Category: Match Report

Dover Athletic 0-2 Truro City

Match Report by Fred Deveson


An icy afternoon saw the hosts Dover Athletic fall short to the Cornwall outlet Truro, who made it 6 wins in 7 following this win.

There were a couple of changes to the starting lineup; Henry Young started the game in midfield and Roman Charles Cookearned a start at right wing back, with Oyenuga moving to centreback alongside Naylor and Holding. George Wilkinson dropped to the bench.

The weather might’ve been icy, but Dover made a fiery start to the game. Zidan Sutherland started the game on the right andhad a good opening few minutes. He ran at the Truro backline and caused all sorts of problems, one leading to an early corner which came to nothing. 

Dover kept good possession of the ball early on and made some good inrodes. George Nikaj’s tight control of the ball made life hard for the Truro players and was almost rewarded but for a good save by the visiting goalkeeper down to his right. The signs were positive.

Defensively Dover started solidly, with Scott Holding tidying up at the back and Oyenuga putting in a few good challenges. The away side had very little to go off in the opening exchanges and found it tough. 

The best chance of the game came in the first half for the Whites. Zidan Sutherland was put through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he put too much on it and lifted the ball over the keeper but also over the bar. 

That was not all, as Akehurst put in a lovely low cross which fizzed across the six-yard box, but nobody was there to meet it. 

The Cornish side came back towards the end of the first half, with a long-range effort hitting the side netting, much to the relief of Aziaya in the Dover goal. 

The second half began and the visitors were on top from the restart. Goalkeeper Aziaya was called into action early on, making a good stop down to his right, but the signs were there that Dover were vulnerable. 

The opening goal came a short while later and it was on the cards. A simple corner floated into the box caused confusion and the visitors got a head to it making it 0-1. There was a bit of controversy around the goal, with Aziaya claiming he had been fouled, but nevertheless the goal was given and Dover were behind.

The second goal followed not long later, and it was a poor goal to concede. A long ball found the Truro number 5 who ranunmarked from centre back all the way through Dover’s backline, and he found the back of the net with a cool finish into the bottom corner. 

The game looked to be sealed. Dover introduced Hatcher, Wilkinson and Allen shortly after going 2 down, but the energy wasn’t there from the team. The visitors were rock solid at the back and let minimal through.

There was a glimmer of hope for the hosts, who in the last 5 minutes had a golden chance to half the deficit. The ball deflected it’s way to Allen who was about 6 yards out, but could not convert due to some heroic goalkeeping. 

The game then petered out, with Truro taking all 3 points back to Cornwall, and making it 4 consecutive away wins at Dover’s expense. 

Taunton Town await Dover in the next fixture on the 13thJanuary.

Dover Athletic: Aziaya, Oyenuga, Akehurst, Charles-Cook, Holding, Naylor, Dunne (Allen 75mins), Young (Wilkinson 68mins), Nikaj, Sutherland (Hatcher 68mins), Dembele. Subs not used: Oliver, Baptiste.

Truro City: Hamon, Melhado, Riley-Lowe, Adelsbury, Palmer, Harrison, Dean, Brett, Porter (Rooney 75mins), Neal (Sullivan 78mins), Harvey. Subs not used: Jones, Buse, Sanders.

Referee: Charles Martland.

Attendance: 598.

Aveley 2-1 Dover Athletic

A goal at the death denies Dover a point.

Wet and windy conditions at Parkside provided a classic game of two halves with Dover dominating the first and Aveley making the better of the second.

There were late changes to the Dover line up as captain James Dunne pulled up in the warm up and was replaced by Henry Young, with Johnny Oyenuga taking the armband.

Dover created chances in the early stages with a flurry of corners, the first saw Bailey Akehurst’s inswinging corner hit the inside of the far post and one in which defender Jacob Mensah found himself with a ripped shirt inside the penalty area, no foul given.

The next corner was cleared but quickly came back with Zidan Sutherland knocking a through ball on to Nick Dembele who calmly slotted past the keeper and against his former club.

Moments later a great ball by George Nikaj finds Sutherland but his shot is well saved by Jonathan North for a corner.

