Dover Athletic fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Hashtag United in a thrilling Isthmian League Premier Division encounter at Parkside. Despite dominating large spells of the game and creating several golden opportunities, the Whites were undone by two second-half goals from the home side and left to rue missed chances.

The first half was a tightly contested affair with both sides showing flashes of attacking intent. Dover enjoyed the better chances during a lively period midway through the half. Luke Baptiste forced Hashtag goalkeeper Jack Giddens into a fine save, while Francis Mampolo’s looping header clipped the crossbar. Moments later, Baptiste struck the bar again with a powerful effort as Dover piled on the pressure. At the other end, Hashtag posed a threat on the counterattack, and Jordan Gillmore made a crucial save to keep the game level at the break.

Early in the second half, the momentum shifted decisively in Hashtag’s favour. Just four minutes after the restart, Josh Osude was brought down in the box, and Misha Djemaili stepped up to calmly slot the resulting penalty past Gillmore. Hashtag doubled their advantage nine minutes later when Osude capitalised on a defensive error, smashing home from close range.

Despite the setback, Dover pushed forward in search of a response. Baptiste and Charlie Naylor both went close shortly after the hour mark, but their efforts failed to trouble Giddens. Substitute Eniye Amgbaduba injected energy into Dover’s attack and nearly found the net in the closing stages, but Hashtag’s defence held firm under pressure.

The Whites finally broke through in stoppage time when George Wilkinson, introduced as a substitute in the 66th minute, rifled home a loose ball in the box to give Dover hope. The visitors pressed for an equaliser in a dramatic finale but were unable to find a way past Giddens as the game ended 2-1 in Hashtag’s favor.

Whites will now look to regroup ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Bognor Regis.

Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 324
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Chris Poole
Venue: Parkside (Aveley FC)

Hashtag United
1 Jack Giddens, 2 Matthew Wooldridge, 3 Nathan Smith, 5 Harry Haysom, 6 Max Cornhill, 7 Sakariya Hassan, 8 Misha Djemaili, 9 Toby Aromolaran, 12 Jermaine Anderson, 13 Josh Osude, 15 Joshua Rusoke SUBS: 4 Thomas Anderson, 10 Alex Bolovan, 11 Harrison Day, 16 Ayo Olukoga, 19 Luke May-Parrott

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, 25 Charlie Naylor, 26 Jacob Mensah SUBS: 4 Jeremiah Gyebi, 9 Eniye Amgbaduba, 15 Tamas Amgbaduba, 16 Harrison Pont, 23 George Wilkinson

Fancy watching the Whites take on Lewes 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 one-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 £19 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 :

Main:

Cottage Pie, Peas, Carrots and Gravy 

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 enquiries@doverathletic.com or call the office on 01304 822373

We can confirm that midfielder Henry Young has joined Isthmian South East side Hythe Town FC on loan.

Defender Joe Tennent has also joined fellow Isthmian Premier Division side Whitehawk on loan and goes straight into their starting XI against Carshalton tonight.

Defender Marty Holness remains on loan with Lordswood AFC.

We can also confirm that forward Jayden Silcott-Brown has left the club.

Dover are back in action and head to Aveley to face Hashtag United in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Dover Athletic

Whites have been out of action in the last week as our game against Lewes was postponed. In our last game, Dover Athletic secured a dominant 3-0 win over Hendon at Silver Jubilee Park, rebounding after back-to-back defeats. Captain Ruben Soares-Junior shone, opening the scoring with a header in the 18th minute before doubling the lead with a superb strike. George Nikaj sealed the win in the 65th minute with a low shot after a strong wing run. Dover controlled the game throughout, stifling Hendon’s attempts to respond. Frustrations led to bookings for Hendon’s Kurtis Cumberbatch and Lewis Smith.

Dover were 4-2 winners in the reverse fixture. Alfie Matthews opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a composed finish, but Hashtag’s Sakariya Hassan equalised in the 19th minute. Harrison Pont restored Dover’s lead with a stunning long-range strike in the 30th minute, and Luke Baptiste added a third just before halftime. In the second half, Hashtag pushed to close the gap, but Dover’s defense and goalkeeper Mitch Walker held firm. George Nikaj sealed the win in the 85th minute with a spectacular long-range goal, despite a late consolation from Max Cornhill.

