Chris Lewington was the hero as Whites edged past Sittingbourne on penalties to advance onto the next round of the Kent Reliance Senior cup.

Dover’s keeper saved spot kicks from Tom Loynes and Mobalasi Dawodu as 10-man Athletic, the defending champions, won the shootout 4-1 after the second round tie ended 2-2 draw in normal time.

Chris Kinnear’s side also finished the game a man light after Aziz Deen-Conteh was shown a second yellow card in injury time.

Whites started brightly with Kane Richards cutting inside and firing straight at visiting keeper Harry Brooks early on.

But his effort was merely a warning shot and the winger opened the scoring on 22 minutes.

Jamie Allen collected the ball out wide and passed inside for Tobi Sho-Silva to tuck the ball into the bottom corner, via a slight deflection of Richards.

Debutant Lewington was called into action on the half-hour mark for the home side, beating away Ade Batula’s fierce drive, then denying Chris Webber with an identical block when the ball rebounded to the defender.

The home stopper then spectacularly tipped over Tom Loynes curling effort after the winger cut inside Chris Barnard.

David Smith fired narrowly wide from an angle for the visitors and Brooks palmed Oliver Muldoon’s volley around the post after Deen-Conteh’s run and cross.

But Sittingbourne were deservedly level eight minutes after the break. Webber’s set piece found Dawodu free in the box to head home.

Brooks had to be alert to deny Deen-Conteh at his near post and George Essuman nodded the resulting corner over the bar.

Sho-Silva headed Richards’ cross at Brooks and the visiting keeper was off his line quickly to beat Barnard to a loose ball soon after.

Smith fired wide once again as did Essuman at the other end, striking the side netting after Brooks’ punch from Deen-Conteh’s initial shot fell for the centre back.

The Brickies goalie also showed good agility to tip over Allen’s powerful drive from an angle.

The turnaround was complete on 78 minutes, sub Kane Rowland capitalised on Essuman’s error and fired home via the post.

But the the visitors could only hold on to their lead for four minutes as Deen-Conteh curled a free-kick into the top corner, before his evening turned sour after the referee gave the defender his marching orders following a rash challenge.

But the 10-men held firm until the final whistle, winning the shootout thanks to Lewington’s heroics.

Earlier, Kinnear made 11 changes to the side that started the 4-0 home win over Chester last weekend.

Whites are back in league action this Saturday when they travel to Guiseley. Kick off 3pm.

Dover: Lewington, Fazakerley(c), Deen-Conteh, Essuman, Adebowale, Barnard, Allen, Muldoon, Sho-Silva, Thomas, Richards.

Subs not used: Smith, Wratten, Dixon, Cusson, Hook.

Sittingbourne: Brooks, Webber, Elliott, Coker, Allan, Dawodu, Guthrie, Batula(Blake 73), Smith (Rowland 69), Cornwell(c) (Phillip 45), Loynes.

Subs not used: Brown, Hawkes.

Whites won their second game at Crabble this season with a convincing 4-0 victory over struggling Chester.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco headed in a first-half opener with further goals from Mitch Pinnock, Nortei Nortey and Mitch Brundle after the break.

Pinnock registered the shot of the match, but the winger’s angled volley flew over the bar.

Kingsley James fired an early warning at Walker and Andy Halls could only find the side-netting after opting to shoot rather than cross as the visitors grew in confidence.

But the home side opened the scoring on 21 minutes thanks to Giancarlo Gallifuoco. The Australian rose above a static Chester defence to head in Mitch Brundle’s accurate corner.

A Chester reply was almost instant, but Walker easily caught Ross Hannah’s strike from inside the penalty box.

With half-time on the horizon, Walker dived onto Hannah’s low drive and the same striker curled a free-kick over following a clumsy challenge on him by Connor Essam, resulting in a booking for the Dover defender.

Harry White diverted Hannah’s cross wide and Lucas Dawson smashed over following good work from James as the visitors searched for a leveller.

