GATESHEAD 0-0 DOVER

WHITES kept their place at the top of the league ladder after battling to a goalless draw in windy conditions at the International Stadium on Saturday.

Luke Hannant struck the bar once in each half for the hosts as Chris Kinnear’s men held on for a point in Gateshead manager Steve Watson’s first home game in charge.

With the wind in their favour before the break, Heed midfielder Hannant blazed over and Jordan Preston dragged wide, with both efforts coming from outside the area.

Jordan Burrows then volleyed over Scott Barrow’s cross from ten yards as the Tyne and Wear side continued to press.

Home keeper Dan Hanford blocked Ryan Bird’s stabbed effort at goal following a Mitch Pinnock knock-down and at the other end Paddy McLaughlin blasted Burrows’ lay-off narrowly wide from 20-yards.

Bird blazed over Pinnock’s accurate cross from close range, but it was Gateshead who went closest midway through the half.

McLaughlin’s ball into the penalty area found Hannant in space and the midfielder’s volley looped over Mitch Walker and bounced off the underside of the bar into the grateful arms of Dover’s keeper.

Hannant then struck an effort inches past the wrong side of the post and in a rare Athletic attack at the other end of the pitch, Pinnock fired into the side-netting after beating Newcastle loanee Callum Williams for pace.

Hannant twice flashed balls across the box after the break, but out of reach of any of his teammates.

An unmarked Giancarlo Gallifuoco headed Mitch Brundle’s corner well wide and Dover’s skipper then curled a free-kick into Hanford’s arms.

Burrow headed Barrow’s long throw straight at Walker and the same striker then blasted sub Richard Peniket’s knock-down wide.

And Whites were almost flying back home to Kent without a point after Gateshead hit the woodwork for a second time.

Hannant rose highest to meet Burrows’ cross, but his header struck the crossbar and bounced out of play, much to the relief of Walker.

Earlier, Kinnear made two changes to the side that beat Woking 3-1 on Tuesday night at Crabble.  Loui Fazakerley replaced the suspended Femi Ilesanmi and Nortei Nortey came in for Paul Lewis, who returned to Cambridge following his loan.

Dover now have an extended break in the league, with their next game against Eastleigh at Crabble on Saturday 11th November.

Gateshead: Hanford, Barrow, Kerr, Byrne(c), Burrow, Preston (Peniket 64), McLaughlin, O’Donnell, Maxwell, Hannant, Williams.

Subs not used: Montgomery, York, Johnson, Penn.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Brundle(c), Pinnock, Fazakerley, Bird, Nortey, Alabi (Daniel 73).

Subs not used: Richards, Adebowale, Okosieme, Deen-Conteh.

Attendance:  816

Referee:  Peter Wright

DOVER 3-1 WOKING
(Bird 5, 21) (Ward 54)
(Parry 56)

WHITES soared back into top spot after beating promotion rivals Woking in an entertaining match at Crabble on Tuesday night.

Ryan Bird’s brace and a Manny Parry header two minutes after Joe Ward had reduced the deficit saw Chris Kinnear’s side move into first place on goal difference.

Anthony Limbrick’s men, looking to bounce back from defeat at Bromley three days earlier, fashioned the first chance with Josh Staunton heading Chez Isaac’s early corner narrowly wide.

Nathan Baxter was forced to tip over Mitch Brundle’s dipping volley, but there was nothing the visiting keeper could do about Bird’s fifth minute opener.

The striker pounced at the back post to slot in his eighth of the season after Mitch Pinnock’s corner eluded all the yellow shirts in the box.

Brundle then tried his luck again from range, but this time the skipper’s lob cleared the crossbar.

On the counter-attack, Inih Effiong outpaced Manny Parry on the wing, but could only blast wide and James Alabi headed over Josh Passley’s cross at the other end.

After tackling Nathan Ralph, Passley surged into the penalty area and passed to Bird, but the goalscorer miskicked when well-placed.

But the forward made no mistake with his next chance on 21 minutes.

Pinnock’s long throw was inadvertently flicked on by Joey Jones into the path of Bird, who fired in his ninth of the campaign to move joint top of the National league scoring chart.

