Match Report by Fred Deveson

It was a chilly afternoon yesterday on non-league day as Dover fell short in a 1-3 defeat.

The game started superbly for the hosts, who started by having to contain the visitors which they did well. In the first attack of the game for the Whites, Nick Dembele found himself in a good position and he fired Dover in front with a fantastic effort from an ever-tightening angle. 

One may have thought that the hosts would have kicked on from this goal, but that was not to be. Farnborough continued to dominate possession but nothing was coming from it. Dover were defending well.

However it wasn’t long until the visitors did find the breakthrough. A penalty was awarded against Dover much to the anger of Scott Holding the offender. Farnborough converted the penalty and it was 1-1.

The away side got into their groove after this and really kicked on. A long ball came floating over the top from the goalkeeper and the flag stayed down. The forward then chipped Rowley and it was 1-2, again to the anger of the back line who felt the flag should have gone up.

The second half started the same as the first ended. It didn’t take long though before Dover had a good chance to level the game. Dembele got himself in behind the defence and tried to round the goalkeeper but the number one stood his ground well.

Naylor also had an excellent chance from a corner by Wilkinson, but his free header went just wide of the post and Farnborough had survived.

Soon after, the away side extended their advantage. A brilliant header from a well delivered corner put the visitors in front by 2 and they now had a cushion to fall back on.

Some changes were made and the visitors had a chance to make it 1-4 but the game eventually petered out and both sides settled for the 1-3 score line. 

Dover must win against Welling this coming Friday if they are to stay up this season.

Dover Athletic: Rowley, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Holding, Oyenuga, Naylor (Neil-Gray 87mins), Wilkinson (Akehurst 70mins), Oliver, Dembele, Nikaj, Baptiste (Drakes-Thomas 62mins). 

Subs not used: Stewart, Young.

Farnborough: Turner, Norville-Williams, Fearn, Robinson, Pruti, Haigh (Kasimu 78mins), Young, Pendlebury, Kuhl, Holmes (Clark 72mins), Matthews-Lewis (Saied 81mins). 

Sub not used: Bradbury.

Referee: Ayrton Hursey.

Attendance: 565.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

It was a lovely, warm afternoon at Crabble yesterday, as Dover drew to Havant and Waterlooville 0-0.

It was the hosts who were on top from the first minute, creating good chances and dominating the ball.

The visitors opted for an offside trap from the start, which was effective in preventing Dover from having time on the ball, but it left them vulnerable in behind.

The Whites worked out that long balls over the top were the most effective route to goal and had some good chances from this.

Dembele was set through a couple of times but the goalkeeper denied him on both occasions. The forward also had a clever header go over the bar but was offside.

The linesman caused some controversy throughout the game with some questionable offside decisions which could have resulted in a goal scoring chance for Dover, but numerous times the flag went up, and some decisions were no doubt questionable.

The times that Dover did get in behind should have resulted in goals. Oyenuga returned to the starting lineup and was excellent defensively and offensively. He got forward well and put a ball in but Oliver fired just wide. 

Havant hadn’t had a sniff all first half. 

They did start the second well, however, and just 3 minutes after the restart they hit the upright with a good effort just outside the box. 

It wasn’t long before Dover were back on the front foot however, and Nikaj was seeing a lot of the ball in the wide areas. His good feet opened up plenty of space for the hosts but it was the same story for the Whites, who just couldn’t finish their chances.

Wilkinson had a great opportunity in the latter stages of the game to score for Dover, but he waited too long and then put his effort wide. 

The visitors saw red in the last 15 minutes, after their player picked up a second yellow. This should have seen Dover score towards the end, with the visitors being a man down but the chances kept coming and going for Dover. 

In the final few minutes, goalkeeper Rowley was called into action for one of the first times in the game and he made an excellent save to earn the hosts a point, when it arguably should have been three. 

A massive game next week against Farnborough awaits the Whites. 

Dover Athletic: Rowley, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Holding, Oyenuga, Naylor, Wilkinson (Baptiste 75mins), Oliver, Dembele (Assidjo 89mins), Nikaj, Allen. 

Subs not used: Oladipo, Young, Akehurst.

