Category: First Team News

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER VS STOCKPORT

After two weeks of FA Cup action, Andy Hessenthaler’s side turns their attention back to the National League where a win is very much needed in their fight for survival.

Whites were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle on Tuesday night as they fell to a single goal defeat against Yate Town in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay.

Meanwhile, our visitors lost 2-1 at home on Tuesday against Barnet, a result which saw manager Simon Rusk sacked the following morning..

The Hatters are currently 10th in the National League, five points off the play-off places.

STOCKPORT’S PLAYER TO WATCH

John Rooney knows the National League very well having scored consistently in this league for a number of years. He has got three goals already this season and will be looking to add to his tally at Crabble.

LAST TIME WE MET 

In our only meeting against Stockport last season, three second half goals meant Whites were defeated at Edgeley Park.

John Rooney opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the home side, before the lead was doubled 10 minutes later through Alex Reid.

Rooney got his second of the game with a minute to go as Dover were comprehensively beaten.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for this game must be bought at the turnstile only. Both cash and card are accepted.

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s free with paying adult

RIP KEITH HUGHES

A minute’s silence will be held before kick-off today following the passing of our Head Gateman Keith Hughes last week following a short battle with cancer.

Our players, together with manager Andy Hessenthaler and his staff, will also be wearing black armbands as a mark of respect and a tribute to Keith.

COVERAGE

If you are unable to make the game, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

PROGRAMME

You can buy your copy of today’s digital programme HERE

SATURDAY’S NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Barnet vs Aldershot Town (5.20pm)

Boreham Wood vs Southend United

Bromley vs FC Halifax Town

Dagenham & Redbridge vs Chesterfield

Eastleigh vs Maidenhead United

Grimsby Town vs Notts County

Solihull Moors vs Yeovil Town

Weymouth vs King’s Lynn Town

Woking vs Altrincham

Wrexham vs Torquay United

ARTHUR UP FOR THE FIGHT

Koby Arthur admits he might not have got the opportunity to play for Dover Athletic had it not been for a kind gesture in June.

The former Birmingham City midfielder saw the details for our Invitational-only trial at the Abbey School in Faversham, but only after the deadline for applications had passed.

The 25-year-old thought his chance had gone but still emailed his CV into trial organiser Richard Harvey.

And our resident Aussie Kit Manager, among other job titles, wasn’t about to disappoint the talented Ghanaian pocket-rocket as Arthur explains.

He said: “I only contacted Richard the day before the trial, but he still took the time to contact me and gave me that chance to come down.

“Football is a cruel game at times, especially when you are looking to get back into it after a couple of tough years, and sometimes you just need that one bit of good fortune.

“Richard could have so easily said no because I had missed the deadline, but he didn’t, and I am really indebted to him for giving me the chance to come along.”

Arthur impressed the management team in the trial game and was duly invited back in for pre-season.

However, there was another twist in the tale for Arthur, who made 16 appearances in all competitions for Birmingham, including 12 in the Championship after making his debut against Wolves in April 2013.

After just a couple of sessions with Andy Hessenthaler’s squad, Arthur had to return home to Birmingham after his young son was taken ill.

He stayed by his side until heading back south on the day of the Watford pre-season friendly.

He played in that game and backed up that impressive performance less than 24 hours later, scoring our first goal after just 17 seconds in the 4-0 win at Tonbridge Angels.

Hess had seen enough, and Arthur agreed terms in August.

While our number 22, who was a member of Macclesfield Town’s National League winning team in the 2017/2018 season, is delighted to be at Crabble, he’s not here to go through the motions.

He said: “I been given this opportunity and I am making sacrifices to take it.

“I stay with family in London during the week before heading back home to Birmingham to see my partner and son.

“It’s hard, but, hey, it’s what you’ve got to do – I do it because Dover gave me the chance.

“You can be sure that I’m ready to work and work really hard for the team in each and every game I play.

“I can imagine what the fans are going through right now given how the season has started for the club, but I am not about to give up and neither should the fans.

“We’ve got to keep fighting – we’ve got to keep the faith.”

NO CUP JOY FOR WHITES

Yate Town substitute James Harding’s second-half goal ended Dover’s FA Cup campaign in the fourth qualifying round replay after a 1-0 defeat at Lodge Road on Tuesday.

