Dover suffered their first defeat in pre-season after a goal in each half from Jake Forster-Caskey and substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild saw League One Charlton win 2-0 at Crabble on Tuesday.

There was little action in the first 10 minutes of Dover’s third friendly until Forster-Caskey struck the angle of post and bar from outside the area before Kane Richards’ low effort flew just wide minutes later.

Visiting goalkeeper Dillon Phillips had to be at his agile best to tip away Connor Essam’s header from Mitch Brundle’s corner and the centre back was presented with another goalscoring opportunity 10 minutes later.

Brundle’s free-kick was flicked into the path of Essam, but the defender appeared to not realise he only had the goalie to beat and nodded harmlessly over.

The away side opened the scoring just before the break after Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis’ cross found Forster-Caskey and the midfielder made no mistake with a close range header.

Dover replied with captain Brundle having free-kick held by Phillips at the second attempt.

Brundle’s side continued to push forward after the break and half-time substitute Loui Fazakerley’s foray into the box ended with a shot on target, but Charlton’s stopper comfortably dealt with his effort.

The right-back ventured forward again minutes later, this time slinging a dangerous cross into the box, but fellow substitute Mitch Pinnock was unable to convert.

A trio of chances involving both sides were missed on the hour point.

Essam flashed a header wide from a Pinnock delivery before sub Tobi-Sho Silva fired an twenty yard effort inches wide.

At the other end, nice interplay involving Magennis and Karlan Ahearne-Grant ended with the latter blazing over when well placed.

Mark Marshall created space for the himself to shoot, but Dover goalkeeper Mitch Walker was equal to his effort, diving left to push the ball to safety.

Walker was also on hand to deny Aaron Phillips attempt to go around him.

The Addicks made the game safe right at the death with Joe Aribo laying the ball off to Hackett-Fairchild to fire home.

Earlier, manager Chris Kinnear named an unchanged starting side from the team that drew with Gillingham on Saturday.

Dover: Walker, Trialist (Trialist 46mins), Ilesanmi (Essuman 46mins), Gallifuoco (Barnard 79mins), Parry (Trialist 46mins), Essam, Richards (Trialist 46mins), Brundle (Pinnock 46mins), Bird (Sho-Silva 46mins), Allen (Fazakerley 46mins), Trialist (Trialist 78mins).

Sub not used: Trialist.

Charlton: Phillips; Barnes, Sarr, Konsa (Dijksteel 82mins), Jackson (Charles-Cook 21mins); Marshall (Carter 85mins), Crofts, Forster-Caskey (Aribo 62mins), Ahearne-Grant; Clarke (Stewart 67mins), Magennis (Hackett-Fairchild 71mins).

Subs not used: Beeney, Bowry

Attendance:: 835

 

 

Dover and Gillingham shared the spoils in an exciting all-Kent pre-season friendly thanks to Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s second half tap in.

The defender, who signed a one year deal with Athletic earlier this week, punished Gillingham goalkeeper Thomas Holy after the Czech stopper allowed Mitch Brundle’s free kick to wriggle underneath his body and into the path of the Australian.

Ryan Bird had earlier given the home side the lead five minutes into the first half, but Gillingham hit back through goals from Connor Wilkinson and Luke O’Neill before Gallifuco levelled.

Dover made the perfect start as Bird expertly directed Femi Ilesamni’s cross into the back of the visitors net via the post.

Jake Hessenthaler, son of former Dover Manager Andy, went close with a header and Gillingham had an even better chance to level 10 minutes later.

Goalkeeper Mitch Walker felled a Gillingham triallist in the box, but redeemed himself by diving left to push away Wilkinson’s spot kick.

However, the White’s stopper was unable to keep Wilkinson out for long as the visiting striker slotted pounced on Connor Essam’s miscontrol to slot home.

The home side almost had the lead shortly after the break, but Jamie Allen’s close range effort was deflected wide. Lee Martin then let fly from the edge of the box for Gills, but his effort flew the wrong side of the post.

The League One side took the lead on 61 minutes as Luke O’Neill crashed a close range header past a helpless Walker.

But Gallifuoco was on hand to equalise minutes later and Dover were inches away from winning the match late on as Holy tipped a triallist’s curling effort onto the cross bar.

Earlier boss Chris Kinnear made one change to the starting line up from Tuesday night’s 3-0 win at Deal Town.

Gallifuoco, Bird and two triallists came in for Loui Fazakerley, George Essuman, Tobi Sho-Silva and Mitchell Pinnock, who all came on as second half substitutes against Gills.

Whites host another League One side, Charlton Athletic, on Tuesday 18th July, kick off 19:45.

Dover: Walker, Trialist (Fazakerley 46mins), Ilesamni (Barnard 70mins), Gallifuoco, Parry (Essuman 75mins), Essam (Trialist 75mins), Richards (Trialist 61mins), Brundle, Bird (Trialist 61mins), Allen (Sho-Silva 61mins), Trialist (Trialist 70mins).

Gillingham: Nelson (Holy 46mins), O’Neill (O’Mara 46mins), Ogilvie (Garmston 46mins), Zakuani (Ehmer 46mins), Trialist (Tucker 46mins), Hessenthaler (Oldaker 46mins), Byrne (Trialist 46mins), Martin (Wright 46mins), List (Wagstaff 46mins), Wilkinson (Mbo 46mins), Trialist (Stevenson 46mins). Subs: Hadler, Chapman, Simpson, Cundle.

Attendance: 1,084