Havant & Waterlooville: Worner, Stanley, Innocent, Mcnerney, McCarthy, Carlyle (Jebb 61mins), Seager, Willson, Jewitt-White (Beckford 79mins), Kealy, Whittingham (Roberts 42mins). 

Subs not used: Mukuna, Woolston.

Referee: Tom Ellsmore.

Attendance: 552.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

It was a windy evening on the south coast as Dover and Eastbourne share the points in a game that the Whites may feel they could have won. 

The game started with Dover largely on top for most of the half. The signs were positive right from the off for the visitors, who pressed hard and worked hard from the first minute.

It wasn’t long before the Whites got the goal they deserved too. A long hall from Scott Holding found George Nikaj who worked his way into the penalty area and finished in the bottom corner. The goalkeeper got a hand to it but couldn’t do anything to keep it out.

Dover didn’t let up here. Iffy Allen switched to the right for a short period and was playing well. He used some trickery to work his way past the full back and his shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.

The Eastbourne number 1 showed signs of nervousness after this, as shortly after his pass was intercepted by Stewart who fired it towards goal, but the goalkeeper recovered just in time to make the save.

Stewart tried to catch the ‘keeper out shortly after, seeing him off his line and his shot went just wide. 

The hosts began to put more pressure on as the first half went on, with corners being their biggest threat. Two excellent balls came in from separate corners and a goal mouth scramble was the result of both. Somehow Dover managed to clear both away and the score remained 0-1 at the interval. 

The second half was much less intense than the first, with the first major chance of note coming in the last 25 minutes. 

Dover’s new number 1 came out to try and claim the ball but the wide man for the hosts went around the goalkeeper and had an open goal. He looked certain to score but for a block on the line to keep Dover in front. The shouts for handball were waved away by the referee.

The Eastbourne goal did eventually come however and it was a painful one for Dover to take. There was some good counter attacking work by Dover and the ball was played across the box for Baptiste to tap in, but he attempted to control the ball and take it round the goalkeeper, which led to the hosts regaining the ball. 

They then launched an attack of their own and after a shot on the edge of the area was deflected slightly, the ball went past the outstretched Rowley and found its way in the back of the net. 1-1.

The hosts piled on the pressure to try and win the game in the dying minutes but Dover held on for a draw. 

A big game against Havant and Waterlooville is up next this Saturday at Crabble. 

Match report by Fred Deveson

A serious crash on the M4 saw the team bus arrive late to Somerset and as a result, kick-off was delayed until 4pm. It was the hosts who eventually took all three points, however, in a game that could have gone either way.

Dover actually started the game on the front foot. Luke Baptiste found himself with space on the edge of the area and his shot cannoned of the defender and went behind. Positive start.

This didn’t last long however, as the hosts began to put some pressure on Dover. The number 19 for the hosts was looking lively and had a shot well blocked by Holding.

Peter Ojemen made a nasty tackle shortly after near the dugouts and saw yellow when some may have thought red was more appropriate.

The hosts’ number 8 was beginning to run the show at this point and kept finding space in good areas. He had a long-range effort whistle just past the post.

Jinadu made a couple of excellent stops too, one from a free-kick just outside the area which kept the score level and kept the Whites in it.

Just before half-time the hosts were really piling on the pressure. The Somerset side put in a good ball into the box which was headed just over.

Manager Jake Leberl brought on new signing Dylan Pepe at half time to replace Ojemen and the new defender impressed, making some good tackles and working hard.

Weston-Super-Mare had a good chance though around the hour mark, picking up a free-kick on the edge of the area which was crashed against the post and cleared.

Soon after, Dover had the best chance of the game. Stewart was sent in behind and after some excellent work to put the defender on the floor, he laid it off for Wilkinson who fired it over.

The visitors had another chance soon after. It was Naylor this time who had the ball on the edge of the area but his shot was fired wide of the goal.

Jinadu was called into action again shortly after, pulling off two fine saves after two long range efforts came his way.

The Whites came forward again after this and a long throw came in from Roman Charles Cook, which was flicked on well by Nikaj. Freddie Oliver got his head to the flick on but was denied by a brilliant save by the goalkeeper.

