Category: First Team News

WHITES LOSE TO SUTTON

DOVER 0-1 SUTTON
(Cadogan 26)

WHITES promotion hopes were dealt a blow as Kieron Cadogan struck a first half winner for 10-man U’s in wet and muddy conditions at Crabble.

The midfielder collected Tommy Wright’s cross and placed the ball past home keeper Mitch Walker into the net, via the far post, as Chris Kinnear’s men fell out of the top seven for the first time this season.

The game sparked into life instantly, with visiting stopper Jamie Butler turning away Ryan Bird’s snapshot. A ricochet then saw Harry Beautyman run clear through, only for Walker to deny the midfielder with his legs.

Butler then tipped over Femi Ilesanmi’s 20-yard rocket from the edge of the box and Bird was unable to slip the ball past the visiting goalie when the striker went through one-on-one .

After watching a Cadogan effort deflect just wide, Walker tipped away Wright’s ricocheted angled strike and then turned behind Simon Walton’s long range curler.

But there was nothing Athletic’s goalie could do about Sutton’s opener, although his teammates almost levelled instantly.

However Butler palmed over Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s backwards header from a free kick.

And Walker produced a similar save from Terell Thomas to stop the away team doubling their advantage.

Wright showed some clever skill to beat Mitch Brundle on the wing, but fizzed his shot just past the wrong side of the post.

And Kane Richards almost had Athletic level at the break, but Butler was out quickly save the winger’s close range effort.

After the restart, Louis John headed just wide from a corner and Josh Passley’s last-ditch block denied Tom Bolarinwa a tap-in after the winger had rounded Walker.

Sub Kadell Daniel almost made an immediate impact, but connected with fresh air rather than Ilesanmi’s pass with the goal gaping.

Goalkeeper Walker then produced his best save of the night to deny John.

The 26-year old dived low to somehow keep out the defender’s bullet header from a corner, collecting the ball at the second attempt.

And Whites received a boost on the hour mark when Beautyman was shown a red card.

The midfielder’s rash challenge on Connor Essam saw the former Peterborough man receive his marching orders.

Dover looked to make their man advantage count as Gallifuoco inadvertently blocked Essam’s goalbound shot.

Butler then clawed the ball away from underneath his own crossbar following a melee in the penalty area.

And Sutton’s keeper twice stopped Athletic from equalising in injury time.

Firstly, he beat away Brundle’s near post header from Pinnock’s corner and then blocked Bird’s close range strike with his face.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that started last week’s game against Leyton Orient as Kane Richards replaced Anthony Jeffrey, who was ineligible to face his parent club.

The result sees Dover drop three places to ninth in the table.

Athletic next travel to Solihull on Saturday 17th February. Kick off 3pm.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Nortey (Alabi 75), Brundle (c), Ilesanmi, Richards (Daniel 55), Bird, Pinnock.

Subs not used: Fazakerley, Okosieme, Bellamy.

Sutton: Butler, Collins (c), John, T. Thomas, Bolarinwa (A.Thomas 78), Walton, Bailey (Downer 86), Davis, Cadogan (Dundas 70), Beautyman, Wright.

Subs not used: Hudson-Odoi, Coombes.

Attendance:1,027

Referee: Thomas Bramall

PREVIEW: WHITES V SUTTON

Dover will be aiming to keep up their recent upturn in league form when they host fifth placed U’s side on Saturday.

Chris Kinnear’s men, one place and one point behind this weekend’s opponents, have won their last two National League matches following a prior five-game winless run in the division.

And Sutton themselves are also in good league form, unbeaten in three games with wins against Dagenham & Redbridge and Gateshead.

Home fans might recognise a familiar face at the weekend with U’s defender Aswad Thomas, playing 68 times for Whites over a two-year period

One player that won’t feature is Anthony Jeffrey. The winger is inelegible to face his parent club.

SUTTON’S RECENT FORM

03/03/18:  BRACKLEY 3-1 SUTTON

Sutton’s FA Trophy campaign was ended by National League North Brackley Town last Saturday.

Harry Beautyman and Terrell Thomas both went close to putting the visitors ahead, but it was Town who led on 27 minutes after Lee Ndlovu prodded in from a corner.

The advantage was doubled from the spot five minutes before the break after Jimmy Armson was bundled over in the area, allowing Aaron Williams to slot in his 23rd goal of the season.

