Category: First Team News

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Giancarlo Gallifouco has his say following Whites’ 1-0 win against Torquay on Saturday.

VIDEO: ASSISTANT MANAGER REACTION

Jake Leberl speaks to the camera following Whites’ narrow win against Torquay on Saturday.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: WHITES 1-0 TORQUAY

Catch up on the best of Saturday’s action.

BIRD PENALTY SEES OFF GULLS

Dover 1-0 Torquay

(Bird penalty 57)

RYAN Bird’s second half penalty was enough for Dover to see off nine-man Torquay.

The striker slammed in his 15th National League goal of the season as Chris Kinnear’s men recorded a fourth consecutive victory at Crabble.

Mitch Brundle had the game’s first shot on target just past the ten minute mark, spinning his defender and firing low at visiting keeper Ryan Clarke from just inside the area.

Rhys Healey, booked moments earlier for simulation in the penalty box, volleyed well wide from close range after a fine initial touch.

Cardiff loanee Healey then cut in from the left and fired towards goal, but Walker was able to dive onto the midfielder’s effort.

Ryan Bird could only head wide after Anthony Jeffrey outpaced his marker and crossed towards the striker and at the other end, Liam Davis lashed a volley high and wide of the mark.

Healey almost had the away side in front, controlling Luke Young’s corner and flashing a volley a mere inches past the post.

And Elliott Romain was almost gifted a goal by the Dover defence.

Kevin Lokko’s poor touch almost gave the Dagenham & Redbridge loanee a clear sight of goal, however Walker was on hand to gather the ball.

Brundle’s free-kick from the left hand side almost found it’s way into the top corner, but Clarke denied the Dover skipper with his fingertips.

Brett Williams was then within a whisker of connecting to Young’s wayward strike before the referee blew for half-time.

Following the restart, Jeffrey collected Femi Ilesanmi’s pass and after a dart into the area, lashed a shot onto the foot of the post with the Torquay defence able to clear the rebound.

But Whites had the lead just minutes later thanks to Bird.

The striker stepped up to slam in his third spot kick of the season after Connor Evans’ handball in the box.

And The Gulls’ task was made even more difficult when Healey was shown a second yellow card following a rash challenge on Connor Essam.

But the ten men of Torquay almost snatched a point. Firstly Young forced Walker to tip away his ferocious 20 yard volley and then was on hand to claw away Romain’s header.

United were reduced to nine men in injury time as Romain was shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle on Gallifuoco.

But Athletic held on for the crucial three points to keep them in the play-off hunt.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to the side that started at Ebbsfleet on Bank Holiday Monday. Nortei Nortey, Josh Passley and Jeffrey replaced Mitch Pinnock, Ade Azeez and Liam Bellamy, who all started as substitutes.

Dover: Walker, Parry, Essam, Lokko, Passley, Nortey, Brundle, Gallifuoco, Ilesanmi, Bird, Jeffrey (Azeez 82)

Subs not used: Pinnock, Daniel, Bellamy, Marsh-Brown.

Torquay: Clarke, McGinty, Gowling, Balatoni (Efete 63), Barnes (Reid 76), Young, Evans, Davis, Healey, Williams, Romain.

Subs not used: Pittman, Klukowski, Osborn.

Attendance: 1,128

Referee: Carl Brooks

PREVIEW: WHITES V TORQUAY

Dover will be looking to put their recent Bank Holiday loss at Ebbsfleet behind them as they aim to move back into the play-offs with a fourth consecutive home league win on Saturday afternoon.

But they face a stern test against a Gulls side currently defying their lowly league position, winning three and drawing one from their last four league matches to boost their survival bid.

And Chris Kinnear’s men will be wary of an opposing striker who effectively ended Athletic’s play-off bid last April.

Striker Brett Williams scored twice in a 2-1 victory for United at Crabble, adding to the two goals he scored in consecutive matches for Forest Green at Dover the previous season.

TORQUAY’S RECENT FORM

02/04/18: TORQUAY 2-1 WOKING

Torquay strengthened their bid to avoid the drop with a vital victory over their fellow strugglers Woking.

Joey Jones’ early handball in the box handed Brett Williams a golden opportunity to score and the Gulls striker made no mistake from 12 yards.

Reece Grego-Cox levelled matters midway through the second half, but parity only lasted three minutes thanks to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans 25-yard strike into the top corner.

