Category: First Team News

TESTING TIME AT CRABBLE

Andy Hessenthaler is expecting a tough test from Stevenage at Crabble on Saturday as his players continue their pre-season build-up.

Hessenthaler knows full well that the League 2 side are much further along in their preparations, given their league season begins next Saturday.

In contrast, Whites are still in the relatively early stages of their build-up, having only been back in training since July 10.

Hessenthaler said: “There is no doubt about it – it’s going to be a tough test and game for us.

“Saying that it gives a fantastic opportunity to see exactly where we are at right now.

“We are still very much a work in progress with our season still three weeks away.

“The important thing to me is that we are getting more minutes in the legs which we need to as we have to get our fitness through the games we play.

“Playing against top-class League 2 opposition are the games that will prepare us for the season ahead.

“We’ll embrace the challenge and keep working on the areas we need to.”

Marshall Wratten and Will Moses will miss out through injury.

Tomorrow’s game kicks off at noon with the gates opening at 10.30am with admission prices as follows:

Season ticket holders: Free

Adults: £10

Concessions: £5

Juniors (under 11) Free (must be accompanied by a paying adult)

 

 

 

 

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

We caught up with Manager Andy Hessenthaler after the pre-season friendly win against Folkestone Invicta at Crabble on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: DOVER 2 – 1 FOLKESTONE INVICTA

Watford loanee Adam Parkes saved a penalty on his debut as Dover Athletic continued preparations for the new season with a close victory against neighbours Folkestone Invicta at Crabble on Saturday

A trialist put the home side ahead midway through the first half, however, Whites were pegged back in the second half thanks to a brilliant goal from Tyler Sterling.

Folkestone then had the chance to go ahead, however, former Dover striker Ade Yusuff’s penalty was saved by Parkes, with Aaron Cosgrave scoring with the next attack to seal victory for Whites.

First half action saw goalkeeper Josh Bexon forced into an early save after Folkestone went close from a free-kick through Sterling.

Whites needed Bexon again to keep the score level, first parrying away Yusuff’s shot, before getting down well to save Alfie Paxman’s rebound.

However, Dover grew into the game and almost went one up through Ricky Miller as a good ball played him in behind the Folkestone defence, but his shot hit the crossbar.

Travis Gregory then went close after beating off one challenge, his shot was blocked from the corner.

Whites’ pressure was rewarded from the corner as a got a strong header onto the ball from the cross power home.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler made 10 changes at halftime, which included Watford loanee Parkes.

Shortly after the break, Folkestone was level through Sterling’s free-kick.

Whites then went searching for that second goal. First Trialist G went close when his shot from outside the area curled just wide.

Cosgrave then would have liked to do better when he got put through on goal, but he mishit his shot and Folkestone was able to clear.

Moments later, Trialist H went close as the ball landed at his feet in the box, but his shot went just wide of the left-hand post.

Folkestone was then awarded a penalty with 10 minutes to go and from that, Dover went straight down the other end to go back infront, with Cosgrave getting on the end of a cross into the box to seal victory.

First Half XI – Bexon, Wood, Goodman, Trialist A, Twumasi, Trialist B, Trialist C, Da Costa, Gregory, Miller, Williamson

Second Half XI – Parkes, Wratten, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Hanson, Trialist G, Trialist H, Trialist I, Trialist J, Cosgrave

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER ATHLETIC VS FOLKESTONE INVICTA

Dover welcomes neighbours Folkestone Invicta to Crabble tomorrow as preparations for the start of the new season continue.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men have had a good start to their pre-season campaign, scoring seven goals in victories against Ashford United and Deal Town.

Returning striker Ricky Miller has three of those seven goals and will be looking to add more as he looks to get ready for the new season.

The game could also see goalkeeper Adam Parkes get some minutes after joining on a season-long loan from Watford.

Tomorrow’s visitors start their season a week before Dover, and are deeper into their pre-season campaign. Thus far, they have played all their games at home, with this game being their first away from Cheriton Road.

Invicta’s record have been impressive and are currently unbeaten after five games, with a 3-3 draw against Eastbourne Borough sandwiched in between wins against Ramsgate, Welling United, Chatham Town and Hythe Town.

Last Meeting 

12th September 2020 – Folkestone Invicta 0 – 0 Dover Athletic

Admission Details 

Free for season ticket holders

Adults – £10

Concessions – £5

Under 11 – Free with paying adult

Details on prices for the rest of our home pre-season games can be found here – https://doverathletic.com/news/pre-season-friendly-prices/ 

Upcoming Pre-Season Fixtures 

24th July – Dover Athletic VS Folkestone Invicta (3:00pm)

26th July – K Sports FC VS Dover Athletic (7pm)

31st July – Dover Athletic VS Stevenage (12:00pm)

3rd August – Whitstable Town VS Dover Athletic (7:30pm)

6th August – Dover Athletic VS Watford (7:30pm)

7th August – Tonbridge Angels VS Dover Athletic (3:00pm)

WATFORD GOALKEEPER JOINS US

Dover Athletic is delighted to announce the loan signing of Adam Parkes.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper arrives at the club on a season-long loan from Premier League side Watford and trained with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday evening.

Parkes, who will wear the number 20 shirt for manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side this season, has played in the National League previously, playing the final eight games of last season for Barnet.

He kept clean sheets against Sutton United, Maidenhead, and Weymouth in those eight games.

A former England under-17 representative, Parkes joined Watford from Southampton in January 2019.

He had spent 10 years with the Saints before joining the Hornets, where he has been a regular in the under-23s team as well as travelling with the first-team squad and appearing on the bench during Watford’s successful promotion-winning campaign last season.

Welcome to the club, Adam!

If you would like to sponsor Adam’s playing shirts for the 2021/22 season then please contact our Sponsor Relations Manager Richard Harvey at [email protected]

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY PRICES

We can confirm the admission prices of our three remaining pre-season games at Crabble are as follows:

Season ticket holders: Free

Adults: £10

Concessions: £5

Juniors (under 11) Free (must be accompanied by a paying adult)

Final Pre-Season Home Fixtures

  • 24th July – Dover Athletic v Folkestone Invicta (3pm)
  • 31st July – Dover Athletic v Stevenage (noon)
  • 6th August – Dover Athletic v Watford (7.30pm)

 

 

DEAL TOWN PHOTOS

Photos from Tuesday’s pre-season friendly win at Deal Town are now online.

They can be viewed HERE 

All the photos were taken by photographer Matt Bristow

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

We caught up with Manager Andy Hessenthaler after the pre-season friendly win at Deal Town on Tuesday.

MATCH REPORT: DEAL TOWN 0-3 DOVER ATHLETIC

Ben Williamson marked his Dover debut with a goal as Andy Hessenthaler’s squad got some more valuable minutes into their legs at The Charles Ground.

The frontman, who joined us in June, scored the third and final goal after coming on at half-time, one of seven changes made during the interval as the manager gave some trialists their opportunity to impress.

It was a trialist, the only one in action in the first half, who opened the scoring inside the opening 15 minutes before Ricky Miller doubled the lead 10 minutes later with his third goal in two games.

Hessenthaler rang the changes at half-time with only captain Sam Wood, TJ Bramble, goalkeeper Josh Bexon, and Jake Goodman remaining on the pitch from the starting line-up.

Williamson ended the scoring in style, firing home with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.