Woking went close before the break, but Jamie Philpott headed Ralph’s cross wide and then fired at Walker with a low drive.

Dover’s stopper also held onto Regan Charles-Cook’s curling shot, but his best efforts were not enough to prevent the away team from pulling a goal back on 52 minutes.

The keeper superbly denied Joe Ward following a clever pass from Effiong, but the ball ricocheted off Femi Ilesanmi and back into the striker’s path to reduce the arrears.

Pinnock unleashed a 30-yard sizzler that flew past the upright and Jordan Wynter was relieved to see his interception bounce over the bar following a dangerous run and cross by Alabi.

But Whites restored their two-goal cushion on 54 minutes as Parry rose highest at the far post to head in Pinnock’s deep corner.

Paul Lewis almost grabbed the hosts fourth of the evening, but Baxter tipped away the midfielder’s inswinging shot.

Jamie Philpot fired wide under pressure from Passley and Isaac blazed over from distance as Whites extended their unbeaten run to seven league matches.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the team that started Saturday’s draw with Maidenhead as Giancarlo Gallifuoco replaced Loui Fazakerley, who started as substitute.

Dover travel next to Gateshead on Saturday 28th October. Kick off 3pm.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Brundle(c), Pinnock, Bird, Alabi (Daniel 59), Lewis.

Subs not used: Richards, Fazakerley, Nortey, Deen-Conteh.

Woking: Baxter, Young, Wynter, Staunton, Ralph, Jones(c) (Appau 70), Isaac, Philpot, Ward, Charles-Cook, Effiong.

Subs not used: Stojsavljevic, Saraiva, Banton, Mason.

Referee: Alan Bale

DOVER 1-1 MAIDENHEAD UNITED
(Bird 76)      (Hyde 90)

JAKE Hyde’s last minute tap-in denied Whites a fourth consecutive league home win at a wet and windy Crabble on Saturday.

The striker pounced at the death to tap in sub Adrian Clifton’s knock down following Rene Steer’s run and cross.

Ryan Bird’s header seemed to have secured the win for Chris Kinnear’s side.  The striker headed sub Kadell Daniel’s deep cross back across visiting keeper Carl Pentney and into the net via the post.

Moses Emmanuel fired over a volley from close-range and Dean Inman had the game’s first shot on target, heading a long throw straight at Dover keeper Mitch Walker.

The home stopper was then quick off his line to grab the ball from Emmanuel after Hyde’s cross deflected into the striker’s path.

Mitch Brundle tricked past his marker, but his low curling effort was comfortably held by Pentney.  Dover’s skipper then let fly from twenty-yards, this time narrowly missing the post.

Walker beat away Alan Massey’s tight drive and Hyde blazed wide after following up on Inman’s initial shot, which deflected into his path.

Mitch Pinnock’s low goalbound drive was cleared away by Massey and Manny Parry nodded a corner from the winger wide shortly after.

Jake Goodman’s turn and shot seemed to catch Walker off-guard, with the ball striking the bar and bouncing over much to the relief of the Whites keeper.

Bird opened the scoring and Dover had further opportunities to seal victory.

Daniel struck the outside of the post with a vicious twenty-five yard drive and Paul Lewis aimed too high with a shot from outside the box.

Bird fired into the side-netting and then flicked Daniel’s pass the wrong side of the post with Pentney beaten.

But Hyde had the final say with the last kick of the game following a scramble in the box.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to the side that started at Bromley on Tuesday night.  James Alabi made his debut having signed on-loan from Tranmere Rovers, with Loui Fazakerley and Lewis also starting.

Nortey Nortey and Daniel started as substitutes, with Giancarlo Gallifuoco missed out though injury.

Dover: Walker, Fazakerley, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle(c), Lewis, Ilesanmi, Pinnock (Daniel 71), Bird, Alabi (Richards 87).

Subs not used: Okosieme, Nortey, Deen-Conteh.

Maidenhead: Pentney, Massey(c), Inman, Goodman, Peters (Kilman 33), Odametey (Upward 78), Smith, Pritchard, Steer, Emmanuel (Clifton 71), Hyde.