It was a strong first half from Dover and we deserved the lead and probably should have scored more during our dominant spell. The players had worked hard and had won nearly every battle.

Two minutes into the second half Odelusi was caught in the box by George Nikaj following a corner and soon fired low past David Aziaya from the spot.

It was one way traffic for the rest of the second half as Dover struggled to get out of their own half and soaked up the Aveley onslaught, defending well at times.

The referee signalled for 5 additional minutes at the end of the 90 and after 7 minutes of play Iffy Allen gave a foul away on the right hand side of the pitch. Aveley got their rewards when Ogunrinde finished with a strong header.

A bitter pill to swallow for the Whites who lost a vital point right at the end. We welcome Truro City to Crabble in our next league fixture on Saturday 6 January.

Aveley: North, Ring, Vaz, Odelusi, Jones, Gibbs, Kyei (Ogurinde 86mins), Kelly, Hughes, Krasniqi, Pegrum (Hernandez 68mins). Subs not used: Cochrane, Eze, Brown.

Dover: Aziaya, Oyenuga, Akehurst, Mensah, Holding, Naylor, Young, Wilkinson (Charles-Cook 65mins), Nikaj, Sutherland (Allen 76mins), Dembele (Baptiste 82mins). Subs not used: Hatcher, Powell.

Referee: Adrian George.

Attendance: 568.

Dover Athletic 2-1 Aveley

Match report by Fred Deveson.

The Christmas spirit was most definitely present at Crabble, as a large crowd watched Dover secure their first win at home in the league this season against a strong Aveley.

The away team started the game on top, having lots of the ball and pressing Dover hard early on in proceedings. The visitors were helped by their incredible away support, who were loud right from the start. They dominated possession, but the hosts were working equally as hard and kept the team from Lakeside at bay with relative ease.

George Nikaj started another game for Dover and made it clear to the crowd why he should be in the starting eleven. He was positive from the start, providing a great outlet for a counter-attack. He had all the flicks and tricks to beat his fullback on numerous occasions, creating chances for himself and teammates.

From minute one, the Dovorian defence was rock solid, and this came from the goalkeeper Aziaya. He was solid in the first half, making a couple of good saves and punching clear from a corner. This was all he really had to do due to the solid back five he had in front of him, who were giving Aveley no space to create anything.

This was until the visitors utilised a lofted ball into the box, which caused chaos amongst the home side’s defence. Aziaya came and failed to claim the ball, and this left Aveley with a seemingly open goal after the ball broke for them around the penalty spot. It would have been 0-1 had it not been for some goal line heroics.

The second half began much like the first, but this time the hosts were on top. Nikaj was involved once again, and he created an opening for himself with some more skills, but it came to nothing. Another chance came for Dover shortly after, which was saved by the Aveley goalkeeper, but there were plenty of signs that The Whites could take all three points.

However, it was the visitors that took the lead. A good sequence of passes opened up the Dover defence and a low cross was converted by Garrett Kelly. The visitors were in front and it was arguably against the run of play.

The hosts made a couple of key substitutions, and it did not take Dover long to reply. A free-kick was won on the left-hand side just outside the box, which George Wilkinson took. It was a low ball right across the face of goal, which was put away by Zidan Sutherland. 1-1, game on.

From then, there only looked to be one winner. The hosts piled on the pressure after the equaliser and Aveley began to look nervous at the back. Dover were putting together some good passes and creating good spaces. Their pressure paid off in the 80th minute, as the ball came to substitute Iffy Allen on the left. He worked himself time and space just outside the box on the left and he bent in a beautiful curling effort which floated past the visiting goalkeeper, who could only watch as the ball sank into the right corner of his goal.

This sent the home fans into delirium. All Dover had to do now was hold on to this crucial lead for another 15 minutes, and the points were theirs. Groans echoed around Crabble at the sight of 5 added minutes, and the players felt the nerves too. Aziayacame out to claim a corner but missed, leaving an open goal, but the away side didn’t convert.

