Category: First Team News

BIRD GOAL COMPLETES COMEBACK

DOVER 2-2 MAIDSTONE

(Nortey 58)  (Piggott (36,41)
(Bird 80)

RYAN Bird’s goal ten minutes from time saw Whites complete an impressive second half comeback in a thrilling Boxing Day Kent derby at a rainy Crabble.

Trailing to two Joe Piggott strikes at the break, Nortei Nortey headed home shortly after the restart and Bird pounced to level the scores after visiting keeper Lee Worgan parried sub Kadell Daniel’s cross-cum-shot to Athletic’s top scorer.

The visitors fashioned the first chance, but Aaron Collins was unable to direct Piggott’s high ball into the box on target.

The Wolves loanee then tried again, this time testing home stopper Mitch Walker from twenty-yards.

Dover’s first shot on target came on 21 minutes from Bird as he headed Mitch Pinnock’s free-kick straight at Worgan.

And Anthony Jeffrey also attempted to score with his head, but nodded Josh Passley’s centre well wide of the mark.

A set piece provided Whites next chance as Connor Essam nodded over Pinnock’s corner.

And seconds later Bird almost put the hosts ahead.  The striker fired Femi Ilesanmi’s low cross towards the bottom corner, but Worgan flung himself to tip the ball around the post.

But it was the away side who had the lead ten minutes before the break.

Seth Nana Twusami took advantage of hesitation by Jeffrey and crossed for Collins, who flicked the ball away from Walker’s clutches and straight to the laying-in-wait Piggott to take a touch and curl into the far corner.

And Maidstone’s top scorer doubled his match tally minutes later.

The forward was left alone in the box to power in his 12th of the season from Jamar Loza’s accurate cross.

The forward almost had his hat-trick after the break, but was unable to get the better of Walker at the near post after winning a tussle in the penalty area.

Skipper Mitch Brundle almost had Dover back in contention, striking the underside of the crossbar with a stunning 30-yard lob.

And Athletic went close again minutes later with Worgan forced to tip over Passley’s floated ball into the box.

The home pressure continued with Bird a whisker away from connecting to Pinnock’s driven pass across the goalmouth.

But Dover were back in the game with just over 30 minutes left of the clock.

Passley tossed in a ball from the right for Nortey to head into the bottom corner – past Worgan’s despairing grasp.

The home crowd were almost celebrating an equaliser shortly after, but Kadell Daniel stabbed over Manny Parry’s ball to him from close range.

But the substitute proved integral to Whites equaliser ten minutes from time.  The winger’s long-range shot from an angle deceived Worgan, who could only parry the ball upwards, allowing Bird to gleefully prod in his twelfth National League goal of the season.

Stones’ goalie faired better when blocking Pinnock’s lashed effort with his legs as the home team searched for a winner.

And it looked like Giancarlo Gallifuoco would complete a stunning turnaround, but Worgan somehow caught the Australian’s point-blank header from Brundle’s cross.

Earlier, boss Kinnear kept with the same side that drew at Wrexham on Saturday.

Whites next host FC Halifax Town on Saturday 30th December.  Kick off 3pm.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi, Gallifuoco, Parry, Esssam, Brundle (c), Pinnock, Bird, Nortey, Jeffrey (Daniel 54).

Subs not used: Richards, Fazakerley, Alabi, Dean-Conteh.

Maidstone: Worgan (c), Finney (Okuonghae 15), Wynter, Lewis, Loza (Prestedge 70), Anderson, Reason, Twusami, Hines, Piggott, Collins.

Subs not used: Hare, Paxman, Wraight.

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Attendance: 2,078

 

PREVIEW: DOVER V MAIDSTONE

Whites will be aiming to make it five matches unbeaten when they host Kent rivals Maidstone on Boxing Day.

Jay Saunders men drew 1-1 at Crabble in the same fixture last season and will be in confident mood after two matches unbeaten on the road.

But Chris Kinnear will be hoping his side can continue with their impressive defensive form.

Athletic have conceded just 17 goals so far this campaign – the least in the National League – and have kept three consecutive clean sheets.

MAIDSTONE’S RECENT FORM

MAIDSTONE 0-2 LEYTON ORIENT

Leyton Orient won back-to-back games in the National League for the first time since September with victory at the Gallagher Stadium.

Bondz N’Gala tucked away James Dayton’s corner ten minutes before the break to give the visitors the lead.

And Macauley Bonne doubled the advantage shorty afterwards with a sharp turn and shot after collecting Jake Caprice’s pass.

Joe Pigott missed from close range for the Stones late on and the win sees Orient move six points clear of the bottom four.

