Category: First Team News

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Boss Chris Kinnear talks to the camera following Whites 1-0 home win against Leyton Orient on Saturday.

WHITES BEAT ORIENT

DOVER 1-0 LEYTON ORIENT

Pinnock (82)

MITCH Pinnock’s volley eight minutes from time saw Whites beat Leyton Orient at Crabble on Saturday and move up to seventh in the standings.

The midfielder collected Ade Azeez’ pass and fired into the top corner to score for a fourth successive league match.

The game, the only National League fixture this weekend to survive the freezing temperatures across the UK, started slowly with Azeez’s shot wide from Ryan Bird’s pass the only effort of note in the first quarter of an hour.

Josh Koroma had the game’s first shot on target as home keeper Mitch Walker acrobatically saved the winger’s free kick.

And the from the resultant corner, Craig Clay’s goalbound header bounced off Azeez’ shoulder and over the bar, with some Orient players appealing in vain for a hand ball against Dover’s attacker.

Striker Azeez then nodded Pinnock’s set piece over as the match picked up pace.

The Cambridge loanee tried his luck again shortly after, this time driving straight at visiting keeper Dean Brill from an angle.

Macauley Bonne headed Koroma’s free kick into the hands of Walker and the Zimbabwean international somehow ballooned over as he raced through following a swift Orient counter attack.

Azeez blazed over on the stroke of half time after the away defence unwittingly played him in, with Mitch Brundle quick to vent his frustration at the striker’s decision to go for glory rather than find Dover’s captain at the far post.

Following the restart, Brundle stung the palms of Brill from distance and Orient’s goalie reacted well to turn away Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s backwards header.

Dan Holman almost netted after finding room in the box and fizzing a shot just wide of Walker’s post.

And one of Athletic’s players went even closer moments later.

Brundle’s free kick struck the visiting wall and fell into Nortei Nortey’s path, with the midfielder drilling a 20-yard effort against the base of the post.

Walker foiled another Koroma free kick, flinging himself low to tip the winger’s curler wide.

But it was the 26-year old’s next two saves that proved pivotal to Whites win.

With Holman bearing down on goal, Athletic’s keeper came out quickly to block the striker. Lemar Reynolds then fired the rebound against the post, with Walker spreading himself to deny the lieing-in-wait Ebou Adams.

And once Pinnock struck, Orient were only able to muster one more attempt at goal.

But defender Josh Coulson skewed Bonne’s pass horribly wide deep in injury time as Chris Kinnear’s men held on to register a second successive home league win.

Earlier, Dover’s boss made two changes to the side that started away at Fylde last weekend. Kevin Lokko and Nortey replaced Manny Parry and Liam Bellamy, who began as substitutes.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Lokko, Passley (Okosieme 56), Brundle (c), Nortey (Bellamy 70), Ilesanmi, Pinnock, Bird (Parry 90), Azeez.

Subs not used: Jeffrey, Daniel.

Leyton Orient: Brill, Caprice (Harrold 87), Coulson (c), Widdowson, Ling (Brophy 66), Koroma, Clay, Adams, Reynolds (Ekpiteta 77), Holman, Bonne.

Subs not used: Grainger, Lawless.

Referee: Christopher O’Donnell

Attendance: 1,348 (299 Leyton Orient)

Yellows: Essam, Gallifuoco (Dover)

PREVIEW: WHITES V LEYTON ORIENT

Dover will be looking to avenge their last-16 FA Trophy defeat against Orient when the two sides meet for a second time at Crabble this season.

The O’s, currently 16th in the National League, were victorious last month thanks to David Mooney’s late winner and visiting manager Justin Edinburgh will be confident of a win once again.

You see, his side have won their last three league matches away from home, with wins at Fylde, Halifax and Chester.

But Chris Kinnear will be buoyed his own side’s last home performance.  His charges beat Dagenham & Redbridge thanks to Mitch Pinnock’s spectacular winner.

However Athletic’s boss will be wary of a familiar face this weekend.

Orient striker Dan Holman, on loan from Cheltenham town, scored twice in six loan appearances for Dover in 2015.

PLEASE NOTE THE MATCH IS SEGREGATED.

LEYTON ORIENT’S RECENT FORM

24/02/18: LEYTON ORIENT 3-3 GATESHEAD (FA TROPHY)

Gateshead set up a replay at the International Stadium after coming from three goals down at Brisbane Road.

The hosts looked to be cruising thanks to stunning strikes from Josh Koroma and Ebou Adams either side of the break.

And Orient’s passage to the last four seemed even more certain when Josh Coulson headed in Koroma’s free-kick with just over half an hour left to play.

The visitors scored what seemed a consolation on 68 minutes when Danny Johnson converted Scott Barrow’s cross.

Johnson was then at it again ten minutes later, firing past O’s keeper Dean Brill from a tight angle.