But Dover’s defence was not to be breached and they pulled further ahead on 62 minutes when Pinnock collected Brundle’s pass and fired into the bottom corner from twenty-yards, leaving away stopper Alex Lynch no chance of saving his shot.

It was the midfielder’s first league goal for Whites and seven minutes later another Dover player had the same accolade.

Sub Tobi-Sho Silva got the better of Ryan Astles on the left and his low centre found Nortei Nortey free in the area to sweep home his first goal in a Whites shirt.

Kadell Daniel struck the angle of post and bar with a fierce effort, before Brundle made the points safe on 82 minutes.

Sho-Silva’s run and shot was parried by Alex Lynch into the path of Dover’s captain, who slipped the ball underneath the away keeper.

It was almost five in stoppage time, but Lynch denied both Pinnock and Brundle following a lightning counter attack from a Chester corner.

Earlier, Chris Kinnear made one change to the side that started the midweek defeat to Boreham Wood as Kadell Daniel came in for Jamie Allen, who dropped to the bench.

The result moves Whites up to 2nd in the table on goal difference, level on points with new leaders Aldershot Town.

Athletic next play Sittingbourne FC on Tuesday night at Crabble in the second round of the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy.  Kick off 7:45pm.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle(c), Nortey, Ilesanmi (Deen-Conteh 85), Daniel (Richards 80), Bird (Sho-Silva 58), Pinnock.

Subs not used: Lewington, Allen

Chester: Lynch, Halls, Astles, McCombe(c), Mahon (Akintunde 63), Joyce (Waters 71), James, Dawson, Rowe-Turner, White (Bell 61), Hannah.

Subs not used: Mitchell, Sharon

Yellows: Essam, Daniel (Dover), Joyce, McCombe, Halls (Chester)

Attendance: 1102

Referee: Daniel Middleton

 

Dover rose into first place on the National League ladder with a 2-0 win at Aldershot on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

A header from Giancarlo Gallifuoco and a wonderful solo goal from substitute Kadell Daniel saw Athletic win at the EBB Stadium for the first time.

The home side started brightly and Connor Essam had to be alert to cut out Jim Kellerman’s early cross.

The midfielder would have then been clear on goal from Matt McClure’s clever pass, but the ball eluded his outstretched leg.

The pressure continued and Mitch Brundle was brave in blocking Jake Gallagher’s first time shot from Scott Rendell’s lay-off.

The match’s first effort on target came via Manny Parry for the visitors, but his header from Gallifuoco’s cross lacked the power needed to beat Jake Cole.

But Dover did beat the home keeper in the 35th minute.

A short corner from Brundle found Nortei Nortey and the midfielder’s floated ball into the area was powered home by Australian Gallifuoco.

McClure cut in and fired at Mitch Walker from an angle and Jamie Allen produced a similar effort at the other end as half-time loomed.

Dover started strongly following the break, Allen fired over after controlling Brundle’s cross-field pass and the Whites skipper then sent Josh Passley clear, but the right-back miscontrolled the ball.

Mitch Walker produced a stunning save to prevent James Rowe from finding the top corner and that save proved crucial as the visitors doubled their lead on 65 minutes.

Daniel, who had entered the fray four minutes earlier, picked the ball up on the half-way line and ran towards the box before firing a low left-footed effort across Cole and into the net.

The winger then stung the palms of the home stopper with a fierce angled drive.

Sub Fabien Robert was found in space by a smart threaded pass, but Walker was out quickly to block his effort.

The visiting stopper also caught McClure’s late effort as Whites held on to record back-to-back victories.

Earlier, Kinnear named the same side that started last Saturday’s match at Tranmere Rovers. Chris Lewington replaced Aziz Deen-Conteh on the bench.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Essam, Gallifuoco, Parry, Ilesanmi, Brundle (c), Pinnock (Daniel 61), Nortey, Allen (Fazakerley), Bird (Sho-Silva 63).

Subs not used: Richards, Lewington.

Attendance: 1862

Ryan Bird’s 79th minute penalty stunned a 4000-strong home crowd as Dover won 1-0 in front of the BT Sport cameras at Prenton Park on Saturday.

