, 9 Eniye Amgbaduba, 15 Tamas Amgbaduba, 28 Kweku-Conrad Lucan, 23 George Wilkinson

Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 270
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Samuel Olhausen
Venue: Maurice Rebak Stadium

Dover aim to bounce back and head to Wingate & Finchley in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Dover Athletic

On Saturday, Dover Athletic suffered a frustrating 3-1 defeat to Carshalton Athletic despite dominating much of the game. Dover started brightly, with Francis Mampolo and George Nikaj going close early on. However, Carshalton struck first in the 42nd minute through David Smith. Dover missed a crucial penalty after halftime before Carshalton extended their lead with goals from Mason Saunders-Henry and Joshua Shonibare. Luke Baptiste grabbed a late consolation, but Dover’s wastefulness in front of goal proved costly. Despite controlling possession and creating chances, the Whites lacked the cutting edge to turn dominance into points.

In the reverse fixture, Dover Athletic suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Wingate & Finchley in front of 827 fans. George Nikaj gave Dover an early lead with a brilliant curled finish in the 22nd minute, but Ayotani Tanimowo equalised ten minutes later after a defensive lapse. Nikaj nearly restored the lead, rattling the crossbar, but the first half ended level. Ogo Obi’s 60th-minute header put the visitors ahead, and despite late pressure, Dover couldn’t find an equaliser. Wingate & Finchley held firm through added time, leaving the Whites frustrated after a performance that deserved at least a point.

From the Manager

“Obviously, another full week of training. We’ve just got to keep the boys’ spirits high. They’ll be disappointed after Saturday’s result. But we can’t have a negative effect. Roll on to the next one. We’ve just got to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start picking up some points.”

Wingate & Finchley

Our hosts fell 2-1 to Chichester City on Saturday, who secured their seventh consecutive win. The Blues started well, limiting chances with a solid defensive display, but Chichester struck first as Jimmy Wild headed home from a corner in the 12th minute. Ogo Obi equalised after capitalising on a defensive mistake, finishing neatly from a tight angle. However, Curtis Da Costa volleyed in just before halftime to restore Chichester’s lead. Despite late pressure and near-misses, the Blues couldn’t find an equaliser. A frustrating result, but a positive performance ahead of their clash with Dover Athletic next weekend.

Wingate & Finchley sits in 14th place in the Isthmian Premier League with 35 points from 28 matches. Their campaign has been mixed, recording 10 wins, 5 draws, and 13 losses. At home, they have secured 5 wins from 15 matches, while their away form has been similar, with 5 wins from 13 games. They have scored 51 goals but conceded 52, leaving them with a goal difference of -1.

Last 6

01/02 – Chichester City (A) – Lost 1-2
28/01 – Cray Wanderers (H) – Won 1-0
25/01 – Cheshunt (H) – Drew 3-3
18/01 – Dartford (H) – Lost 1-2
11/01 – Chatham Town (A) – Lost 1-3
28/12 – Folkestone Invicta (A) – Lost 2-3

The Venue

Wingate & Finchley FC, Summers Lane, London, N12 0PD

More information: https://www.wingatefinchley.com/visiting-fans-guide

Programmes (online) are free – available here

Supporting ID is required for concessions and carers otherwise full price admission will be charged.

​​Parking: 4 free Blue Badge spaces are available on the front forecourt. Car parking is also available in nearby residential streets. Please do not park in Finchley Rugby Club.

​Public transport: The nearest Underground station is West Finchley Station (Northern Line – High Barnet branch). The station is approx 20 minute walk away from the Stadium. Alternatively, you can get the tube to East Finchley Station and get a bus (options including 263) heading North towards Barnet. Get off at Leisure Way stop just past the Leisure Park with Hollywood Bowl, McDonalds etc.

​Cash and card are accepted at all sales points at the stadium.

Admission  

Adults – £12
Conc (OAP 65+, student, disabled) – £8
11-18 yrs: £5
Under 11: Free

NHS staff and carer of disabled: Free

It is with great disappointment that I have learned today that, despite all our efforts, a small number of spectators continue to behave in an unacceptable manner at both home and away games.

Moronic chanting, the use of vile language, and threats or intimidation towards fellow supporters are completely unacceptable, as is any form of physical aggression.

The club has made its stance on this issue very clear – I will not allow decent, long-term supporters to be driven away by the antisocial and idiotic actions of a handful of individuals.

This behaviour not only tarnishes the good name of the club but also discourages families and respectable fans from attending.

While this is a financial burden the club can ill afford, we will invest in increased security and enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy. If you engage in unacceptable behaviour, you will be ejected and issued with a lifetime ban.