Not long after, the hosts came forward and earned themselves a corner. This was taken quickly and they caught Dover napping. The wide man finished well in the bottom corner past the outstretched Jinadu and the host were one up.

The game then petered out and it was a similar story for Dover Athletic who went back to Kent empty handed once more.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

There was heavy rain before the start of the game and there were doubts over whether the game would go ahead, but it did nevertheless and it was Maidstone who took all three points.

Dover started the game fairly brightly, with Nikaj looking positive on the right for the hosts. The ball broke for Oliver on the edge of the box but his shot was hit over the bar. 

Soon after, Maidstone were on top. They earned themselves a succession of corners which came to nothing, but the signs of a goal were coming.

It wasn’t long after this that the visitors got themselves a penalty after Naylor fouled their forward in the box. Sam Corne it was who took it, but his penalty went sailing over the bar and Dover were let off the hook.

Daniel Jinadu had a very solid first half for the Whites. He made a couple of excellent saves to keep the score level which gave the hosts a glimmer of hope.

The away side kept up the pressure throughout the first half and kept knocking on the door and eventually they got their reward.Their left back made a good run into the box and fired it across the six yard area where the Stones winger tapped home to make it 0-1.

The second half began and there was a great chance for the hosts to make it 1-1, but Nikaj couldn’t convert his seemingly easychance and the score remained 0-1.

There was an extended stoppage in play shortly after, as Freddie Oliver’s challenge left the Maidstone midfielder in a heap on the floor. The Dover number 8 saw yellow for this tackle.

It wasn’t long after this that Jake Leberl made some changes. Dembele, Oladipo and Allen all came on but they didn’t make much impact as Maidstone had a firm grip of the game by this point. 

The visitors kept up the pressure and should’ve doubled their lead. A corner came in from the right hand side and was met well, but Jinadu got down quickly to make the save and keep the score at 0-1.

There was a bit of late pressure from Dover, with Wilkinson putting in a good corner but no one got on the end of it and it flew behind for a goal-kick. 

The game then petered out with the away side managing the game well and seeing it out until the final whistle. The visitors take all three points back up the M20 in their pursuit of a playoff place.

It’s Weston-Super-Mare up next for Dover as they look to turn around their recent poor form.

Dover: Jinadu, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Naylor (Oladipo 87mins), Holding, Ojemen, Oliver, Young (Dembele 64mins), Wilkinson, Stewart (Allen 73mins), Nikaj. Subs not used: Hatcher, Neil-Gray.

Maidstone: Covolan, Brown, Fowler, Greenidge, Ezennolim, Gurung, Corne, Berkeley-Agyepong (Sole 83mins), Rush, Faal (Reynolds 82mins), Tanga. Subs not used: Earle, Appiah, Duku.

Referee: Nathan Oakes.

Attendance: 1,203.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

A bright afternoon in Wiltshire saw Dover narrowly lose to Chippenham Town 2-1, but the performance from the Whites showed significant improvement.

The away side changed their thinking and approach for the game yesterday, with there being an increased emphasis on keeping the ball and looking to build attacks slowly from the back.

The Whites made the best start to the game. Baptiste was looking lively on the left and Nikaj was working hard on the right and getting some joy against their left back.

Dover won some early corners and looked threatening from them but there was no goal yet.

The majority of possession was Dover’s and they looked ever more threatening when building from the back. However, it was Chippenham who had the best chance of the half, when their number four went in behind Ojemen and hit the bar.

Soon after, the ball was picked up in the middle by Naylor, who ran into the box and was bundled over but no penalty was the decision. The hosts then counter but it comes to nothing.

The visitors looked threatening from set-pieces and that is exactly how they took the lead. A good ball from Wilkinson came in and it was Holding who rose highest and the ball dribbled in. Dover were one up.

The second half started similarly, with Dover dominating the ball. The hosts came out with more energy and enthusiasm as they sought an equaliser. 

The Bluebirds got themselves a free-kick in a good positionoutside the area but Jinadu saved easily once again. The away side then went up the other end, earnt themselves a corner and almost doubled their lead but Naylor headed just over.