Home keeper Danny Lewis saved from from sub Tom Bolarinwa as Paul Doswell’s team pushed for a way back into the match.

But Armson’s run and cool finish sealed Brackley’s spot in the quarter-finals just before the hour mark, though Tommy Wright was able to pull a goal back for United in injury time.

PREVIOUS MEETING

03/10/18 SUTTON 2-2 DOVER

MANNY Parry scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to grab a point for Athletic in an exciting encounter at the Knight’s Community Stadium on a Tuesday night.

The defender reacted quickest in the box to fire home after Connor Essam had headed sub Kane Richards’ deep cross back into the goalmouth.

Chris Kinnear’s men had taken a first-half lead through Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s smart turn and shot, but two stunning strikes from Tommy Wright and Keiron Cadogan after the break put the hosts in front until Parry struck.

The visitors started brightly with Ryan Bird heading Josh Passley’s pinpoint cross wide and Paul Lewis firing past the post via a deflection.

Home keeper Jamie Butler was out quickly to block Jamie Allen after the forward found himself in space, with Bird’s follow-up cleared off the line.

The stopper then acrobatically tipped away Femi Ilesanmi’s header as Whites continued to press.

And that pressure paid off as Gallifuoco struck on 36 minutes.

The Australian controlled Mitch Pinnock’s free-kick, before swivelling and firing past a helpless Butler to grab his third of the season.

Mitch Walker had to tip over United’s first shot on target – a set-piece from Simon Walton just before half-time.

Following the restart, Gallifuoco drove forward and tested Butler with a low drive and Sutton manager Paul Doswell introduced striker Wright from the bench on 68 minutes.

And the substitute made an immediate impact, arrowing a volley into the top corner from the edge of the box two minutes after entering the action.

Ross Lafayette tested Walker moments later with a stinging drive, but the host’s turnaround was complete on 80 minutes.

Cadogan’s 20-yard volley flew through a crowded area and flashed past Walker before the Dover stopper could react.

But Parry had the final say as Whites dropped one place in the table, a point behind new leaders Macclesfield Town.

OTHER MEETINGS

29/11/16: Sutton 0-6 Dover
04/10/16: Dover 3-1 Sutton

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s – 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 (3pm kick off unless stated)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BARROW V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
BROMLEY V MAIDSTONE UNITED
EASTLEIGH V BOREHAM WOOD
EBBSFLEET UNITED V SOLIHULL MOORS
GATESHEAD V AFC FYLDE
LEYTON ORIENT V TRANMERE ROVERS
MACCLESFIELD TOWN V GUISELEY
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V TORQUAY UNITED
WOKING V CHESTER
WREXHAM V FC HALIFAX TOWN
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE V ALDERSHOT TOWN (5:30pm)

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Solihull Moors on Saturday 17th February and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It departs Crabble at 9:15am and the the prices are as follows:

Adult members £25, adult non-members £40 and accompanied child (Under 16) £10.

There is also a coach leaving for Fylde at 7am on Saturday 24th February and the costs are:

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

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

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

WHITES LOSE TO ORIENT IN TROPHY

DOVER 3-4 LEYTON ORIENT

(Bird 57, 82)   (Elokobi 35)
(Pinnock 81)   (Bonne 48)
(Harrold 53)
(Mooney 90)

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

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.

Brill then expertly turned away Anthony Jeffrey’s fierce drive and Connor Essam stabbed Pinnock’s cross wide.

Home keeper Walker denied Harrold with his legs after the striker was put through by Ebou Adams.

Walker was left motionless as Bonne dragged Lemar Reynolds cross narrowly wide and Whites’ goalie was then called into action to acrobatically turn away a long range drive from Reynolds.

There was a melee in the penalty area from the resulting corner with Harrold, Bonne and Coulson all unable to breach the Dover backline before Essam was finally able to clear the danger.

The action was soon at the other end as Brill dived to catch Gallifouco’s header from Pinnock’s free kick.

But the visitors had the lead ten minutes before the break as Elokobi powered in McAnuff’s corner.

It was almost an instant reply through Nortey’s low shot, but Brill was down quickly to palm the midfielder’s effort wide.

Mitch Brundle then nearly added to his repertoire of spectacular goals, volleying inches past the wrong side of the post from the edge of the area.

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.