The striker rammed the ball down the middle of the goal after being fouled in the box by Ritchie Sutton.

The visitors started brightly with Mitch Pinnock’s 30-yard strike narrowly clearing home keeper Scott Davies’ bar.

The home team were first to register a shot on target as Ollie Norburn curled a free-kick into the arms of Mitch Walker.

And Dover’s stopper was in the thick of the action as Rovers pushed forward.

He dived onto Sutton’s drive at the second attempt after initally parrying the defender’s effort, then blocked Hughes shot after Jay Harris’ cross-field ball found the midfielder in space.

Andy Cook then tried his luck with a twenty-yard rocket that fizzed past the post much to the relief of a diving Walker.

Jamie Allen latched onto a goal-kick, but his first-time shot was too weak to trouble Davies.

Pinnock went close before the break after robbing Steve McNulty, but aimed his shot just wide.

Walker had to be alert to block Cook’s close range header from a Harris cross and at the other end Femi Ilesanmi’s shot whistled past the far post after Mitch Brundle found the winger in space.

Sub Tobi Sho-Silva forced Davies into a smart save late on with a clever turn and strike from the edge of the box.

Ilesanmi then went even closer to giving Whites the lead, heading sub Loui Fazakerley’s cross against the bar.

James Norwood’s flick from sub Liam Ridehalgh’s set-piece went agonisingly wide for the hosts.

But the away team did go ahead ten minutes later thanks to Bird’s penalty.  The forward was felled in the area after sneaking in ahead of Sutton as the defender went to clear the ball, leaving Peter Wright no choice but to award a spot-kick.

With the clock ticking towards full-time, Walker pulled off two fine saves to confirm Dover’s second win in three games at Tranmere.

The keeper firstly blocked Ridehalgh’s effort with his legs, with Connor  Essam on hand to clear the ball off the line as it rolled towards goal.

Walker then somehow pawed behind Norwood’s volley following good work from Sutton.

Earlier, Chris Kinnear made one change from the side that drew with Ebbsfleet on Monday. Fit-again Jamie Allen replaced Tobi Sho-Silva, who started on the bench.

The win sees Whites rise three placed to sixth in the table, two points of leaders Dagenham & Redbridge.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle(c), Nortey (Fazakerley 65), Pinnock, Ilesanmi, Allen (Sho-Silva 55), Bird(Daniel 82).

Subs not used: Deen-Conteh, Richards.

Referee: Peter Wright

Attendance: 4101 (79 away)

Yellows – Gallifuoco, Pinnock (Dover)

 

Ryan Bird’s first half header was not enough for Whites to take all three points in a 1-1 draw with Kent rivals Ebbsfleet at Crabble on Bank Holiday Monday.

The big striker powered home Mitch Pinnock’s cross on 17 minutes, but United fought back to level through Darren McQueen’s volley.

Bagasan Graham strode forward and fired a low effort straight at Mitch Walker as the visitors registered the match’s first shot on target on the quarter-hour mark.

Athletic were ahead moments later and Danny Kedwell nearly equalised shortly after, smashing Myles Weston’s cross narrowly wide.

McQueen was then denied by Walker, who dived onto the ball after the diminutive forward cut in from the right and fizzed in a shot.

Kedwell nodded Jack Powells’ corner over as the referee drew the first half to a close.

Following the restart, Jack Payne’s pass was collected by McQueen on the edge of the box, but was once again unable to beat Walker and Pinnock’s free-kick at the other end flew inches wide of the post.

Yado Mambo was in the right place to block Nortei Nortey’s vicous volley following a defensive clearance.

The home pressure continued with Tobi Sho-Silva evading attention on the right-wing and passing into the box, but both Bird’s and Pinnock’s attempts were too weak to trouble Nathan Ashmore in the away goal.

The burly stopper then had to scurry back to his goalline to stop Mitch Brundle’s audacious 70-yard effort from going in.

It was all square in the 76th minute, McQueen out-muscled Femi Ilesanmi to latch onto Kedwell’s flick and fire past a helpless Walker.