Hashtag United

Our hosts game on Saturday against Bowers & Pitsea was postponed. Last time out, Hashtag United extended their unbeaten streak to ten matches with a crucial 1-0 victory over Chatham Town at the Bauvill Stadium, moving up to seventh in the table. Matt Wooldridge’s 18th-minute goal proved decisive, but the turning point of the match came in the 33rd minute when Chatham’s Simon Cooper was shown a red card for a foul on Josh Osude, leaving the hosts to battle with ten men. The Tags have now secured three wins from their last four matches, sitting just four points shy of the top five as they continue their push up the table.

Last 6

07/01 – Chatham Town (A) – Won 1-0
04/01 – Cray Valley PM (A) – Won 5-1
01/01 – Billericay Town (H) – Lost 1-2
28/12 – Lewes (H) – Won 2-1
26/12 – Bowers & Pitsea (A) – Drew 2-2
21/12 – Whitehawk (A) – Drew 1-1

The Venue

Hashtag United men’s first, women’s first and men’s reserve teams play at Aveley FC.

Parkside
Park Lane
Aveley
RM15 4PX

There is a free car park at the stadium.

Admission  

£12 Adults
£7 Concessions
£3 Under 12s

Following the 4.30pm inspection we can confirm that tomorrow’s game against Lewes is postponed.

A new date for the fixture will be confirmed soon.

JOHN HUSK was chairman during a golden era of the club’s history.

In  the second of a multi-part interview with Justin Allen, the 82-year-old reminisces about some of the great players that featured in his time at the helm.

John shares memories of the great Lennie Lee and Tony Rogers and how the club broke the non-league transfer fee to sign David Leworthy.

A certain Jake Leberl also signed for the club as a young player when John was at the helm – and he recollects those days as well as gives his opinion on the job he is doing as manager.

Also Justin and John fondly remember the likes of Tony Dixon, Russell Milton, Mark Harrop and how Iain O’Connell once fell through a conservatory window. The former chairman also speaks about club legends Tim Dixon and Barry Little.

Part three will follow soon where John will discuss Chris Kinnear and the managers that followed him.

Fancy watching the Whites take on Horsham 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:

Potato and Leek Soup served with a Ciabatta Roll

Main:

Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Pie served with Mash Potato, Vegetables and Gravy

Dessert:

Salted Caramel Blonde 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 enquiries@doverathletic.com or call the office on 01304 822373

Dover Athletic welcome Lewes to The Megger Community Stadium.

Dover Athletic

On Saturday, Dover Athletic secured a dominant 3-0 win over Hendon at Silver Jubilee Park, rebounding after back-to-back defeats. Captain Ruben Soares-Junior shone, opening the scoring with a header in the 18th minute before doubling the lead with a superb strike. George Nikaj sealed the win in the 65th minute with a low shot after a strong wing run. Dover controlled the game throughout, stifling Hendon’s attempts to respond. Frustrations led to bookings for Hendon’s Kurtis Cumberbatch and Lewis Smith. This win keeps Dover top of the league as they prepare to host Lewes next Saturday.

In our previous encounter with Lewes this season Dover secured a 3-1 victory at the Dripping Pan. George Nikaj opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a precise header from Ruben Soares-Junior’s cross. Soares-Junior doubled the lead minutes later, and Luke Baptiste’s penalty made it 3-0 before halftime. Lewes responded in the second half with Danny Bassett scoring in the 60th minute, but Dover’s defence, led by key saves from Walker, held firm.

From the Management

“I think there’ll be a lot of teams in this division that will look at our home form and they’d love to take it. It’s obviously disappointing to lose matches and more disappointing to lose home when we’re in front of our home fans. I certainly don’t think there’s any need to panic and to worry about home form. But we’ll be looking to put that right against Lewes, from last time we know what Lewes are about, they’re a good side. We’ll be looking to try and repay the home fans support”

Lewes

On Saturday, Lewes fought back to claim a 2-2 draw against Cheshunt in a thrilling contest at The Dripping Pan. Despite an early setback when Vas Vasiliou opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, Lewes regrouped after halftime. Alfie Allen equalised in the 61st minute with a composed finish, sparking the home side into life. Substitute Tolu Ladapo looked to have secured victory for Lewes with an 88th-minute strike, but Cheshunt’s Sam Granville salvaged a point in stoppage time.

Lewes currently sits 10th in the Isthmian Premier League with 33 points from 23 matches. Their record includes 9 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses. At home, they have been solid with 5 wins and 5 draws from 12 matches, but their away form has been less consistent, securing 4 wins from 11 games. They have scored 32 goals and conceded 32, leaving them with a neutral goal difference of 0.