Not long after, the hosts were back on level terms. Some poor defending from Dover and confusion in the penalty area gave their forward an open goal to tap the ball into.

The pressure from the home side grew as the game wore on. The Whites were getting tired towards the end and this only helped the hosts.

Then in the 87^th minute, it was Chippenham Town who took the lead. A corner came in and was headed out but not far enough, as their number four crashed a shot off the bar which just went over the line. The referee gave the goal much to the delight of the home fans.

Dover made a late surge to try and level the game but their hopes and efforts came to nothing and it was the hosts who took all three points.

It’s Maidstone at home next Saturday for Dover who will look to bounce back against the FA Cup story of the season.

Chippenham Town: 1 HENRY 2. HEWLETT 4. FASANMADE 6. HAINES 9. MCCLURE (C) 10. OWEN-EVANS 12. MEHEW 14. SPOKES 15. ELLISON 16. BRADBURY 20. KING

Subs: AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 7. JOHNSON, 8. EVANS, 17. WILLIAMS, 19. JONES

Dover Athletic: 1 JINADU, 3 CHARLES-COOK 16 MENSAH (C), 26 HOLDING, 4 OJEMEN, 15 NAYLOR, 14 WILKINSON, 8 OLIVER, 22 BAPTISTE, 10 NIKAJ, 20 DEMBELE

Subs: 7 OLADIPO, 17 HATCHER, 18 YOUNG, 11 ALLEN, 23 STEWART

Match report by Fred Deveson.

The fans were in full voice for last night’s match against St Albans, but it was the away side who took all three points.

The away side started the game on top and had lots of the ball and some good chances. Dover couldn’t get near the visitors at the start of the game.

Daniel Jinadu was called into action a couple of times early on and the Dover goalkeeper made a number of good saves to keep the score level. 

The away side were efficient in attack and were making some good combinations that were working well for them and Dover just couldn’t handle it. 

Destiny Oladipo made his first start for the club in the league but did not have much to do due to the visitors pinning Dover back, but when he did get the ball he used his strength effectively and was a very good outlet.

George Wilkinson had a long range effort from the half way line go wide of the goal and that was Dover’s only real threat in the first half. 

It wasn’t long after this that the visitors took the lead however. Shaun Jeffers, St Albans’ main man, found the back of the net after a good passing move by the away side. The goal had been coming.

The second half started much brighter for Dover. Two substitutions were made by Jake Leberl at half time which saw Dembele and Young come on, both of which provided an injection of energy and enthusiasm.

Dembele made some positive runs in behind the defence and worked incredibly hard to try and level the scoring. 

The chances did eventually come thick and fast for the hosts. Dembele chased a hopeful ball in behind and managed to get the better of the defender but his effort was saved. He then picked up the loose ball and tried to lift it over the goalkeeper but the ball bounced back off the bar. Nikaj then had a chance to finish but his effort was blocked and the chance to equalise went amiss.

Dover continued to have lots of the ball but chances for either side were few and far between.

Towards the end of the game St Albans had a shot crash off the post after a brilliant effort left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. 

The game then petered out with the away side wasting time and seeing out there 0-1 win to make 9 wins in their last 13 games. 

Dover Athletic: 1 DANIEL JINADU, 3 ROMAN CHARLES-COOK, 16 JACOB MENSAH (C), 26 SCOTT HOLDING, 4 PETER OJEMEN, 25 JOHN OYENUGA, 14 GEORGE WILKINSON, 8 FREDDIE OLIVER, 22 LUKE BAPTISTE, 10 GEORGE NIKAJ, 7 DESTINY OLADIPO

Subs: 9 ZIDAN SUTHERLAND, 15 CHARLIE NAYLOR, 18 HENRY YOUNG, 11 IFFY ALLEN, 20 NICK DEMBELE

St Albans City: 1 JOHNSON, 2 JAMES, 3 BROWN, 4 SMITH, 6 CLARK, 8 RASULO, 9 JEFFERS, 11 BANTON, 15 HUTCHINSON, 18 FRANCIS-CLARK, 28 HODDLE

Subs: 5 BOWRY, 7 BLACKMAN, 12 WEISS, 19 BURGER, 31 MENSAH

Attendance: 410

Referee: Steven Hughes

Match report by Fred Deveson

A milder afternoon saw Dover fall short once again, as they lostout to Billy Terrell and Dartford in a narrow 1-2 defeat.