And the visitors almost took the lead as Powell headed over substitute Sean Shields’ cross.

Brundle almost won the game late on, but curled his free-kick into Ashmore’s arms.

The draw sees Whites drop four places to ninth in the table.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the starting line-up from Saturday’s match at Macclesfield.  Mitch Pinnock replaced Kane Richards, who dropped to the bench.

Chris Kinnear’s men travel to Tranmere Rovers next on Saturday 2nd September. Kick off 5:30pm.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi (Deen-Conteh 78), Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Pinnock (Daniel 82), Brundle (c), Sho-Silva, Bird, Nortey.

Attendance: 1625 (373 away supporters).

Yellow cards: Parry, Daniel, Brundle

Dover remain winless at The Moss Rose since their return to the National League as Chris Kinnear’s men lost 1-0 to Macclesfield Town on Friday night.

Former Whites striker Tyrone Marsh headed in Elliott Durrell’s cross five minutes after half-time as Athletic suffered their first away defeat of the season.

The home side fashioned the first chance early on with Danny Whitaker firing straight at Walker from close range.

The action then moved to the other end of the pitch.  Femi Ilesanmi’s  free-kick deflected narrowly wide and Kane Richards’ then saw a shot blocked by the legs of home keeper Shawn Jalal following Nortei Nortey’s pass.

Nortey was once again involved on the quarter-hour mark, chasing down the ball after blocking Keith Lowe’s attempted clearance, but his final pass into the box was too weak to find a teammate.

Lowe was almost left red-faced again after his backpass was missed by Jalal, however Ryan Bird was unable to react in time.

Gime Toure stumbled in the Dover area with Connor Essam close by, but the referee adjudged there was no contact on the Frenchman.

Bird’s flick-on found Josh Passley lurking at the back post, but the right-back was denied by Jalal’s stunning finger-tip save around the post.

Toure spotted Ryan Lloyd’s clever run into the area, but the midfielder scooped the ball over the bar.

Lowe bravely blocked Sho-Silva’s effort before half-time after the forward had been sent clear by Mitch Brundle.

Marsh’s bullet header seemed to galvanise the Silkmen, with Scott Burgess curling just over from long range and away keeper Mitch Walker flinging himself across the goalmouth to prevent Durrell’s swirling free kick from going straight in.

Dover’s stopper then had to be alert to palm over Toure’s firm strike after he turned Manny Parry in the box.

Walker then produced a stunning save to turn sub Mitch Hancox’s twenty-yard effort past the post.

The visitor’s final chance came from Pinnock’s long throw in injury time, but the ball bounced agonisingly over Bird after Jalal’s unsuccessful attempt to claim the ball.

The defeat sees Dover stay in fifth spot in the ladder, with the rest of this round of National League fixtures due on Saturday.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes from the home draw with Barrow on Saturday.  Josh Passley returned from illness in place of Louis Fazakerley, who started as a substitute. Tobi Sho-Silva also came in for Jamie Allen, who was ruled out through injury.

Aziz Deen-Contch was named on the bench after signing for the club earlier in the week.

Whites next face Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United this coming Bank Holiday Monday, kick off 3pm.

 

Dover starting XI:

Walker, Passley, Essam, Parry(Deen-Conteh 68), Gallifuoco, Ilesanmi, Brundle, Nortey(Pinnock 68), Richards(Daniel 63), Bird, Sho-Silva.

Subs not used: Fazakerley, Essuman.

Yellow cards: Brundle

Attendance:  1270 (37 away supporters).

Ryan Bird rescued a point for Whites as they drew 1-1 with Barrow at Crabble on Saturday.

The big striker headed home his second home goal in as many games to level the scores on 72 minutes after Jordan White had nodded the Cumbrian side ahead 20 minutes earlier.

Dover skipper Mitch Brundle fired in the first shot on target of the game, but his free-kick went straight at visiting keeper Stuart Moore.