Another corner came in, and the tall number 5 of Aveley headed the ball off the crossbar, and Dover cleared. The referee blew the full-time whistle and the whole ground could breathe once again. Dover had done it. They had beaten play-off chasing Aveley and secured 3 vital points at the bottom, making it 3 unbeaten now for The Whites as they chase survival.

Aveley are Dover’s hosts on Saturday, can they do the double?

Attendance: 726

Dover Athletic: AZIAYA, OYENUGA, AKEHURST, MENSAH, HOLDING, NAYLOR, DUNNE (C), WILKINSON, NIKAJ, SUTHERLAND, DEMBELE

SUBS – YOUNG, CHARLES-COOK, BAPTISTE, HATCHER, ALLEN

Aveley: NORTH, RING, VAZ, ODELUSI, JONES, GIBBS, KYEI, KELLY, HUGHES, KRASNIQI, PEGRUM

SUBS – OGUNRINDE, HERNANDEZ, DAVIS, EZE, BROWN

DOVER ATHLETIC 1 WEYMOUTH 3

The Terras terror the Whites with defeat at Crabble. 

On arguably one of the hottest days that I have ever endured at a football match, Weymouth made their trip along the south coast for this National League South match. For the fourth consecutive Saturday in a row, Mitch Brundle’s side held home advantage, again with the Megger Community Stadium basking in glorious sunshine.

Billy Terrell picking up his POTM award – Picture George Cory

 

Prior to kick-off, Billy Terrell was handed the Megger Player of the Month award for August, for his fine displays in his first month here at Crabble. Unfortunately for Terrell, he would be picking the ball out of his net after just eight minutes when a free header back across Dover’s penalty area was volleyed home by the unmarked Touray, making his Terras debut. Touray had been a late replacement with Roberts pulling up injured during the warm-up.

Johl Powell, making his home debut after signing during midweek, was booked for what looked like an innocuous challenge, following Peter Ojemen who had already been carded early on. Minutes later and the referee was at the centre of it all again, this time booking the Gaffer for throwing the ball back onto the pitch. It seemed very harsh and a little odd but the man in the middle was saving his best performance for later on.

As the board for added time was held up, Bearwish was booked for a high foot in the face of Powell. Then just moments later, disaster struck. Terrell, receiving a back pass, took a touch and slammed the ball against the advancing Touray. The ball looped high towards the summer sun, bounced once and dropped in off the underside of the crossbar.

Charles-Cook holds off his man – Picture Stuart Brock

If that wasn’t a kick in the teeth for the Whites, seconds after the restart, Powell looked to flick a ball into the channel but a Weymouth defender took a risky route of trying to header the ball clear from around knee high. This resulted in Powell catching his man with his boot and the referee couldn’t have got his cards out quick enough as first he raised a second yellow and then flashed a red for Powell who looked absolutely flabbergasted. No one in the stadium could quite believe it. Common sense should have prevailed and the referee could have easily have taken the midfielder to one side but then again common sense isn’t that common.

After the restart, the numbers were evened out as Bearwish, who was about to take a throw in, dropped the ball for his teammate and was deemed to be time wasting by the referee and was shown a second yellow, followed by a red. It was all square on the pitch but the Whites still trailed by a two goal deficit. This then became a three goal lead when Rollinson ran across the face of the 18 yard box before firing past Terrell to give the visitors all three points.

Gaffer Mitch Brundle is carded during a fiery first half – Picture Steve Johnson

Dover did manage a consolation strike through Roman Charles-Cook who bundled home with only minutes remaining on the clock. Two defeats in four days and still no win at home this season left the punters leaving a little disgruntled. This week however, sees a break from league action as we face Hastings United in the FA Cup.

“I’m not asking for world-beaters every week, we know what we’ve got to work with, but we have to do something to make it right.

I’ll never stop fighting and trying to make sure this goes right. – Mitch Brundle

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, McLean, Menasah, Olarewaju, Ojemen, Dunne, Powell, Anifowose, Nikaj, Sutherland

Subs: Baptiste, Hatcher, Allen, Charles-Cook, Stewart

Weymouth: Benfield, Howe, Hamblin, Cheshire, Thompson, Rowan, O’Connell, Bearwish, Roberts, Slade, Rollinson

Subs: Thomson, Touray, Stag, Brooks, Olu

Attendance: 568

 

DOVER ATHLETIC 1 CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1

A share of the spoils as Whites are held at home.

