Category: First Team News

MATCH PREVIEW – DOVER VS SOLIHULL MOORS

Dover will continue to search for their first win of the season when they host Solihull Moors in a rescheduled National League fixture tonight.

The game was postponed earlier in the season due to two positive COVID-19 cases in Andy Hessentahler’s squad.

Whites earned their second point of the season last Saturday after the 1-1 draw at Weymouth.

Meanwhile, our opponents have started the season well and they sit just below the playoff spots in eighth place.

They’re currently on a three-game winning streak, having started the season without a win in their first three games with two draws and one loss.

Last time out, Neal Ardley’s side won convincingly at home to Boreham Wood. Having gone two goals up inside the first 28 minutes, The Wood pulled one back with 10 minutes left of the first half. However, Danny Newton’s second of the game early in the second half won it for Solihull Moors.

These teams would only play each other once last season as Whites failed to finish the season. The game at Crabble saw Solihull score a goal in each half through Nathan Cameron and Kyle Hudlin as they defeated Dover with ease.

SOLIHULL MOORS’ PLAYER TO WATCH

Joe Sbarra has already scored seven goals in the first six games this season and has already beaten his total throughout the whole of last season where he scored six goals for Moors.

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

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.

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Manager Andy Hessenthaler speaks to Tom Scott after the draw at Weymouth Football Club on Saturday. 

 

MATCH REPORT: WEYMOUTH 1 – 1 DOVER

Dover picked up only their second point of the season as they held Weymouth to a draw at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Koby Arthur opened the scoring for Dover midway through the first half, however, Whites were pegged back just before halftime through Josh McQuoid.

Earlier in the day, Andy Hessenthaler made four changes from the midweek defeat against Eastleigh with Adam Parkes, Harry Ransom, Junior Tiensia, and Travis Gregory coming in for Josh Bexon, Jake Goodman, Sam Wood, and Ricky Miller.

Hessenthaler’s men started the game very positively and almost took an early lead after a mistake from Weymouth allowed TJ Bramble to find Aaron Cosgrave. The attacker picked the ball up well and ran towards goal, however his shot was blocked by Tyler Cordner who done well to get back.

Whites will feel hard down after this when Ben Williamson looked to have been brought down by Cordner in the area, however, the referee waved the shouts away.

Despite this, the visiting side continued to look the better side, and they got their rewards for this just after 20 minutes through Arthur whose sensational strike from outside the area gave the home goalkeeper no chance.

Williamson then nearly doubled Whites’ lead on the counter-attack, but he couldn’t get on the end of Bramble’s pass which would have seen him through on goal.

The home side started to grow into the game and was almost level when ex-White Omar Mussa’s corner found Taofiq Olomowewe, however, he couldn’t keep his shot on target.

Parkes then made a great save on his league debut to keep Whites ahead as he dived well down to his left to stop Ollie Harfield’s long-range effort.

However, the home side equalised shortly after through Josh McQuoid who kept his composure to slot past Parkes after being put through on goal.

Some heroic defending from Henry Woods kept the score level as the second half got underway. After a scramble in the box, the ball landed at the feet of Brandon Goodship whose shot is blocked brilliantly by the midfielder.

Bradley Ash then went close twice for the home team. First, a quickly taken free-kick found the forward who could only curl wide, before Parkes did well to push an effort wide after Goodship played the ball off to the forward.

Both sides had chances to take all three points as the game came to an end with Tiensia and Arthur going close for Whites and Cordner went close with a header for the Terras.

YOUNG LION JOINS ON LOAN

Manager Andy Hessenthaler has added to his defensive options by bringing in young defender Junior Tiensia on loan from Championship side Millwall until January.

The 20-year-old left-back, a regular for Kevin Nugent’s Under-23 side for The Lions, will go straight into the squad for today’s National League game at Weymouth.

He will wear the number 21 shirt during his time with us.

Tiensia signed his first professional contract at The Den in January 2020 and has had previous loan spells at Havant & Waterlooville and Sutton United.

Welcome to Crabble Junior!!

 

 

 

 

 

MATCH PREVIEW: WEYMOUTH VS DOVER

Andy Hessenthaler’s side will be aiming to bounce back from Tuesday’s disappointing 4-1 loss at Eastleigh when they travel to Weymouth on Saturday.

The game will be shown live on BT Sport at 5.20pm.

Weymouth currently sit 11th in the National League having played six games so far this season.

They have won two, lost three, and drawn one of those games.

Last time out, despite going ahead twice at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday, Weymouth ended up losing 4-2 against the current league leaders, with Josh Leslie-Smith and Bradley Ash scoring the goals for The Terras.

The last time we played Weymouth was in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round in 2019.

Goals from Jai Reason and Anthony Jeffrey were enough for Whites to qualify for the First Round, as they came from a goal down to defeat The Terras.

WEYMOUTH’S PLAYER TO WATCH

Bradley Ash has started the season in fine form for The Terras, with three goals coming in his first six games from the club since joining from Chippenham Town.