Barrow also had some chances early on as Harry Panayiotou dragged an effort wide when well placed and Dave Nieskens volleyed an attempt from the edge of the box out for a throw in.

Femi Ilesanmi’s ball into the penalty area narrowly evaded the onrushing Bird and Panayiotou’s cross at the other end appeared to strike the bar.

Home defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco was taken off with an ankle injury on the half hour mark, with George Essuman, making his first competitive appearance for Dover, his replacement.

Panayiotou could only stab Dan Jones’ lob into the box straight at Mitch Walker from yards out as the away side grew into the match.

Thierry Audel almost opened the scoring before the break in stunning fashion.  The Frenchman slalomed through the Athletic defence having picked the ball up on the halfway line, but was unable to beat Walker at his near post.

Ilesanmi positioned himself to shoot from Jamie Allen’s lofted ball into the box five minutes after the restart, but the Nigerian’s miscontrol saw the ball to roll out for a goal kick.

A minute later the away side took the lead as White powered in Jones’ accurate left wing cross.

It was almost an instant reply with Bird poised to fire home Ilesanmi’s assist.  But the striker was denied by Moussa Diarra’s last-ditch challenge.

However, Dover’s striker was not to be kept out for long.

Bird flicked home substitute Kadell Daniel’s cross to level matters with 20 minutes to go.

But it was Barrow who could have won the match late on.  Sub Sam Cockerline opted to shoot at Walker instead of passing across the box to an awaiting Alex-Ray Harvey.

And Bedsente Gomis ballooned an injury time effort over the bar after Cockerline found the midfielder in space with only Dover’s stopper to beat.

The draw sees Whites drop two places to fifth in the table, two points behind leaders Sutton United.

Earlier, boss Chris Kinnear made one change to the side that started Tuesday night’s 2-1 win at FC Halifax Town.  Loui Fazakerley replaced the ill Josh Passley.

Next up for Dover is a trip to Macclesfield Town on Friday 25th August.  Kick off 7:45 pm.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco (Essuman 29), Essam, Parry, Fazakerley, Brundle(c), Nortey, Ilesanmi, Richards (Sho-Silva 62), Bird, Allen (Daniel 62).

Subs not used: Pinnock, Adebowale.

Attendance:  927

Referee:  Neil Hair

Tobi Sho-Silva’s last-gasp winner saw Dover win 2-1 at FC Halifax Town and maintain their 100% winning record on the road this season.

The forward pounced on Connor Essam’s header into the area following substitute Mitch Pinnock’s deep corner as Dover won at the MBi Shay Stadium for the first time in three attempts.

It looked like the match would end in a draw after Tom Denton netted in the 90th minute to cancel out Mitch Brundle’s header four minutes earlier, but Sho-Silva struck his first league goal of the campaign to take all three points back to Kent.

Whites were almost ahead early on.  Defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco flashed a volley just wide from Brundle’s low corner.

Home keeper Sam Johnson seemed to be caught cold by Femi Ilesanmi’s cross two minutes later, but the ball narrowly missed the target.

The home side’s first effort came courtesy of Matty Kosylo.  The midfielder collected Cliff Moyo’s pass and fired a sighter narrowly over.

The Shaymen went even closer at the midway point of the first half.  Josh Wilde’s dangerous cross was met by Denton, but Manny Parry was able to track back and nod the lanky striker’s looping header off the line.

The best chance of the half fell for Athletic.  Brundle’s free kick was cleared to Nortei Nortey, who delivered a clever through ball to Jamie Allen in space, but the forward could not force the ball past Johnson from an angle.

Allen was also unable to flick Femi Ilesanmi’s drive goalwards following Ryan Bird’s lay-off as both sides went into the break without scoring.

Sam Johnson was called into action shortly after the restart, finger-tipping Allen’s curling effort from outside the area onto the bar.

The pacy striker was in the thick of things again minutes later, hitting the stanction with a 25-yard strike.

Kosylo collected Sub Josh MacDonald’s low cross and fired goalwards, but Brundle was back in time to stop the ball on the goal line and clear the danger.