The Southern League Premier Division South side will now host Yeovil Town in the first round proper.

The only goal of the game came in the 75th minute when goalkeeper Adam Parkes could only parry Jamie Adams’ driven cross into the path of the unmarked Harding, who scored from close range.

In a game of few chances, Dover created some periods of sustained pressure but was unable to make it count in both halves in Gloucestershire.

Millwall loanee Junior Tiensia went closest to giving Andy Hessenthaler’s side the lead in the first half when his shot bounced off the bar.

Home keeper Andy Hannah also saved well from Travis Gregory, Koby Arthur, Ryan Hanson, and Tiensia.

Yate also received £9,375 in prize money for reaching the first round proper.

MATCH PREVIEW: YATE TOWN VS DOVER

Dover make the long trip to Gloucestershire for the second time in a week this evening as they face Yate Town in the rescheduled FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay.

Last Tuesday’s encounter at Lodge Road was postponed an hour after the scheduled kick off time due to a floodlight failure.

This replay came about after Andy Hessenthaler’s men came from behind to earn a draw against The Bluebells at Crabble.

Whites went behind early on at Crabble through Olly Mehew, before Ricky Miller equalised with his first competitive goal of the season midway through the second half.

Reda Johnson was sent off with 10 minutes to go in the tie and will miss tonight’s replay.

The winners of this tie will welcome Yeovil Town in the First Round proper, after they knocked out Weymouth on penalties in their own replay last Tuesday, with ties commencing on the weekend of 6th November.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Stadium – The Jelf Stadium, Lodge Rd, Yate, Bristol BS37 7LE

Ticket information can be found below – Please note all tickets are pay on the gate

  • Adults: £10
  • Concessions (OAP, U17, Students & NHS): £7
  • U18’s: £5
  • Under 11’s: £2

NEW DATE FOR YATE REPLAY

Our postponed FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay at Yate Town has now been rearranged.

The tie will now be played at Lodge Road next Tuesday, October 26th, at 7.45pm.

The winner will host Yeovil Town after the Glovers beat Weymouth 2-1 on penalties in their replay on Tuesday.

A new date for our National League game at Southend United, which was scheduled for next Tuesday, has now been confirmed and will be played on November 2 at 7.45pm

 

 

 

MATCH PREVIEW: YATE TOWN VS DOVER ATHLETIC

Dover travel to Gloucestershire this evening as they face Yate Town for the second time in four days in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay.

Whites went behind early on at Crabble on Saturday through Olly Mehew, before Ricky Miller equalised with his first competitive goal of the season midway through the second half.

Reda Johnson was harshly sent off with 10 minutes to go in the tie and will now miss tonight’s replay.

Andy Hessentaler’s men will be looking for their first win of the season when they travel to Bristol, with his side needing to put in a better performance in the replay to get through.

The winners of this tie will welcome either Weymouth or Yeovil Town in the First Round proper, with ties commencing on the weekend of 6th November.

COVERAGE

If you are unable to make the game, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Stadium – The Jelf Stadium, Lodge Rd, Yate, Bristol BS37 7LE

Ticket information can be found below – Please note all tickets are pay on the gate

  • Adults: £10
  • Concessions (OAP, U17, Students & NHS): £7
  • U18’s: £5
  • Under 11’s: £2

FA CUP DRAW TODAY

Dover and Yate Town will be ball number 78 when the draw for the Emirates FA Cup first round takes place today.

There will 94 names in the hat for the draw, including 48 League One and League Two teams, with 14 fourth qualifying round ties needing to go to a replay.

Our replay will be at Yate Town’s Lodge Park on Tuesday at 7.45pm.

The draw takes place live on ITV at 1.05pm.