And Richard Peniket kept the Heed’s Wembley dream alive, heading home Rees Greenwood’s pass in injury time.

PREVIOUS MEETING

03/02/18: DOVER 3-4 LEYTON ORIENT

AN impressive comeback was not enough for Whites as they were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Leyton Orient at Crabble.

Sub David Mooney chipped in an injury-time winner after a brace from Ryan Bird and a stunning lob from Mitch Pinnock had seen the hosts overturn a three goal deficit.

George Elokobi had headed the visitors ahead in the first half, with further strikes from Macauley Bonne and Matt Harrold putting the O’s  in control.

Dean Brill had to be alert early on, tipping over Giancarlo Gallifouco’s looping header from Nortei Nortey’s ball.

And it was the visitors who had the lead ten minutes before the break as Elokobi powered in Jobi McAnuff’s corner.

Harrold was within a whisker of doubling Orient’s lead, just missing Jake Caprice’s ball across the goalmouth.

And there was still time for one more chance in a breathless first half as Josh Passley slid in to clear Harrold’s clever finish off the line.

Zimbabwean international Bonne collected the ball 30 yards from goal and curled a stunning effort into the top corner, beyond Walker’s despairing grasp.

And the tie was seemingly over once Harrold stabbed in Elokobi’s knockdown to make it 3-0.

But Dover and in particular Bird had other ideas as the striker fired Pinnock’s shot into the bottom corner to reduce the arrears.

With ten minutes left, Pinnock stylishly pulled his side back into the tie.

The winger took advantage of some miscommunication between Josh Coulson and Brill, lobbing over the stranded Orient keeper from distance.

And the turnaround was complete just one minute later thanks to Bird’s 16th goal in all competitions this season.

The striker slotted his second of the game, following up after Brill tipped sub Kadell Daniel’s angled shot his way.

But Orient sub Mooney had the final say with a classy finish, with Dover unable to muster a leveller in the final moments of the tie.

OTHER MEETING

18/11/18:  Leyton Orient 1-1 Dover

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s (Accompanied by an adult) – Free

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

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

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Chester on Tuesday 6th March and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It departs Crabble at 12:30pm and the the prices are as follows:

Adult members £30, adult non-members £45 and accompanied child (Under 16) £15.

There is also a coach leaving for Eastleigh at 10:45am on Saturday 10th March and the costs are:

Adult members £20, adult non-members £35 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 match against Leyton Orient.

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

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The club are looking for volunteers to help take the new protective covers off the pitch at Crabble at 8am on Saturday ahead of the National League clash with Leyton Orient.

We have taken no chances over the past week and the playing surface has been protected from the elements.

So if you are able to give us a helping hand, please call the club office on 01304 822373 to add your name to the list.

All assistance will be greatly appreciated.

WHITES BEATEN BY COASTERS

FYLDE 3-1 DOVER

Rowe (68) Pinnock (57)
Tasdemir (76)
Hardy (90)

Whites fell out of the play-off places after the Coasters completed a league double against Chris Kinnear’s side at a cold and windy Mill Farm on Saturday.

Mitch Pinnock fired the visitors ahead from close range after the break, but a leveller from Danny Rowe and further strikes from substitutes Serhat Tasmedir and Jason Hardy moved Fylde above Dover in the standings.

Mitch Walker had to be on his toes early in the match to deny Rowe. The National league top scorer latched onto Sam Finley’s pass, but Dover’s stopper blocked the striker’s shot with his body.

A rampaging run from Jordan Tunnicliffe almost ended with Jack Muldoon putting the hosts ahead, but Walker was out quickly once again to smother the ball.

And Athletic’s number one was needed once again to deny the Coasters twice more.

Walker was forced to beat away Jason Taylor’s fierce strike following a Fylde corner and then minutes later, held onto Rowe’s angled drive.

Pinnock collected Ryan Bird’s pass and blasted straight down the throat of Lynch with Dover’s first meaningful attack of the half.

But the best chance of the half occurred at the other end of the pitch.

Finley’s pass found Henry Jones in space a mere few yards from goal, but the midfielder could only stab over the bar.

Fylde skipper Finley then went for the jugular himself, running and despatching a deflected shot which Walker held comfortably,

Bird then almost gave the visitors a half time lead. The striker struck Ade Azeez’ pass into the area inches wide of Lynch’s far post.

But Dover converted their next chance when it arrived after the break.

Josh Passley escaped down the right and crossed for Azeez to head into the path of the onrushing Pinnock to blast his side in front.

Simon Grand headed against the bar via the face of Walker as the home side pushed for an equaliser.

And parity was indeed restored minutes later through their danger man Rowe.

The forward, who scored the winner at Crabble when the two sides met in November, turned his markers on the edge of the box and arrowed his 19th goal of the season into the bottom corner.