On another beautiful day at Crabble, Dover looked to get back to winning ways with Chippenham Town heading to the South Kent coast. The team returned to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation as opposed to the 3-5-2 used against Dartford on Bank Holiday Monday. The Whites looked to have plenty of possession in the early stages with the build up playing coming down both flanks.

Chevron McLean twice evaded his man, working his way into the penalty area before shooting at the goalkeepers near post when a cross field pass could have been the better option. Chippenham began to apply a little pressure with a flurry of corners midway through the first half but Dover cleared with ease, something that couldn’t always been said so far this season. Will Henry was called into action in the visitors goal, first denying Sutherland with a fine save and then from Allen, who’s snap shot was again kept out.

 

Charles-Cook leads another attack

The teams went into the break with the scores level but it was the home side who were dictating the play. Then in the 58th minute and against the run of play, Chippenham took the lead through a slice of luck. Craig Fasanmade’s shot deflected off a body and sent Terrell the wrong way with the Dover stopper adjusting his body but not able to make the ground up to keep the ball from spinning into the net.

Dover clicked into gear and again began wave after wave of attack with both wings the main outlet. Zidan Sutherland picked up the ball in the left hand channel and flashed a cross come shot across the six yard box where a Bluebird defender sliced into his own net to level the scores. 1-1.

Sutherland again should have sealed the points when clean through, only to fire straight into the body of Henry who rushed out smartly to meet him. Dover pushed and pushed but Chippenham held firm, nearly claiming all three points themselves at the death when first a fine stop by Terrell and then the Whites were saved by the crossbar. It was a case of two points dropped rather than one gained but all eyes are now on Tuesdays match away at St Albans.

‘We created enough chances to win three matches,’ said Brundle after the game. ‘That’s where strikers earn their money. It was a much better performance than on Monday. It’s hard to take a 1-1 with the amount of chances we had.’

A special mention to Billy Terrell who picked up the Megger Player of the Month Award for August. Well done, Billy.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, McLean, Naylor, Ojemen, Charles-Cook, Allen, Dunne, Young, Sutherland, Stewart

Subs: Olarwaju, Baptiste, Dembele, Anifowose, Nikaj

Chippenham Town: Henry, Jones, Grant, Fasanmade, Haines, Evans, McClure, Windsor, Nicholls, Spokes, Williams

Subs: Holloway, Lewis, King, Heal, Tuodolo

 

DOUBLE DOWNER – WEEKEND ROUNDUP

Whites hit by back to back defeats.

The Bank Holiday weekend ended with the Whites facing back to back defeats, and it was a familiar foe that led to our downfall.

The first instalment of this double header saw league leaders Worthing head to town, a team that played some liquid football the last time the two sides met at Crabble in January. With only eight minutes on the clock, Nicky Wheeler thumped in a rasping drive from outside the penalty area to give the visitors the lead. Terrell had no chance as the ball clipped the underside of the crossbar and bounced in. Worthing had plenty of possesion but failed to capitalise anymore in the opening 45 minutes as both teams lacked any real cutting edge.

With just six minutes played after the restart, Sutherland raced through 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper and chipped over him, only for the ball to drop agonisingly the wrong side of the post. It was a real chance and really should have brought the teams level. Moments later and a low cross flashed across goal by Oyenuga was begging to be put away, but there was no one in a white shirt to capitalise.

Mitch Brundle’s team poured forward but couldn’t quite find the breakthrough with Worthing’s backline holding firm. With just eight minutes remaining, substitute Meekuns cut in from the right hand side and slid the ball home to ensure the Rebels left with a 2-0 win.

We set traps and they played into them but that was a hell of a strike. We cant keep a team out for more than ten minutes at the start of a game. I’m disappointed – Mitch Brundle

James Dunne looking to build up another Dover attack.