The game kicked off was Dover kicking from left to right, and it was the hosts who dominated the start of the game, having plenty of the ball in the Dartford half.

George Nikaj was looking positive on the right for the hosts and had a penalty shout waved away in the early exchanges. The away side then broke away but they attack came to nothing.

The Whites were utilising the wide areas well and Baptiste found himself in some good space in the wide area, but his ball came to nothing, and Dartford survived again.

The visitors did make a comeback halfway through the first half. A close-range effort was saved by Jinadu after a well worked move by the away side. 

Dartford then picked up the ball around the edge of the area and fired a shot at Jinadu, who made a great diving save to his right to keep the score level.

The visitors kept the pressure up and Jinadu was called into action again, as were Mensah and Holding, who kept the away side at bay well for large parts of the first half.

The number 7 of Dartford had a shot that went just over, but that wasn’t it for the first half, as the visitors did eventually take the lead. George Wilkinson said pre-match that Dover had been working on set-pieces during the week, but that was exactly how Dartford went ahead. A corner came in from the visitors and the header away only fell to a purple shirt and he fired it past the goalkeeper to put the visitors in front.

The Whites started the first half much like they started first; on the front foot, and whatever the manager said at half time definitely had an impact.

Baptiste found some more space in the wide areas and delivered a great ball, only for Billy Terrell to stop it reaching Zidan Sutherland with a good save.

Another chance came soon after for The Whites as George Nikaj fires the ball across the face of goal, with no one there to meet it.

George Nikaj had some more joy down the right hand side, as another ball in from him fell to Wilkinson, who’s effort crashed off the bar. 

Substitutions started to come for Dover, as manager Jake Leberlbrought on Destiny Oladipo and Iffy Allen in a bid to get the equaliser. 

And shortly after bringing on Oladipo, it was the big number 7 who got the goal for Dover to level it up. Roman Charles-Cook made a good overlapping run into the box and delivered a perfect ball to Oladipo who squeezed it in from close range.

However, just eight minutes later, a corner came in from Dartford and Jacob Mensah was adjudged to have handballed and a penalty was given. 

The visitors converted the penalty, sending the travelling fans into delirium. 

That wasn’t it for Dover’s chances however, as a free-kick came in from the left by Wilkinson which was met by Nikaj, who headed it goalwards but it was somehow cleared off the line.

Dartford then survived the final few minutes to take all 3 points back home with them for the first time since Boxing Day.

Dover Athletic: Jinadu, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Holding, Naylor (Oladipo 69mins), Oyenuga, Wilkinson, Oliver, Baptiste (Allen 61mins), Nikaj, Sutherland. Subs not used: Ojemen, Young, Dembele.

Dartford: Terrell, Wynter, Smith (Maloney 86mins), Nembhard, Rooney (Adebowale 86mins), Romain, Coulson, Shomotun, Box (Wall 77mins), Clifford, Statham, Subs not used: Whitefield, Boulton.

Referee: Dan England.

Attendance: 794.

Dover lose in goal-fest on the West Sussex coast with 4 goals from Dover Academy graduates.

The first 15 minutes saw early chances for either side with the Whites getting the first shot on goal. At the other end a scrappy goal mouth scramble from a Worthing corner was cleared off the line by Ojemen.

Not long after Worthing hit first after a turnover of possession in midfield resulted in a ball over our defence. Jinadu was caught outside of his box trying to claim the ball and was lobbed.

Just five minutes later Whites failed to clear a couple of corners and Worthing grabbed a second.

On the 32nd minute Nick Dembele had a chance through on goal and was taken out by the Worthing keeper just outside of the box. Jeffries was seriously injured in the challenge and was stretchered off after a 15 minute stoppage. We wish him all the best in his recovery.

Soon after the restart Worthing’s Ollie Pearce got his first of the game. George Wilkinson gave an instant reply for Dover with an incredible free kick from near the corner flag which went straight in at the keepers near post. 