Subs not used: Barratt, Mulley.

EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH ROUND QUALIFYING REPLAY

BROMLEY 3-0 DOVER

Whites were sent crashing out of the FA Cup after conceding three second-half goals at Hayes Lane on Tuesday evening.

Two quick-fire strikes from Josh Rees and Adam Mekki had the hosts  in control and sub Louis Dennis slotted home in injury time to seal the win.

Chris Kinnear’s men were dealt a further blow as Giancarlo Gallifuoco and Josh Passley were forced off at half-time with injuries.

Both sides went on the attack early on, but shots from Nortei Nortey and Mekki were straight at their opposition goalkeepers.

Connor Essam’s through-ball then released Mitch Pinnock, but the midfielder blasted over when bearing down on goal .

Kadell Daniel picked out Mitch Brundle in the area, but the skipper’s first-time volley flew over both home keeper David Gregory and the crossbar.

Daniel then tried to score himself, smashing a spectacular overhead kick wide of the post.

Boss Kinnear was forced into a half-time change following an unfortunate injury to Gallifuoco.

The Australian bravely stooped low to head the ball in the Bromley box, but suffered concussion after colliding with an opponent.

Passley was also withdrawn prior to the restart, with Loui Fazakerley and Kane Richards introduced to the action as Whites opted for a more attacking formation after the break.

And the changes almost had an immediate impact as Pinnock’s low drive glided past the wrong side of the post.

Mekki went close with two headers.  Firstly nodding over Luke Wanadio’s cross and then glancing straight into the arms of Mitch Walker.

Ryan Bird was on hand to clear Jack Holland’s bullet header off the line as Bromley forced a number of corners.

And the home side did not have to wait much longer to make a set piece count.

Frankie Sutherland’s 70th minute corner was directed into the top corner by Rees, in-spite of visiting stopper Walker’s best efforts to keep the ball out.

Mekki grabbed his side’s second three minutes later, latching onto Holland’s pass and after evading Connor Essam’s challenge, curled in off the crossbar.

Bird headed Pinnock’s free kick at Gregory and with time running out, Neil Smith’s side sealed the win thanks to substitute Dennis.

The attacker exchanged passes with Rees and slotted past Walker to confirm their first round tie at League One Rochdale next month

Earlier manager Kinnear named an unchanged line-up from Saturday’s match.

Dover are back to league action on Saturday 21st October with Maidenhead United the visitors to Crabble. Kick off 3pm.

Bromley: Gregory, Dunne (Wynter 85), Rees, Holland(c), Raymond, Mekki, Higgs, D.Johnson, Sterling, Wanadio (Allen 90), R.Johnson (Dennis 71).

Subs: Tulian, Enver, Anderson, Baskerville.

Dover: Walker, Passley (Richards 45), Gallifuoco (Fazakerley 45), Essam, Parry, Ilesanmi,Brundle(c), Nortey (Deen-Conteh 84), Pinnock, Bird, Daniel.

Subs not used: Allen, Adebowale, Okosieme, Lewington.

Referee:  Gary Parsons

Attendance:  828

Dover 0–0 Bromley

Chris Kinnear’s men will do battle with their Kent rivals once again on Tuesday night following a goalless draw in the Emirates FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

The two sides will replay at Hayes Lane after both defences came out on top in Saturday’s match at Crabble.

Ryan Bird had the best chance of the match early on, flicking the ball over a stranded David Gregory following a poor defensive clearance.

However the striker’s first-time effort bounced agonisingly over the bar, much to the relief of the the visiting keeper.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco then smashed Mitch Pinnock’s near-post corner into the side netting and at the other end Alan Dunne forced home stopper Mitch Walker into a low save from 25-yards.

Pinnock stabbed Josh Passley’s cross to the far post wide after sneaking behind the Bromley defence and the midfielder then blazed a long-range effort over the bar and into the Bromley supporters.

Louis Dennis, a scorer for the visitors in the league match between the teams back in August, somehow volleyed Alan Dunne’s centre wide after a quick throw-in.