PREVIOUS MEETING

01/01/17 – MAIDSTONE 1-4 DOVER

Clinical finishing saw Dover climb two places into fourth in the National League after a 4-1 win against Maidstone United at a cold and wet Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Moses Emmanuel’s double set Whites on their way and though Vas Karagiannis pulled one back for the hosts, Ross Lafayette and Ricky Miller ensured boss Chris Kinnear’s side came away with the three points.

Emmanuel broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion with his 10th league goal of the season in the 28th minute.

Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan brilliantly saved Emmanuel’s first effort from the edge of the area after a clever pass from Miller, but the rebound fell straight back for the forward to fire into the top corner.

Emmanuel then shot straight at Worgan when put through by Richard Orlu, but he did not have to wait long for his second as he smashed home Lafayette’s cross from an angle on 54 minutes to double Dover’s lead.

Maidstone searched for a way back into the game and Sam Magri was well positioned to clear away Alex Flisher’s drive.

The home side did pull a goal back on 58 minutes as Yemi Odubade’s low cross was slid home by Karagiannis.

Lafayette’s deadly strike on 74 ended any hopes of a comeback as he collected a ball from Orlu and fired across Worgan to take his league goal tally into double figures for the campaign.

Miller, who was feeling under the weather, sealed the win after he ran onto Lafayette’s through ball to slot home in injury time.

OTHER MEETING

26/12/16 – DOVER 1-1 MAIDSTONE

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)

LEYTON ORIENT V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE (13:00)
ALDERSHOT TOWN V WOKING
BARROW V WREXHAM
BOREHAM WOOD V SUTTON UNITED
CHESTER V GUISELEY
EASTLEIGH V TORQUAY UNITED
EBBSFLEET UNITED V BROMLEY
GATESHEAD V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
MACCLESFIELD TOWN V FC HALIFAX TOWN
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V SOLIHULL MOORS
TRANMERE ROVERS V AFC FYLDE

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Maidstone on Monday 1st January and it’s not too late to book a seat on it.

Prices are as follows:

Adult members £12, adult non-members £25 and accompanied child (Under 16) £6.

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

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

WHITES GAIN POINT AT WREXHAM

WREXHAM 0-0 DOVER

Whites continued their unbeaten run against Wrexham with a goalless draw at the Racecourse ground on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams led the way in the National League goals conceded column prior to kick off and that trend continued in a match of few opportunities.

The first chance of note fell to George Miller, but the Middlesbrough loanee sliced horribly wide after Connor Essam misjudged a long ball.

Minutes late, home keeper Chris Dunn was at full stretch to turn away Nortei Nortey’s speculative twenty-yard effort.

Dragons fans celebrations were cut short as Scott Boden was unable to connect to Miller’s dangerous cross.

And Miller almost gave the Welsh side the lead on the stroke of half-time with a header, only for Femi Ilesanmi to flick the ball away for a corner before the striker could make contact with the ball.

The resulting set piece saw a clash of heads between Essam and Manny Parry, leaving both defenders sprawled on the floor needing treatment after the referee signalled for half-time.

Both players eventually made their way down the tunnel to join the manager’s teamtalk, but only Parry returned for the restart with Essam unable to continue.  Loui Fazakerley came on to take the place of Dover’s sweeper.

Both Gallifuoco and Shaun Pearson flashed headers wide at the break, with Marcus Kelly curling a free-kick straight into the arms of Mitch Walker shortly afterwards.

And Dover’s stopper was then called into action as Wrexham fashioned their best chance of the match.

James Jennings’ pinpoint cross was directed goalwards by Miller, but his header lacked the power to truly test Walker, who comfortably dived onto the ball.

Athletic’s number one was far more concerned by Jennings’ drive, flinging himself across his goalline as the fullback fizzed a twenty-yard shot narrowly wide.

The home side fashioned one more chance late on, but Walker was well placed to hold onto Paul Rutherford’s volley after Kevin Roberts’ attempted shot cannoned towards the midfielder.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the side that beat Eastbourne in the FA Trophy last week.  Josh Passley returned in place of Ejiro Okosieme, who is injured.

The point sees Athletic rise one place to third in the table, three points behind current leaders Macclesfield Town.

Dover next host Maidstone on Tuesday 26th December.  Kick off 3pm.

Wrexham:  Dunn, Jennings, Smith, Pearson (c), Wedgbury, Holroyd, Miller (Massanka 88), Rutherford, Kelly, Roberts, Boden.

Subs not used:  Dibble, Mackreth, Hurst, Carrington.