And Gary Owers’ men had to hang on in the final stages, clearing the ball off their goal line on two occasions.

PREVIOUS MEETING

07/10/17: TORQUAY 0-2 DOVER

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 league 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.

OTHER MEETINGS

22/04/17: Dover 1-2 Torquay
27/08/16: Torquay 2-1 Dover
26/03/16: Dover 5-0 Torquay

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults: £17
Over 60s: £14
Under 18s: £8
Under 11s: Free (With an accompanying adult)

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES (Kick off 3pm unless stated)

EBBSFLEET UNITED V MACCLESFIELD TOWN (12:15)
AFC FYLDE V SUTTON UNITED
ALDERSHOT TOWN V MAIDENHEAD UNITED
BROMLEY V GATESHEAD
CHESTER V TRANMERE ROVERS
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE V WOKING
EASTLEIGH V WREXHAM
FC HALIFAX TOWN V BOREHAM WOOD
GUISELEY V MAIDSTONE UNITED
HARTLEPOOL UNITED V SOLIHULL MOORS
LEYTON ORIENT V BARROW

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Maidenhead on Saturday 14th April and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It leaves Crabble at 11:15am and the costs are as follows:

Adult members £20, adult non-members £35 and accompanied child (Under 16) £10.

There is also a coach going to Woking at 9:15am on Saturday 28th April and the prices are:

Adult members £15, adult non-members £30 and accompanied child (Under 16) £10

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat, or see him in the Centre Spot after the game against Torquay.

Please note you are now required to pay for your seat in advance by cash or via bank transfer.

NEW DATE FOR TRANMERE

Our postponed National League game against Tranmere Rovers on Good Friday has now been re-arranged to be played at Crabble on Tuesday, April 17th at 7.45pm.

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Chris Kinnear has his say following Whites’ loss on Monday.

WHITES DENIED BY LATE FLEET WINNER

Ebbsfleet 2-1 Dover

(Shields 55), (Drury 90+6) (Marsh-Brown penalty 90+3)

WHITES National league play-off hopes were dealt a blow after Andy Drury grabbed a last minute winner for Ebbsfleet in Bank Holiday Monday’s Kent derby at Stonebridge Road.

The midfielder slotted in from a tight angle following a free-kick to cancel out Keanu Marsh-Brown’s penalty just minutes earlier.

Hosts United, who had taken a second half lead through Sean Shields, were nearly ahead within minutes of the kick off as Corey Whitely volleyed Marvin McCoy’s cross just over.

At the other end, a long throw ended with Mitch Brundle firing a deflected effort into home stopper Nathan Ashmore’s hands.

And Mitch Walker was called into action for the first time midway through the first half.

The visiting keeper reached down low to tip Drury’s low drive onto the post and away from danger.

Femi Ilesanmi found himself as the last line of defence after Ashmore’s long kick set Luke Coulson clear, but the wing-back was able to come away with the ball following a perfectly-timed tackle.

Walker was soon on hand to deny United once again, this time saving Danny Kedwell’s goalbound header.

Ade Azeez then slid in to connect to Ilesanmi’s cross-cum-shot, but was unable get the crucial touch as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

Dave Winfield and Coulson seemed to clash as they both simultaneously headed Kedwell’s cross wide and shortly after, Whitely flashed an effort from the edge of the area past the wrong side of Walker’s right hand post.

And with the break looming, Shields blazed over from 20 yards after getting the better of Giancarlo Gallifuoco out wide.

Ebbsfleet had the lead nine minutes after the restart as Shields cut inside Azeez out wide and fired through Walker from an angle.

Whites tried to hit back and substitute Josh Passley nearly levelled when his deep cross looped just beyond the corner of post and bar with Ashmore beaten.

Kedwell smashed a low shot wide from outside the area and goalscorer Shields tested Walker from range.

And Dover’s captain went even closer to finding the net from distance.

Brundle collected sub Marsh-Brown’s pass and rattled the crossbar with a 30 yard strike.

And Chris Kinnear’s men thought they were going home with a point after Marsh-Brown sent Ashmore the wrong way following the referee’s decision to award a penalty once Gallifuoco was felled in the box.