And the away side were even closer to scoring with their next chance, as Jack Holland scraped the woodwork with a header from Frankie Raymond’s cross.

With full-time looming, Pinnock’s deflected effort flew into the hands of Gregory and the away defence bravely blocked Manny Parry’s volley.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that won 2-0 at Torquay last Saturday. Nortei Nortey replaced the cup-tied Paul Lewis and Kadell Daniel came in for Jamie Allen, who started as a substitute.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Brundle(c), Pinnock, Bird, Nortey (Richards 79), Daniel.

Subs not used: Allen, Fazakerley, Adebowale, Okosieme, Lewington, Deen-Conteh.

Bromley: Gregory, Dunne (Wynter 88), Holland(c), R.Johnson (D.Johnson 90), Sterling, Raymond, Higgs, Rees, Dennis, Williams, Mekki (Wanadio 62).

Subs not used: Allen, Enver, Tullen, Anderson.

Attendance: 932

Referee: Alan Young

TORQUAY 0-2 WHITES

A headed goal in each half from Paul Lewis and Ryan Bird saw Dover run out comfortable winners at bottom-of-the table Torquay at a windy Plainmoor on Saturday.

Cambridge loanee Lewis nodded in Mitch Pinnock’s cross after six minutes to give Chris Kinnear’s men an early lead and Bird powered in Jamie Allen’s assist off both the bar and home goalkeeper Vincent Dorel to double the advantage in the 64th minute as Athletic extended their unbeaten run to five games.

After the visitors had gone in front, Pinnock headed Passley’s cross harmlessly over and was then denied by the woodwork minutes later.

The wideman struck the underside of the crossbar with a fierce volley after latching onto Femi Ilesanmi’s lobbed pass.

Lewis thought he had doubled the lead after flicking in Bird’s shot, but the linesman chalked off his effort for offside and the midfielder was booked for protesting.

Ryan Higgins fired well wide from 20-yards and at the other end Bird nodded Allen’s cross just wide just before the break.

Luke Young drove a free-kick into Mitch Walker’s arms a minute before Bird struck Dover’s second.

The points were almost secured when Giancarlo Gallifuoco struck the post against his old side from sub Kadell Daniel’s corner.

Daniel then tried his luck with an audacious volley that flew into the arms of Gulls stopper Dorel.

Jamie Reid’s blast into the side netting summed up a disappointing day in front of goal for United.

The win sees Whites remain second in the standings, one point below current leaders Macclesfield Town.

Earlier, boss Kinnear kept the same side that started at Sutton on Tuesday night. Aziz Deen-Conteh replaced Tobi Sho-Silva on the bench, who missed out through injury.

Torquay: Dorel, Davis, Lathrope (Myrie-Williams 45), McGinty, Gowling(c), Young, Evans, McQuoid, Reid, Higgins (Pittman 68), Murphy (Keating 78).

Subs not used: Clarke, Efete.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Ilesanmi, Brundle(c), Lewis, Pinnock (Daniel 59), Allen, Bird.

Subs not used: Richards, Fazakerley, Nortey, Deen-Conteh.

Attendance: 1,915

Referee: Samuel Allison.

WHITES 1-0 SOLIHULL MOORS

Ryan Bird’s late goal put Dover back onto top spot and sent a bumper Crabble crowd home happy.

In front of a season high of 2,795, the striker powered home Cambridge loanee Paul Lewis’ cross in the 81st minute to finally break the deadlock.

Bird had volleyed high and wide early on and Mitch Brundle was off target with a low drive as the home team took the game to the visitors.

Moors’ keeper Nathan Vaugan tipped over Mitch Pinnock’s fierce free-kick after Kadell Daniel had been felled just outside the box.

Pinnock then tried his luck with an acrobatic overhead kick that bounced the wrong side of Vaughan’s post.

A spectator for much of the half, home goalie Mitch Walker was quick off his line to deny Shepherd Murombedzi from poking the ball underneath his body.

The stopper then palmed away the same player’s strike from the edge of the area shortly after Mitch Brundle’s cross-sum-shot eluded both Manny Parry and Daniel at the other end of the pitch.