 

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Charles-Cook, McLean, Naylor, Olarewaju, Dunne, Young, Oyenuga, Allen, Sutherland, Stewart

Subs: Ojemen, Anifowose, Bello, Hatcher, Baptiste

Worthing: Rees, Colbran, Racine, Rye, Vincent, Felix, Wheeler, Aguiar, Odei, Luer, Fish

Subs: Wills, Klass, Chadwick, Luque, Meekuns

 

And so onto Bank Holiday Monday and another Kent derby. With there being two games in 48 hours the Gaffer decided to use his squad and bring in some fresh legs. It’s always a conundrum when you switch your side because if you lose you think you should have stayed with the same lads but hindsight is a wonderful thing in football. In came Ojemen and Sesay for their first minutes of the campaign, while Nikaj, Baptiste and Anifowose were all recalled.

Dartford kept their same eleven from the Saturday’s win over Avely as Alan Dowson looked to grab another three points at Princes Park. It was an unusual start to the game with both sides looking a little leggy but that soon changed when George Nikaj cut in from the right and sent his left footed curler inches over the bar. Moments later and the home side had taken the lead. A corner swung in from the right was swept home by James Golding with the Whites failing to clear after a neat save by Terrell.

Immediately after the restart, Billy Terrell was again called into action, this time spreading himself to block a shot when Dartford were 2 v 1 in our penalty area. Players began to tire in the second half and again Dover were undone at a corner when a free header from Lewis Manor flew into the back of the net. Defending set pieces is becoming a real Achilles heel for the Whites in this campaign and it looked to become an even worse day at the office when Olarewaju was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area. Coulson aimed for the top right hand corner but blazes over the crossbar.

You have be forgiven to think that miss would spark a last 15 minute flurry from the visitors but it wasn’t to be a shot from Sutherland was parried away to safety by Beeney in the Darts goal. In fact, the only bit of fight the Whites showed was when a tackle by Allen sparked a melee on the pitch with a few players from both sides getting involved.

Corner comes in but comes to nothing

Two defeats on the spin will put an end to August’s fixtures in what was a tricky start on paper. The league will start to open up now as we head into the autumn period and there will be a lot more highs and lows to follow.

The performance out there today wasn’t one from my team. I wont accept a bad performance. – Mitch Brundle

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Ojemen, Sesay, Naylor, Olarewaju, Oyenuga, Dunne, Anifowose, Baptiste, Nikaj, Stewart

Subs: Sutherland, Wilkinson, Hatcher, Dembele, Allen

Dartford: Beeney, Goulding, Altintop, Block, Miller-Rodney, Rooney, Coulson, Wynter, Bradbury, Nembhard, Manor

Subs: Statham, Box, Wray, Diarra, Allen

 

 

DOVER ATHLETIC 1 BRAINTREE TOWN 1

Whites hit back to earn a point.

As the mid day sun beat down on the Megger Community Stadium, Braintree Town headed to Crabble for another piece of Vanarama National South action. It was a glorious afternoon on the Kent coast with the Whites looking to bounce back from defeat last time out. Mitch Brundle switched from a back four to a three as the Gaffer looked to get back to winning ways. But it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams.

In the first minute the post saved Dover when it looked like the Iron were about to open their account on the day. They didn’t have to wait long before netting the opener. With just four minutes on the clock, captain Clements swept home a corner to give the visitors the lead. Set pieces are becoming a real Achilles heel of late and again we were punished and chasing the game early on.

Dover looked to get back into the match and grew with each passing attack until the referee pointed to the spot in the 26th minute after Luke Baptiste had adjudged to have been brought down. Skipper James Dunne took the responsibility and coolly sent Jack Sims the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1. With the home side now on the ascendancy, it looked like the Whites would score just minutes later when Nick Dembele swivelled and shot, with his effort sliding agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

The second half began and the Whites looked like they meant business with Charlie Naylor stepping out from defence, through the midfield before unleashing a fizzing shot that flashed just wide. Henry Young also troubled Sims with a dipping volley from just outside the box as the home side pushed hard for their second goal but it was the visitors who nearly snatched it with 15 minutes to go when Billy Terrell pulled off a wonderful save to deny the Iron all three points. It was another top performance from the on loan stopper who seems to grow in confidence with each game.