Bird almost continued his record of scoring in each round of the competition so far, heading Pinnock’s cross straight at Brill.

And that miss proved costly as Bonne doubled his side’s lead

The Zimbabwean international 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.

And the Dover fans were celebrating once more shortly afterwards.

But the cheers soon faded when they realised Jeffrey’s 20 yard rocket had flown into the side netting.

Walker kept Athletic in the tie, firstly denying Harrold after Adams teed up the attacker.

Whites’ keeper then produced a magnificent save to stop Bonne after Gallifuoco miscued a clearance, then denied the same striker after Bonne returned his weak kick out with interest, with Walker sprinting back to his own area and landing on the goalbound ball.

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

The winger took advantage of some miscommunication between 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 David Mooney had the final say with a classy finish, with Dover unable to muster a leveller in the final moments of the tie.

Earlier, boss Kinnear kept with the same side that started last weekend’s win against Guiseley.

James Alabi and Chris Lewington returned as substitutes in place of Loui Fazakerley and Kane Richards.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle (c), Nortey (Bellamy 61), Ilesanmi, Jeffrey (Daniel 72), Bird (Alabi 86), Pinnock.

Subs not used: Lewington, Okosieme.

Leyton Orient: Brill, Caprice, Coulson, Elokobi, Widdowson, McAnuff (c), Adams, Clay, Reynolds (Brophy 67), Harrold (Mooney 80), Bonne.

Subs not used: Sargeant, Koroma, Happe

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 1,016

FA TROPHY PREVIEW: WHITES V LEYTON ORIENT

Dover will be aiming to progress to the quarter finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy for the third time in four seasons when they host Justin Edinburgh’s side on Saturday.

Whites have played both previous rounds at Crabble, beating National South Eastbourne Borough (3-0) and Evo-Stik Premier Marine (4-3) to reach this stage.

The O’s are on the road for the third consecutive time in this competition, having knocked out Essex Senior League Haringey Borough (2-1) and National South Bognor Regis (2-1) to set up Saturday’s tie.

PLEASE NOTE THE GAME IS SEGREGATED

LEYTON ORIENT’S RECENT FORM

30/01/18: FC HALIFAX 1-2 LEYTON ORIENT

Orient secured their first win of 2018 with a crucial win at the Shay.

Macauley Bonne fired the visitors ahead on 18 minutes, collecting Dan Holman’s pass and firing past Sam Johnson in the Halifax goal.

Bonne headed narrowly over, but it was the hosts who levelled shortly after the half hour mark.

Josh MacDonald’s cross caused mayhem in the O’s box, allowing Tom Denton to fire in from close range.

But the away side were back in front six minutes later thanks to Josh Koroma. The midfielder drilled past Johnson for his second goal of the campaign.

Bonne set Jobi McAnuff clear in injury time, but Halifax’s stopper stood strong to deny the winger.

PREVIOUS MEETING:

18/11/17 LEYTON ORIENT 1-1 DOVER

Mitch Walker’s spectacular late save preserved a hard-earned point for Whites at a rain-swept Brisbane Road.

Athletic’s keeper blocked Macaulay Bonne’s point-black header from six yards with his legs as Chris Kinnear’s men extended their unbeaten league run to ten matches.

Nortei Nortey had curled the visitors ahead in the first half, but a deflected effort from Craig Clay 12 minutes from time had the O’s level.

The away side almost made the perfect start for when James Alabi bore down on goal following a mistake by Joe Widdowson, but home keeper Sam Sargeant, a late addition to the starting line-up after Orient’s first choice stopper Charlie Grainger injured himself in the warmup, denied the striker with his feet.

But Kinnear’s men were not to be kept out for long and Nortey collected Alabi’s pass and fired past a diving Sargeant much to the delight of the 537 travelling fans.

Dover keeper Walker tipped away Bonne’s header from a corner, but a goalmouth scramble ensued with Zimbabwe international Bonne poking an effort towards goal with Connor Essam clearing off the line.

But Leyton Orient’s pressure finally paid off as Clay run onto James Brophy’s pass and found the net from inside the box via a deflection in spite of Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s best efforts to keep the ball out.

And the home team, with caretaker boss Russ Embleton in charge following the dismissal of Steve Davis as manager earlier in the week, almost snatched a late winner as Bonne leapt highest to meet James Dayton’s ball into the box, only to be denied by Walker.