Joe Payne fired wide after the break for the away side and Pinnock’s header had Vaughan scrambling across his goalline to catch the ball.

Captain Brundle thought he had given his side the lead following a rampaging run from his own half, but his shot deflected agonisingly wide of the post.

But Athletic finally made the breakthrough thanks to Bird and the lead was almost doubled minutes later.

Lewis’ scorching drive from Brundle’s lay-off whistled the wrong side of the post leaving the home side to hang on for the remaining few minutes.

And Whites were nearly punished in injury time.

Firstly Darren Carter curled over a free-kick and goalkeeper Vaughan – up for a Solihull corner, headed over when well placed.

But Chris Kinnear’s men held firm until the final whistle to secure all three points.

Earlier, Dover’s boss made one change to the side that started at Guiseley last weekend as Lewis replaced Nortei Nortey, who started on the bench.

Whites next travel to Sutton United on Tuesday 3rd October.  Kick off 7:45pm.

Dover:Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle, Lewis (Fazakerley 84), Ilesanmi, Daniel (Allen 67), Bird, Pinnock (Sho-Silva 73).

Subs not used: Nortey, Richards.

Solihull:  Vaughan, Green, Kettle, Daly, Payne, Murombedzi (McDonald 73), Richards (Campbell 84), Carter, Carline, Brodie, Afolayan (Maye 62).

Subs not used: Cullinane-Liburd, Fox.

Whites drew 1-1 at Guiseley thanks to a stunning first-half equaliser from Nortei Nortey.

The midfielder curled home a sumptious 20-yard effort in the 40th minute to cancel out John Rooney’s deflected free-kick 11 minutes earlier.

Both sides fought for a winner after the break, but the points were shared at a chilly Nethermoor Park.

The home side started strongly and Rob Atkinson nodded Rooney’s free-kick narrowly wide

The forward then tried himself moments later, but could only strike the top of the crossbar with a thunderous effort from close in.

But shortly after Walker tipped over Kayode Odejayi’s header from a corner, Rooney had better luck with his next effort

The playmaker’s set-piece struck the visiting wall and spun into the net past a stranded Mitch Walker to put the hosts ahead.

Dover’s stopper then somehow denied Jake Lawlor on the half-hour mark, tipping the defender’s header onto the post with his defence able to clear the danger afterwards.

And that save proved crucial as Athletic levelled moments later with their first shot on target.

Nortey, who had already blazed two shots from distance over, collected Kadell Daniel’s pass and fired home.

Sub Reece Thompson, on after Raul Correira was stretched off with a serious looking injury following a collision with Giancarlo Gallifuoco, shot just wide when well placed.

Manny Parry headed just past his own post in first half stoppage time and claims for a handball against Ryan Bird in his own box from the resulting corner were waved away by referee Andrew Miller.

Bird and Daniel both fired efforts directly at Lions keeper Joe Green after the restart and Mitch Pinnock was unable to beat the goalie from a tight angle after latching onto Bird’s flick-on.

The hosts almost won the match late on after Thompson robbed Connor Essam, but the striker could only find the side-netting when shooting towards the near post.

There was one last chance for Paul Cox’s men, but Walker was well-positioned to get in the way of Lawlor’s diving header from Rooney’s free-kick.

The draw sees Whites drop one place in the table to third, one point behind latest leaders Sutton United.

Earlier Chris Kinnear named the same line-up that started last Saturday’s 4-0 home win against Chester.  Paul Lewis, signed on loan from Cambridge on Friday, was named as substitute in place of Chris Lewington.

Dover’s next game is against Solihull Moors at Crabble on 30th September. Kick off 3pm.

Guiseley: Green, Lowe(c), Palmer, Lawlor, Hatfield, Rooney, Molyneux, (Hurst 76) Correia (Thompson 37), Odejayi, East, Atkinson.

Subs not used:  Maxted, Wesolowski, Mulhern.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Brundle(c), Pinnock, Bird (Sho-Silva 88), Nortey (Lewis 54), Daniel (Allen 70).

Subs not used: Richards, Fazakerley.

Attendance:  805