Dover:  Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam (Fazakerley 45), Parry, Passley (Richards 85), Ilesanmi, Brundle (c), Nortey, Pinnock, Bird, Jeffrey (Daniel 65).

Subs not used:  Alabi, Deen-Conteh.

Attendance:  4,980

Referee:  Thomas Bramall

PREVIEW: DOVER V WREXHAM

Whites are back in league action on Saturday when they make the 272 mile-long trip to North Wales to face third-placed Wrexham.

And boss Chris Kinnear will be in confident mood as his side look to continue their impressive record away at their National League promotion rivals.

Dover are yet to taste defeat at the Racecourse Ground, winning once and drawing twice in their three previous visits.

However, a tough test is ahead for Athletic as Dean Keates’ men boast the joint best home record in the division so far this campaign, having accrued 25 points from 12 matches.

Visiting fans might well recognise one of the players on show on Saturday.

James Hurst made 14 appearances for Athletic last season.

WREXHAM’S RECENT FORM

WREXHAM 0-2 HARROGATE

Mark Beck came back to haunt his former side with a goal in each half to send the Harrogate into round two of the FA Trophy.

The striker rose above Doug Tharme to nod home the opener just before the break and headed in Ryan Fallowfield’s centre to double the lead on 69 minutes.

Dragon’s boss Keates, opting to make seven changes to the side that lost 4-1 at Macclesfield last weekend, only saw his team create one chance of note as away keeper James Belshaw saved well from Scott Boden’s header.

And Town could have added gloss to the scoreline, but Beck’s drilled effort flew wide of the mark.

PREVIOUS MEETING

12/08/17 – DOVER 1-0 WREXHAM

Ryan Bird’s first goal of the season helped Whites bounce back from their Tuesday night home loss to Bromley with a narrow win on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Crabble.

The striker struck home Kane Richards’ unselfish lay-off on 19 minutes as Athletic made it seven games unbeaten, including four victories, against their Welsh counterparts.

Mitch Walker had to be at his best to stop the visitors going ahead early on, the Dover stopper bravely blocking Mark Carrington’s close range effort after Manny Parry’s attempted clearance landed in his path.

But Bird put the home side in front and the forward almost had a second via his head as he directed Femi Ilesanmi’s cross over the bar.

Nortei Nortey almost stunned his former side with a 25-yard shot, with visiting keeper Chris Dunn at full stretch to tip his effort away.

Substitute Kadell Daniel almost sealed the win late on, but his glorious curling strike fizzed just wide of the far post.

The away side almost stole an unlikely point at the death, but Shaun Pearson could only direct his header wide with the goal gaping.

OTHER MEETINGS

11/02/17 – DOVER 1-0 WREXHAM
06/08/16 – WREXHAM 0-0 DOVER
09/04/16 – WREXHAM 0-1 DOVER

TEAM COLOURS

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

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £20
Over 64 / Under 21 – £15
Over 80 / Under 18 – £8
Under 18 (With an accompanying adult) – £3
Under 11 (With an accompanying adult) – £1

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

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

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Maidstone on Monday 1st January and it’s not too late to book a seat on it.

Prices are as follows:

Adult members £12, adult non-members £25 and accompanied child (Under 16) £6.

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

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

The Buildbase FA Trophy

FA TROPHY DRAW

Our Buildbase FA Trophy campaign continues with a second round tie against Evo-Stik League Northern Premier side Marine at Crabble.

Marine won 3-1 at National League North play-off chasers Chorley 3-1 in Saturday’s round.

The tie is scheduled to take place on Saturday 13th January.

FULL DRAW:

1 Ebbsfleet United v Warrington Town or Altrincham
2 Kidderminster Harriers v Stockport County
3 East Thurrock United v Chester
4 Bognor Regis Town v Leyton Orient
5 Braintree Town or Brackley Town v Barrow
6 Chesham United or Weston Super Mare v Workington
7 Billericay Town v Stourbridge
8 FC Halifax Town or Macclesfield Town v Maidenhead United
9 Maidstone United v Hampton & Richmond Borough or Heybridge Swifts
10 Dover Athletic v Marine
11 Gateshead or Guiseley v Dartford or Boreham Wood
12 Wealdstone v Hereford
13 Sutton United v Hendon
14 Blyth Spartans or AFC Telford United v Bromley
15 Spennymore Town or Gainsborough Trinity v Solihull Moors or Tranmere Rovers
16 St Albans City v Harrogate Town

 

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Goalscorer Mitch Pinnock speaks to the camera following Whites 3-0 FA Trophy first round win against Eastbourne at Crabble on Saturday.