Eight minutes later the turnaround was complete via Tasmedir.

The substitute collected Finley’s pass outside the area and crashed a shot past a helpless Walker.

Bird headed Tunnicliffe’s goalbound effort off the line, but the points were wrapped up in injury time through another Fylde substitute.

Rowe released Tasdemir, and though the midfielder’s curling shot hit the post, hardy followed up to lift the ball into the roof of the net after rounding a defender.

Dover next host Leyton Orient in the league on Saturday 3rd March. Kick off 3pm.

Fylde: Lynch, Montrose, Angol, Tunnicliffe, Bond, Finley (c), Rowe, Muldoon, Taylor (Hardy 65), Grand, Jones (Tasdemire 73).

Subs not used: Blinkhorn, Smith, Burke.

Dover: Walker, Passley (Okosieme 75), Gallifuoco, Parry (Lokko 77), Essam, Ilesanmi, Brundle (c), Bellamy, Pinnock, Bird, Azeez (Daniel 82).

Subs not used: Nortey, Jeffrey.

Referee: Peter Wright

Attendance: 1,622

AZEEZ JOINS WHITES ON LOAN

Cambridge United striker Ade Azeez has arrived on loan.

The 24-year-old has made 16 appearances for the League 2 side after joining from Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle on a two-year deal last summer.

Azeez, who will wear the No.30 shirt, scored three goals in 46 appearances during his one season with Partick.

He previously found the back of the net 14 times in 98 appearances for AFC Wimbledon, helping them win promotion out of League 2 in 2016.

Azeez, who has represented the England under-19s on three occasions, started his career with Charlton Athletic and had loan spells with Wycombe, Leyton Orient, Torquay and Dagenham & Redbridge while with the Addicks.

He will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s National League game at AFC Fylde.

Welcome to Dover Azeez!!

PREVIEW: AFC FYLDE V WHITES

AFC FYLDE V WHITES

Whites will be aiming to make it back-to-back National League victories when they travel to Mill Farm for the first time in their history this weekend.

Boss Chris Kinnear, who reaches 1,500 matches as a manager on Saturday, saw his side beat Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night to bounce back from two consecutive league defeats.

And it’s Dave Challinor’s Coasters who are on such a run, having lost to Leyton Orient and Guiseley in their last two matches.

But the hosts, currently ninth in the standings and two points behind Dover, will still be in confident mood, especially as they boast the division’s top-scorer in their ranks.

Striker Danny Rowe has netted 18 times in the National League so far this season.

FYLDE’S RECENT FORM

20/02/18: GUISELEY 1-0 AFC FYLDE

John Rooney’s late goal handed Sean St Ledger a first win as caretaker manager of the Lions.

The striker slotted home four minutes from time as bottom club Guiseley ended a run of 10 National League matches without a victory.

The division’s top-scorer Rowe raced clear onto Jonathan Smith’s pass, but was denied by home keeper Luke Coddington.

Player/caretaker boss St Ledger’s cross was headed off the line by Jordan Tunnicliffe and it looked like the hosts had missed their chance of three points when Jay Lynch saved from Dayle Southwell.

But Rooney had the final say to move his side two points behind second-bottom-of-the-table Torquay.

PREVIOUS MEETING

25/11/17: DOVER 0-1 AFC FYLDE

Dover dropped to fifth after Rowe scored the only goal of the game at Crabble..

Rowe stunned a  home crowd of 2,860 – in attendance for the club’s second Community Day of the season – with a goal 12 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 Pinnock’s cross. Ryan Bird then headed straight at visiting keeper Jay Lynch from Pinnock’s accurate cross.

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 but were unable to find a way past Lynch as the goalkeeper made a succession of impressive saves.

Lynch 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 was 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.

TEAM COLOURS

For those wanting to wear the same colour shirts as the players, captain Mitch Brundle and his team mates will be wearing their yellow ones.

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Standing: Adults – £13, Junior (Under 16’s) – £5
Sitting: Adults – £16, Junior (Under 16’s) – £9

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

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE V CHESTER
EASTLEIGH V FC HALIFAX TOWN
HARTLEPOOL UNITED V EBBSFLEET UNITED
MACCLESFIELD TOWN V MAIDENHEAD UNITED
MAIDSTONE UNITED V TRANMERE ROVERS
SUTTON UNITED V GUISELEY
WOKING V BOREHAM WOOD
WREXHAM V ALDERSHOT TOWN

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Chester on Tuesday 6th March and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It departs Crabble at 12:30pm and the the prices are as follows:

Adult members £30, adult non-members £45 and accompanied child (Under 16) £15.

There is also a coach leaving for Eastleigh at 10:45am on Saturday 10th March and the costs are:

Adult members £20, adult non-members £35 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 match against Leyton Orient (Pending FA Trophy results).

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