Eventually both teams had to settle for a point each but it was another step in the right direction for this new look Dover team. ‘It’s another point. You have to work hard for each point in this league. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb after the start but I will take a look at that. Overall I am pleased but we lacked that little something in the final third. We now look forward to next Saturday,’ said Brundle after the game.

James Dunne sends Sims the wrong way to level – Pic Courtesy of George Cory

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, Naylor, Charles-Cook, Olarewaju, McLean, Dunne, Young, Baptiste, Sutherland, Dembele

Subs: Wilkinson, Anifowose, Olu, Bello, Hatcher

Braintree Town: Sims, Dawudo, Stevenson, Grimwood, Clements, Beadle, Davies, Quantrell, Davies, Lambe, Blackwell

Subs: Tomkins, Blunkell, Nwachuku, Payne

Attendance: 610

 

DOVER ATHLETIC 2 TORQUAY UNITED 2

Whites hit back to earn a point.

We kick started our National League South campaign with a hard fought draw against promotion favourites, Torquay United. Despite falling behind to a Chevron McLean own goal after only three minutes, the Whites rallied to ensure that the River End went home satisfied, following a battling second half performance.

The season literally couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start as no sooner had Mitch Brundle sent the lads onto the pitch, they found themselves a goal behind in the most bizarre of circumstances. A low cross from the Torquay left caused panic to debutant McLean who didn’t know whether to stick or twist and ended up putting the ball into his own net. It was a nightmare start for the hosts.

Dover looked rattled after the early setback and took some time to find a rhythm. In the 21st minute, a wicked cross by McGavin was met by opposing skipper Asa Hall, who’s effort doubled the lead for the Gulls and left debutant goalkeeper Billy Terrell picking the ball out his net again. While you could have been forgiven for thinking how many could this be now, the boys in white rolled up their sleeves and began to dig in. Moments after the second goal, debutant Zidan Sutherland struck a fierce shot that Mark Halstead could only palm onto the top of his crossbar with the ball falling agonisingly the wrong side of the goal.

Just minutes before half time, Sutherland again was in the thick of the action. A snapshot by George Nikaj went through a sea of legs, with Sutherland getting the slightest of touches before the ball hit the inside of the post before slowly trickling along the line and into the far bottom corner. The home support cheered and the Whites were back in the game at a vital time.

In the second half, Dover were like a greyhound out of the traps with the impressive Roman Charles-Cook beginning to open his legs down the right hand side. With the home side now playing the game at their pace, it was only a matter of time before the River End would be celebrating another goal. Mclean, desperate to appease his earlier error, began marauding down the left flank and managed to find Bello. The forward hit an early shot but somehow Halstead stuck out a leg and pushed it onto the crossbar to see the woodwork wobble for a second time in the match.

In the 67th minute Charles-Cook restored parity. Neat link up play by Nikaj and Sutherland dragged the Gulls defence out of shape before slipping a pass into the feet of Charles-Cook who rammed it through the legs of Halstead and into the net. The River End went wild. It was a well deserved goal for the Whites after the hard graft the lads had put in.

The hosts pushed and pushed but couldn’t complete the comeback and eventually settled for a draw. It was a fantastic result considering the opening period of the match but it certainly shows that this team has spirit and character. We now focus on our next match on Saturday at Slough Town.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Charles-Cook, Olarewaju, Naylor, Oyenuga, Dunne, Anifowose, Allen, Sutherland, McLean, Nikaj

Subs: Baptiste, Bello, Dembele, Young, Ojemen

Torquay United: Halstead, Lapslie, Hall, Jarvis, Collins, Ash, McGavin, Craske, Donnellan, Jenkins-Davies, Tomlinson

Subs: Martin, Hanson, De Silva, Lovett, Moxey

Attendance: 798

DOVER ATHLETIC 0 WEYMOUTH 2

Its a bitter-sweet end to the 2022/23 campaign.

The sun was beating down at the Megger Community Stadium as the two sides preparing to play out a relegation showdown took to the stage. Dover Athletic, having not won at home in their previous six attempts, hosted Weymouth who were the form horse of the two.