The ball numbers are as follows:

1. Accrington Stanley
2. AFC Wimbledon
3. Barrow
4. Bolton Wanderers
5. Bradford City
6. Bristol Rovers
7. Burton Albion
8. Cambridge United
9. Carlisle United
10. Charlton Athletic
11. Cheltenham Town
12. Colchester United
13. Crawley Town
14. Crewe Alexandra
15. Doncaster Rovers
16. Exeter City
17. Fleetwood Town
18. Forest Green Rovers
19. Gillingham
20. Harrogate Town
21. Hartlepool United
22. Ipswich Town
23. Leyton Orient
24. Lincoln City
25. Mansfield Town
26. Milton Keynes Dons
27. Morecambe
28. Newport County
29. Northampton Town
30. Oldham Athletic
31. Oxford United
32. Plymouth Argyle
33. Port Vale
34. Portsmouth
35. Rochdale
36. Rotherham United
37. Salford City
38. Scunthorpe United
39. Sheffield Wednesday
40. Shrewsbury Town
41. Stevenage
42. Sunderland
43. Sutton United
44. Swindon Town
45. Tranmere Rovers
46. Walsall
47. Wigan Athletic
48. Wycombe Wanderers
49. Marine or Wrexham
50. Marske United or Gateshead
51. Chesterfield
52. Brackley Town or Guiseley
53. Solihull Moors
54. Pontefract Collieries or FC Halifax Town
55. York City or Morpeth Town
56. Kettering Town or Buxton
57. Boston United or Stratford Town
58. King’s Lynn Town
59. Grimsby Town
60. Stockport County
61. Altrincham
62. Tamworth or Notts County
63. Ebbsfleet
64. Horsham
65. Dorking Wanderers or Hayes & Yeading United
66. Corinthian Casuals or St Albans City
67. Maidenhead United
68. Kidderminster Harriers
69. Bromley
70. Harrow Borough
71. Dagenham & Redbridge
72. AFC Sudbury
73. Banbury United
74. Boreham Wood
75. Yeovil Town or Weymouth
76. Eastleigh or Folkestone Invicta
77. Bowers & Pitsea
78. Dover Athletic or Yate Town
79. Torquay United or Havant & Waterlooville
80. Southend United

 

VIDEO: Match highlights

Head to DAFCtv on YouTube to watch the highlights from Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup Tie against Yate Town at Crabble.

MATCH REPORT: DOVER 1 – 1 YATE TOWN

Ricky Miller’s first goal since his summer return to Dover ensured the club lived to fight another day in the FA Cup after earning a replay at Yate Town on Tuesday.

Miller came off the bench for the second half and scored the equaliser for Andy Hessenthaler’s side in the 61st minute after Olly Mehew had given The Southern League Premier Division South side an eighth-minute lead.

Whites finished the Fourth Qualifying Round tie with 10 men after player-coach Reda Johnson was sent off just 18 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Dover started well enough and captain Sam Wood, who was playing in midfield rather than his usual left-back, saw his effort saved by Yate goalkeeper Andy Hannah.

But it was Yate who opened the scoring, and with their first attack, when the unmarked Mehew tapped home captain Dave Sims-Burgess’ cross

Dover pressed for an equaliser and Hannah saved well from Aaron Cosgrave and Yannis Drais.

Midfielder Drais’ game soon came to an end after a horrible collision with Yate defender Will Tunnicliff saw the Frenchman leave Crabble in an ambulance with a rib injury.

He was replaced by Ryan Hanson, who was making his own injury comeback following a knee injury.

Miller got his side back on level terms when he scored from close range following good work by the impressive Cosgrave.

Johnson saw red not long after following an earlier yellow card.

The team from Gloucestershire looked to take advantage of their extra man and almost won it in stoppage time when Sam Kamara’s shot from outside the box whistled just wide of Adam Parkes’ post.

Tuesday’s replay at Lodge Park kicks-off at 7.45pm.

Earlier, Millwall loanee Junior Tiensia came back into the side after missing the past four games through injury in place of injured midfielder Koby Arthur.

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER VS YATE TOWN

Andy Hessenthaler’s squad will turn their focus to the FA Cup when they host Yate Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round on Saturday.

Whites enter the competition at this stage and face a club two steps below them in the non-league pyramid.

The Gloucestershire visitors are currently 10th on the Southern League Premier Division South table after winning four out of their first 10 league games.

They come into this game on the back of a 2-1 win at Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday.

A place in the First Round proper awaits for the winner of this tie, and you can see the draw live on ITV on Sunday 17th October starting at 1pm.

COVERAGE

If you are unable to make the game, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

PROGRAMME
Grab your matchday programme for just £1 HERE

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for this game can be bought at the turnstile only.

Both cash and card are accepted.

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11 – £5