Jobi McAnuff fired a free-kick narrowly over in injury time as Dover kept their place at the top of the table, one point clear of Wrexham in second spot.

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s – 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 FA TROPHY & NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

FA TROPHY

BRACKLEY TOWN v SUTTON UNITED
HARROGATE TOWN v BILLERICAY TOWN
MAIDENHEAD UNITED v STOCKPORT COUNTY
MAIDSTONE UNITED v GATESHEAD
SPENNYMOOR TOWN v EAST THURROCK UNITED
WEALDSTONE v WARRINGTON TOWN
WORKINGTON v BROMLEY

NATIONAL LEAGUE

AFC FYLDE v EASTLEIGH
FC HALIFAX TOWN v DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
GUISELEY v WREXHAM
TORQUAY UNITED v BARROW
TRANMERE ROVERS v EBBSFLEET UNITED

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Solihull Moors on Saturday 17th February and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It departs Crabble at 9:15am and the the prices are as follows:

Adult members £25, adult non-members £40 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 matches against Leyton Orient or Sutton.

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

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

I can announce that I have now submitted our full application for membership to the English Football League (EFL) as I believe we now meet all of the required criteria and await their response in the near future.

The position we are in is the culmination of 12 years hard work and major investment into our Crabble stadium.

In the last two years you have seen a new Family Stand, containing dressing rooms and official’s facilities that fully meet requirements, as well as the safety control room, the installation of over 50 cameras, renewal of our public address system and the inclusion of our disabled viewing platform with lift.

This was followed by new floodlights to provide the LUX values required by the EFL and a new executive lounge with a new entrance behind the Centre Spot to provide much needed VIP facilities.

The latest addition, finished only last week, are new safety barriers required because if promoted we will not be able to use the flat standing areas behind the goals.

The barriers were required to increase capacity to the terraced areas in order to meet minimum membership requirements for the EFL.

With the exception of the grant for the family stand, these improvements have been largely financed by myself and my wife Sally with a little help from sponsors, but could not have been achieved without a great deal of practical help from,  in particular, Neil Cook and John Heath – my sincere thanks to them.

I would also like to thank our Consultant Engineer Simon Oakley and Mark Duly from Kent Fire and Rescue for their assistance.

It has also been a challenge to ensure we have medical staff with the required qualifications and we welcome back to the Club Paul Wilson as head Physiotherapist.

Paul is eminently qualified and comes to us having obtained Football League experience.

We now have a fantastic team of three Doctors led by Dr Cox and my thanks go to him Dr Gregory and Dr Cardwell for their support.

I also welcome Chris Fudge who is now assisting us in the requirement for a trained Paramedic.

Many of these requirements will no doubt be a surprise to the majority of supporters but the rules for membership are stringent and are rigorously enforced.

Without compliance we would not be eligible for the play-offs, let alone promotion.

Of course we are only in this position because of the fantastic exploits of our team on the pitch and the Management Staff.

They deserve many accolades and these will be forthcoming as the business end of the season progresses.

But most of all they deserve the support of the Town, so please get your friends up to Crabble to roar the Team over the line.

It is a great pity that we now read that Chester FC are reporting financial difficulties and that they join Hartlepool United in facing an uncertain future.

It is a mystery to me how a club receiving an £800,000  plus parachute payment can be in this position, but there we are.

It is important to remind supporters of the financial reality of running Clubs at this level particularly when competing with the Clubs with larger bankrolls.

In our case, we do not have the largest budget, nor do we have the smallest, but we have moved into a phase where some players are full-time and require 52-week contracts.

We have to keep, our feet on the ground and not let the “red mist” descend or we will soon be in the same position as the Clubs mentioned above.

So please, when discussing which player we should sign this week or next week try and consider where the money is coming from.

There is no point having players to win things if the facilities mean that you can’t be promoted, several Clubs will experience that pain this year.

To put into context the cost of watching football at our level and Dover Athletic in particular, an average gate receipt after deducting V.A.T. at 20% and match day costs will pay approximately half of that week’s wages, so all the other running costs plus a great deal of the wage bill rely on sponsorship and frankly my support.

We want success and I know our supporters want success, but without income and people coming through the gates on a match day that task requires a massive leap of faith on my part.

I ask everyone to try and do their bit you can all make a big difference if you can get just one person to join you on match days.

Thanks for reading and best wishes to you all.

Jim