Allen struck the woodwork a second time with twenty minutes left on the clock.  Brundle’s corner caused mayhem in the box and the attacker fired against the woodwork from six yards.

Home dangerman Kosylo continued to cause problems for the home defence, evading the attentions of Josh Passley and firing just wide. The same player then volleyed Connor Oliver’s corner the same side of the left-hand post moments later.

Midfielder Brundle appeared to win the game in the 86th minute.  A lightning counter attack ended with Dover’s skipper heading in Allen’s pinpoint cross in spite of Johnson’s best efforts to claw the ball away.  Oliver’s cross had missed every player in a blue shirt at the other end of the pitch seconds earlier.

But Halifax levelled one minute into injury time as Denton powered home Wilde’s lofted ball into the box.

However it was Dover and Sho-Silva who had the final say with the last kick of the game to send the 32 travelling fans who made the trip to West Yorkshire wild.

Earlier, manager Chris Kinnear named an unchanged side for the fourth match running, with no changes on the bench either.

The win sees Dover move up one place in the ladder to third and they face Barrow at Crabble this coming Saturday. Kick off 3pm.

Halifax: Johnson, Moyo, Wilde, Brown (c), Garner, Kosylo, Denton, Oliver, Lynch, Dixon (Morgan 59), Charles (MacDonald 45).

Subs not used: McManus, Nicholson, Tomlinson.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Parry, Essam, Gallifuoco, Ilesanmi, Brundle, Nortey (Pinnock 77), Richards (Daniel 75), Allen, Bird (Sho-Silva 66).

Subs not used: Essuman, Adebowale.

Referee: Marc Edwards

Yellow cards: Kosylo, Brown (Halifax) Allen (Dover)

Attendance: 1486 (32 Dover fans)

Ryan Bird’s first goal of the season helped Whites bounce back from their Tuesday night loss with a 1-0 win on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Crabble.

The striker struck home Kane Richards’ unselfish lay-off on 19 minutes as Athletic made it seven games unbeaten, including four victories, against their Welsh counterparts.

Mitch Walker had to be at his best to stop the visitors going ahead early on.  The Dover stopper bravely blocking Mark Carrington’s close range effort after Manny Parry’s attempted clearance landed in his path.

But Bird put the home side in front and the forward almost had a second via his head, but he directed Femi Ilesanmi’s cross over the bar.

Nortei Nortey almost stunned his former side with a 25-yard shot  with Chris Dunn at full stretch to tip his effort away.

The travelling fans had to wait until the half-hour mark to see their side’s next goal attempt. Sam Wedgbury caught the Dover defence unawares and his thumping header from James Jennings’ cross flew the wrong side of the post.

Walker got down smartly to cling onto Jack Mackreth’s low effort after the break and at the other end Jamie Allen was denied by Wedgbury’s goalline clearance.

Athletic’s keeper also had to be alert to grab onto Sub Ntumba Massanka’s low cross.

Ilesanmi could not match his driving run with a finish as he drove an effort narrowly off-target.

Substitute Kadell Daniel almost sealed the win late on, but his glorious curling strike fizzed just wide of the far post.

The away side almost stole an unlikely point at the death, but Shaun Pearson could only direct his header wide with the goal gaping.

The win sees Dover move up the table four places to sixth.

Earlier, manager Chris Kinnear named an unchanged line-up to the team that started on Tuesday night. George Essuman replaced Chris Barnard on the bench.

Whites next face a trip to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday 15th August. Kick off 7:45pm.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle(c), Nortey, Ilesanmi, Allen, Bird (Sho-Silva 89), Richards (Daniel 90).

Subs not used: Pinnock, Essuman, Adebowale.

Wrexham:  Dunn, Roberts, Pearson(c), Smith, Jennings, Carrington(Rutherford 59), Wedgbury, Wright, Kelly (Hurst 79), Mackreth, Boden (Massanka 66).

Yellows: Ilesanmi, Richards (Dover). Wedgbury, Pearson (Wrexham).

Subs not used: Dibble, Marx

Referee: Carl Brook