A couple of minutes later Luke Baptiste is bought down inside the penalty box and neatly converts the resulting spot kick. At the eventual half time whistle Dover found themselves just one goal behind the opposition after a tough first 45 minutes.

A substitution at half time saw Peter Ojemen make way for Roman Charles-Cook in defence. 

Just 6 minutes into the second half Ollie Pearce struck for a second time and 10 minutes later got his third from the penalty spot. The prolific Worthing goalscorer then got a fourth in the 71st minute.

Wilkinson was able to grab his second of the game in the 77th minute before Archie Hatcher got our fourth goal in the 91st minute, heading into an empty after some great team play to work the ball up the pitch.

Whites host Dartford at Crabble next Saturday after our away trip to Truro on Tuesday was postponed.

Worthing: 13 JEFFRIES, 23 FELIX, 27 YOUNG, 2 COLBRAN, 15 LIVESEY-AUSTIN, 20 WADHAM, 8 KLASS, 28 CASHMAN, 22 FAGE, 17 WILLARD, 10 PEARCE

Subs: REES, WILLS, ROBINSON, O. STARKEY, CHADWICK

Dover Athletic: 1 JINADU, 4 OJEMEN, 16 MENSAH (C), 26 HOLDING, 15 NAYLOR, 25 OYENUGA, 14 WILKINSON, 8 OLIVER, 22 BAPTISTE, 10 NIKAJ, 20 DEMBELE 

Subs: 7 OLADIPO, 17 HATCHER, 18 YOUNG, 3 CHARLES-COOK, 9 SUTHERLAND 

Attendance: 1581

With both teams sitting bottom of their respective leagues, a Kent Senior Cup game (which had already been postponed on more than one occasion) didn’t seem high on the priority list for either side. 

Despite playing a squad largely comprised of current academy players and graduates,  the Whites progressed with ease. 

The ball was in the back of the net in the first 5 minutes with Whyte heading the ball past the keeper from a cross originally intended for Oladipo, who was adjudged offside.

Consistent pressure from Dover returned some decent attempts but many failed to hit the target. In the 22nd and 26th minutes respectively both Nico Jones and Charlie Naylor were booked by the referee.

Just before half time Dover got their reward with a goal from Whyte on the left hand side of the box, striking low under the keeper from a tight angle.

Whites had the better of the first half and could easily have been a couple up despite Beckenham threatening from some set pieces.

Half time substitutes for the Whites saw Naylor make way for Mensah and Dembele for Baptiste.

In the 54th minute Nico Jones was shown a second yellow for a very soft foul and was given his marching orders. Dover quickly responded, despite now being a man down, with Destiny Oladipo finding the back of the net.

Gaps began to show for the Whites with Beckenham pressing high up the pitch, their best chance of the night was blocked on the goal line by Jacob Mensah, stopping a certain goal.

A few moments later Whyte made way for Nikaj which quickly followed a second goal for Destiny Oladipo. His drive struck a defender and flew into the net.  

A flurry of goal mouth scrambles and late attacking threat from Beckenham was cleaned up effectively by the Dover defence who then went on to score in the final moments of the game when brilliant work by Baptiste put it on a plate for Gray who made no mistake from a few feet out.

Dover now head to Ebbsfleet in the Quarter final of the Kent Senior Cup, date tbc.

Beckenham Town: Taylor, Aina, Griffin, Travers, Wright, Ikudehinbu, Britnell (Nyhus 63), Allen (Wyborn 71), Falade, Akintimehin, Pink.

Subs not used: Townsend, Wanogho. Paul-Lavaly.

Yellow card: Wyborn

Dover Athletic: Simmons, Holness, Odeniran, Young, Naylor (Mensah 46), Jones, Dembele (Baptiste 46), Hatcher, Oladipo, Gray, White (Nikaj 69).

Subs not used: Kray, McCarthy.

Goalscorers: Whyte (43), Olapido (58), (73), Gray (89)

Yellow card: Jones, Naylor

Red card: Jones 

Referee: Ben McDonald

Attendance: 80