Last 5

04/01 – Cheshunt (H) – Drew 2-2
28/12 – Hashtag United (A) – Lost 1-2
26/12 – Folkestone Invicta (H) – Drew 0-0
21/12 – Wingate & Finchley (A) – Drew 2-2
14/12 – Chichester City (H) – Lost 2-3
10/12 – Dulwich Hamlet (H) – Drew 2-2

The Venue

We look forward to welcoming Lewes 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 secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Hendon at Silver Jubilee Park, bouncing back strongly after consecutive defeats. The visitors dominated proceedings from the outset, with Ruben Soares-Junior leading by example. The Dover captain opened the scoring in the 18th minute, rising highest to head home from a corner. Just over ten minutes later, Soares-Junior doubled the lead with a superb strike from the edge of the box, leaving the Hendon goalkeeper with no chance. Dover maintained control for the remainder of the first half, pushing for a third before the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Dover dictating play and creating chances. Their pressure paid off in the 65th minute when George Nikaj burst down the wing, beat his defender, and fired a low shot past the keeper at the near post to make it 3-0. Soares-Junior continued to press for a hat trick, while the rest of the Dover team displayed solid organisation to stifle any attempts by Hendon to gain a foothold in the game.

Hendon struggled to cope with Dover’s intensity, and frustrations boiled over with bookings for former Dover player Kurtis Cumberbatch and Lewis Smith. Despite a flurry of substitutions, the home side rarely threatened Jordan Gillmore in the Dover goal. The Whites, meanwhile, stayed disciplined and professional, comfortably seeing out the match to secure all three points.

This victory keeps Dover top of the league as they prepare to host Lewes next Saturday.

Isthmian League – Premier Division

Attendance: 324

Kick-off: 3pm

Referee: Jake Hillier

Venue: Silver Jubilee Park

Hendon:

1 Luke Campbell, 2 Lesley Duru, 3 Michael O’Donoghue, 4 Ronny Mfinda, 5 Ethan Light, 6 George Abbott, 7 Lewis Smith, 8 Kurtis Cumberbatch, 9 Luke Cook, 10 Niko Muir, 11 Aderi Dede SUBS: 12 Youel Emmanuel, 14 Ibrahim Meite, 15 Lonit Talla, 16 Stefan Ilic, 17 Dave Diedhiou

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, 25 Charlie Naylor, 26 Jacob Mensah SUBS: 4 Jeremiah Gyebi, 5 Joe Tennent, 9 Eniye Amgbaduba, 15 Tamas Amgbaduba, 23 George Wilkinson

Dover are back on the road and head to Hendon in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Dover Athletic

On Saturday, Dover Athletic fell to a 2-1 defeat against Horsham in wet, windy conditions at the Megger Community Stadium. Despite Horsham’s early dominance, Dover took the lead in the 32nd minute through Alfie Matthews’ deflected strike. The visitors equalised in the 72nd minute when James Hammond converted from a corner, and just three minutes later, Reece Myles-Meekums’ looping cross put Horsham ahead. Dover pushed hard for an equaliser, with Matthews’ free kick and a goal-line clearance denying them. Horsham held on for the win to overturn the halftime deficit to take all three points.

From the Manager

“Hendon is a long way to go for us. We need to be a bit more confident, so a win there would obviously help that massively. We’ll go there, obviously, looking for three points. And if we give the same effort as we have been and continue everything that we’ve been doing, there’s no reason why we won’t pick up three points.”

Hendon

Our hosts game on Saturday against Cheshunt was postponed. Last time out, Hendon conceded a stoppage time goal for the second consecutive Saturday to fall to defeat at Cray Wanderers. Kenny Coker followed up in the 95th minute to secure the points for the hosts, who had made most of the running but came up against a resolute back line, with Ethan Light and George Abbott particularly impressive.

Hendon currently sits in 17th place in the Isthmian Premier League with 26 points from 22 matches. Their campaign includes 7 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses. At home, Hendon has been fairly solid, winning 7 out of 11 matches, but their away form has been a struggle, with no wins and only 5 draws from 11 games. The team has scored 33 goals but conceded 30, resulting in a goal difference of +3.

Last 6

28/12 – Cray Wanderers (A) – Lost 0-1
26/12 – Potters Bar Town (H) – Lost 0-4
21/12 – Chichester City (A) – Lost 0-1
14/12 – Canvey Island (H) – Lost 0-1
10/12 – Hashtag United (A) – Lost 2-3
03/12 – Tilbury (H) – Won 2-1 (Alan Turvey Trophy)

The Venue

Address :Silver Jubilee Park
Townsend Lane
Kingsbury
London
NW9 7NE

More info: https://www.hendonfc.net/ClubInfo

Admission  

Adults: £12
Concessions: £8
U18: £1