TEAM COLOURS

For fans wanting to show the same colours as the players, we will be wearing our home kit.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Stadium – Bob Lucas Stadium, Radipole Ln, Weymouth DT4 9XJ

The match kicks off at 5.20pm and ticket prices are as follows:

Adult – £16

Concession (Over 65) – £11

16-19 – £7

Under 16 – £4

Under 7 – 50p

Information on how to buy tickets can be found HERE

COVERAGE

This game will be shown on BT Sport

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

SATURDAY’S NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Bromley vs Barnet

FC Halifax Town vs Stockport County

Grimsby Town vs Eastleigh

Notts County vs Maidenhead United

Solihull Moors vs Boreham Wood

Torquay United vs Southend United

Wealdstone vs Aldershot Town

Wrexham vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Yeovil Town vs Chesterfield

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard interviews manager Andy Hessenthaler after the 4-1 defeat at Eastleigh.

 

MATCH REPORT: EASTLEIGH 4 – 1 DOVER

A poor first-half performance proved costly for Dover as they were blown away by Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.

Ryan Hill opened the scoring for the home side 20 minutes into the game before Harry Pritchard doubled the lead a minute later.

Ben House made it three for Eastleigh with five minutes left of the first half with Josh Hare getting the fourth in stoppage time.

Aaron Cosgrave did get one back for Whites midway through the second half but it only proved as a consolation for Dover.

Earlier in the day, Andy Hessenthaler made one change from the 0-0 draw with Chesterfield on Saturday with Ricky Miller coming back in for Travis Gregory who missed out through injury.

The home side started strong and dominated the early possession. House almost gave them the lead, however, the ball was deflected wide into the side netting, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

Despite riding out the early storm, Dover couldn’t capitalise and Eastleigh took hold of the game with two goals in the space of a minute.

They took the lead through Hill who collected the ball well into the box before finishing it low past Josh Bexon. Straight from kick off, they doubled their lead when Pritchard got on the end of Hare’s cross to head home.

Hill almost doubled his own tally midway through the first half, but Bexon did well to make the save down to his left-hand side.

However, Eastleigh didn’t have to wait long to get a third as House’s shot from close range beat Bexon.

It got even worse for Whites as Hare fired home to add a fourth on the stroke of half time.

House looked to make it five just after half time but Bexon did well to stop the ball and make a good save.

Against the run of play, Cosgrave got one back for Whites as he did well to get on the end of a cross to decrease the deficit, however, it only proved as a consolation as Dover were easily beaten.

HARRY’S BACK !!

We are delighted to announce that Crawley Town defender Harry Ransom has joined on loan from the League 2 side until January.

The 21-year-old centre-half made eight appearances for us last season while on loan from Millwall and will go straight into the squad for tonight’s National League game at Eastleigh.

Ransom, who will wear the mumber 16 shirt, made his debut for Andy Hessenthaler’s team in the 2020/21 National League season-opener against Notts County at Crabble and scored the winning goal in the 1-0 win.

He joined Crawley in the summer after being released by Millwall.

Welcome back to Crabble, Harry !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCH PREVIEW – EASTLEIGH VS DOVER

Dover will be looking to get their first win on the board when they travel to Eastleigh this evening.

Whites picked up their first point of the campaign last Saturday after the 0-0 draw against high-flying Chesterfield at Crabble.

Despite picking up their first points of the season, Dover remains bottom of the league on -11 and still has a lot of work to do to catch the teams just above them in the table.

Our hosts are one of those sides, having picked up two points in their first four games.

Last time out, they came from behind to draw against fellow early strugglers Barnet. Having gone a goal behind midway through the first half, Ben House equalised for The Spitfires with 20 minutes to go.

This fixture was cancelled last season as Whites were not able to finish the season, however, the game at Crabble was full of excitement as Dover came from behind to win 3-2, with Sam Wood, Louis Collins, and Ade Azeez getting the goals.

A win for Whites this evening would see them remain bottom of the table as they try and continue to eat into the point deduction. They will however close the gap on others around them if results go their way.

Like Dover, the home side are already in need of points to push up the table. A win for The Spitfires could potentially move them up to 13th, however they will need a big sway in goal difference for this to happen.

EASTLEIGH’S PLAYER TO WATCH

Striker Ben House scored nine goals for Eastleigh last season and has already followed this up by scoring twice this season.

TEAM COLOURS

For fans wanting to show the same colours as the players, captain Sam Wood and his teammates will be wearing their all-red kit.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Stadium – Silverlake Stadium, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, SO50 9HT

The match kicks off at 7.45pm and ticket prices are as follows – please note it is card payment only on the gate

Adult: £15

Concession (60 & over): £10

Student (17-21): £5

Junior (12-16): £2

Under 11:  Free

Information on how to buy tickets can be found here: https://www.eastleighfc.com/tickets/ 

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.

TUESDAY’S NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Boreham Wood vs FC Halifax Town

Chesterfield vs Barnet

Dagenham & Redbridge vs Weymouth

Grimsby Town vs Wrexham

Maidenhead United vs Stockport County

Notts County vs Wealdstone

Solihull Moors vs Torquay United

Southend United vs Aldershot Town

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

We caught up with winger Travis Gregory after the 0-0 draw against Chesterfield at Crabble.