But Drury had the final say with a last-gasp winner as Athletic lost their second consecutive National League match.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same side that started at Eastleigh on Tuesday night. Nortei Nortey replaced Ejiro Okosieme on the bench.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, McCoy, Rance, Winfield (c), Clark, Drury, Kedwell, Shields, Coulson (Weston 84), Bush, Whitely (Powell 90).

Subs not used: Connors, Miles, Wabo.

Dover: Walker, Parry (Passley 62), Essam, Lokko, Gallifuoco, Brundle (c), Bellamy, Ilesanmi, Pinnock (Jeffrey 62), Bird (Marsh-Brown 74), Azeez.

Subs not used: Nortey, Daniel.

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 1,735

PREVIEW: EBBSFLEET V WHITES

Dover will be aiming to bounce back from Tuesday night’s defeat at Eastleigh when they travel to Stonebridge Road for Bank Holiday Monday’s clash between two the play-off contenders.

Daryl McMahon’s Fleet are currently seven points behind Athletic in the standings with two games in hand, but visiting manager Chris Kinnear will be in confident mood with his side unbeaten in four league matches against United.

And travelling fans might recognise a few familiar faces on show on Monday.

Both defender Sam Magri – ruled out for the season through injury – and midfielder Dean Rance both played for Whites featuring 86 and 42 times respectively.

And manager McMahon played 28 games for Athletic during the 2012/13 season.

EBBSFLEET’S RECENT FORM

24/03/18: EBBSFLEET 1-1 MAIDENHEAD

Harry Pritchard’s late equaliser denied Fleet the three points at Stonebridge Road.

The midfielder fired home nine minutes from time after Nathan Ashmore had kept the visitors at bay with a string of fine saves.

After Luke Coulson scored from 25-yards early on to put Daryl McMahon’s side in front, home stopper Ashmore was soon at full stretch to deny Sam Barratt.

And Moses Emmanuel was unable to convert Barrett’s cross with the goal at his mercy.

Emmanuel was denied by Ashmore’s fingertipped save, but the away side secured a deserved point thanks to Pritchard’s neat finish.

PREVIOUS MEETING

28/08/17: DOVER 1-1 EBBSFLEET

Ryan Bird’s first half header was not enough for Whites to take all three points in a draw with Kent rivals Ebbsfleet at Crabble on Bank Holiday Monday.

The big striker powered home Mitch Pinnock’s cross on 17 minutes, but United fought back to level through Darren McQueen’s volley.

Bagasan Graham strode forward and fired a low effort straight at Mitch Walker as the visitors registered the match’s first shot on target on the quarter-hour mark.

Athletic were ahead moments later and Danny Kedwell nearly equalised shortly after, smashing Myles Weston’s cross narrowly wide.

The home pressure continued with Tobi Sho-Silva evading attention on the right-wing and passing into the box, but both Bird’s and Pinnock’s attempts were too weak to trouble Nathan Ashmore in the away goal.

The burly stopper then had to scurry back to his goalline to stop Mitch Brundle’s audacious 70-yard effort from going in.

It was all square in the 76th minute, McQueen out-muscled Femi Ilesanmi to latch onto Kedwell’s flick and fire past a helpless Walker.

And the visitors almost took the lead as Jack Powell headed over substitute Sean Shields’ cross.

Brundle tried to win the game late on, but curled his free-kick into Ashmore’s arms.

OTHER MEETINGS

10/05/14: Ebbsfleet 0-1 Dover
28/12/13: Ebbsfleet 0-2 Dover
20/08/13: Dover 2-1 Ebbsfleet

TEAM COLOURS

For those wanting to show the same colours as the players, captain Mitch Brundle and his teammates will be wearing their blue ones.

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults: £14
Over 60s / Students (ID Required): £11
Ages 12-16: £6
Under 12s: Free (With an accompanying adult)

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

MONDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

ALDERSHOT TOWN V EASTLEIGH
BARROW V AFC FYLDE
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE V MAIDSTONE UNITED
FC HALIFAX TOWN V GATESHEAD
HARTLEPOOL UNITED V GUISELEY
LEYTON ORIENT V MAIDENHEAD UNITED
MACCLESFIELD TOWN V CHESTER
SUTTON UNITED V BROMLEY
TORQUAY UNITED V WOKING
TRANMERE ROVERS V SOLIHULL MOORS
WREXHAM V BOREHAM WOOD