Additionally, any individual excluded from the club will have their details provided to Kent Police and shared with all clubs, along with a recommendation to deny entry. If the offender is under 18, their parents will also be contacted.

If you are planning to attend a game with the intention of behaving in an antisocial manner, DON’T. We will take action.

Please come and support your team in a respectful and positive way. That is how we will succeed.

Jim Parmenter

Fancy watching the Whites take on Carshalton in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

• Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
• A three-course meal served at your table
• Reserved undercover premium padded seating
• Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus a dedicated paid bar before and after the match
• Complimentary match day programme

The very special experience costs £29.95 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Starter: 

Pate served with Melba Toast

Main:

Roast Beef, Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Vegetables and Gravy

Dessert:

New York Cheesecake served with Fruit Compote and Cream

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your VIP ticket please email [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373

In this third part of a series of interviews, founding Dover Athletic chairman John Husk talks to Justin Allen about the managers from Chris Kinnear onwards he worked with. Also he discusses how the FA made an illegal approach for Peter Taylor to become England Under-21 boss before finally having to settle compensation with the club, why he sold star striker David Leworthy and how Bill Williams bought the good times back to Crabble. John also speaks about how the club was built by a collective effort of local businessmen who were all friends. Also incredibly the club used to attract the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Bobby Moore, Kevin Keegan, Denis Law, Jimmy Greaves, Jacky Charlton and others to star at sportsman’s evenings that raised the club money along with the successful Striker lottery. John has a fun story about how players and staff were woken up by screaming girls because of two huge TV stars.

Dover Athletic welcome Carshalton to The Megger Community Stadium.

Dover Athletic

On Tuesday night, Dover Athletic were denied victory by a stoppage-time equaliser as Lewes snatched a 1-1 draw at Crabble. Luke Baptiste put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 26th minute, and Dover dominated, creating several chances. Soares-Junior struck the bar, Nikaj missed a golden opportunity, and Mampolo hit the post. Despite their control, Dover failed to convert their dominance into a second goal. Lewes applied late pressure and, against the run of play, Jack Meeres bundled home an equaliser in the 92nd minute. A frustrating night for Dover, who rued missed chances and dropped two crucial points.

In our previous encounter with Carshalton this season Dover secured a dramatic 1-1 draw at Carshalton Athletic with a stunning 92nd-minute overhead kick from Luke Baptiste. The visitors started brightly, with Nikaj heading just over early on. Carshalton settled and took the lead in the 54th minute when Tommy Bradford’s half-volley struck the crossbar and went in. Dover pushed for an equaliser, with Amgbaduba and Charles-Cook both going close, but Carshalton’s Foley made key saves. Just as the hosts looked set for victory, a long throw-in led to Baptiste’s acrobatic finish, earning Dover a well-deserved point in dramatic fashion.

From the Manager

“Again, Carshalton are very similar to Lewes, they play that particular brand of football. The defenders will have a lot of the ball and they can frustrate you. I think this game will be very similar to how it was on Tuesday and hopefully we can secure the full three points.”

Carshalton

On Saturday, Carshalton Athletic secured a 2-1 victory over Hastings United at Colston Avenue, thanks to a stunning late strike from Nathan Paul-Lavaly. David Smith opened the scoring just before halftime, netting his 14th goal of the season. The Robins controlled much of the second half, but Hastings equalised through Davide Rodari. Undeterred, Carshalton pushed forward, and in the final moments, Paul-Lavaly rifled home the winner. The victory extended their winning streak to four matches, lifting them to eighth in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Carshalton Athletic sits in 8th place in the Isthmian Premier League with 42 points from 28 matches. Their campaign has been fairly competitive, recording 11 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses. At home, they have been solid, winning 7 of their 15 matches, while their away form has been more inconsistent, with 4 wins from 13 games. They have scored 39 goals and conceded 32, giving them a goal difference of +7.

Last 6

27/01 – Hastings United (H) – Won 2-1
25/01 – Hashtag United (H) – Won 1-0
18/01 – Hendon (A) – Won 3-0
13/01 – Whitehawk (H) – Drew 2-2
04/01 – Horsham (A) – Lost 0-3
01/01 – Cray Valley PM (H) – Lost 1-2

The Venue

We look forward to welcoming Carshalton to the Megger Community Stadium. More information on getting to the ground can be found here: https://doverathletic.com/visit-crabble/

Megger Community Stadium. Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB.

Admission  

Adults: £15
Concessions: £14
U18: £9
U11: FREE with a paying adult

We now only accept card on the gate and operate a cashless ground.