It was the team from down on the Solent who started the brightest, most notably with skipper Tom Bearwish who headed straight into the arms of Stuart Nelson after 5 minutes. Moments later and again Nelson was watching an Akheem Rose effort go narrowly wide of his upright.

Dover tried to get into the game but the home sides passing radars were slightly off as the Whites failed to string a series of passes together. Brad Ash for Weymouth was occupying both Dover centre halves and was keeping them honest.

It was the impressive Ash who opened the scoring for the Terras after good work down the right hand side was rewarded with the forward lashing the ball past the helpless Nelson after a neat cut back by the dead ball line.

Dover had a mountain to climb with Weymouth now leapfrogging them in the table and it got even worse for the hosts in the 30th minute when a free header by Rose managed to squirm under the body of Nelson, with the Whites unable to clear from a corner. Luke Wanadio struck the crossbar with on the brink of half-time but it was going to be a tough team talk for Mitch Brundle.

The Whites looked to get back into the game and exerted plenty of pressure on Weymouth but the visiting defence was not in the mood to throw away any goals. It was the story of Dover’s campaign. Plenty of action but nothing to back it up with despite dominating large parts of the game. In South London, Chippenham Town were leading at Dulwich Hamlet, which in the end proved costly for the Hamlet who slid into the drop zone on goal difference.

With moments to go, both sets of fans were singing ‘We are staying up’, but it was done the hard way for the Whites who reclaimed National League status once again. ‘I’m disappointed with the performance and the situation but I’m delighted we have stayed in the division,’ said Brundle post match.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Sterling, Janjeva, Higgs, Martin, Oliver, Wanadio, Baptiste, Nikaj

Weymouth: Weymouth  Benfield, Howe, Carlyle, Wilson, Sesay, Bearwish, Hemings, Blair, O’Connell, Rose, Ash

Attendance: 1509

 

CONCORD RANGERS 1 DOVER ATHLETIC 0

Dover fall to Concord sucker punch.

It was a half that started so brightly for the visitors. Dover dominated the early parts and looked the more likely to open the scoring, notably through Jordan Higgs.

The Whites midfielder fired a low effort into the hands of Beeney on 13 minutes and 10 minutes later fired a volley over the crossbar from a quick free-kick whipped in by Myles Judd.

In the 26th minute, Dover looked like they had made the breakthrough when a free-kick taken short by Martin was curled towards the back post by Wanadio, only for Beeney to get a fingertip to the ball. It was a fantastic save by the home stopper.

Jordan Higgs then had a further two chances, glancing a header over then firing the ball over via a deflection, but all of a sudden you’re starting to think it’s going to be one of those nights.

The home side grew into the game inside the last five minutes of the half and on the stroke of half-time as the referee signalled one additional minute, Nelson, a freezing cold bystander, was picking the ball of out of his net.

Concord broke down their left hand side, delivered a lovely cross to Manor who unmarked, headed the cross back where it had come from and the hosts lead at the interval.

The second half mirrored the first with Dover sweeping forward, pinning back Concord who were quite frankly just looking to get out of their own half at times. The Whites huffed and puffed but the impressive Beeney was equal to everything that was thrown at him.

Andi Janjeva looked to take matters into his own hands midway through the second period when he picked up the ball on the half way line, strode forward about ten yards and unleashed a fizzing drive that went narrowly past the post. It was Janjeva again moments later, this time from a corner which was nodded down into the path of the young centre back, who drove his shot back with pace but Beeney was not to be beaten, tipping it around the post.

The Story of Dover’s night

The home side rallied in the final moments with Dover pushing to get an equaliser and began to find gaps in the Whites back line but the referee blew for full time and it was another body blow and just one of them nights. Teams below Dover need to win all their games to ensure a squeaky bum time end of the season but we still have our fate in our own hands as we head to Farnborough this Saturday.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Sterling, Janjeva, Higgs, Oliver, Martin, Wanadio, Baptiste, Carney

Subs: Wilkinson, Nikaj, Brundle, Boateng, Pierrick

Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Pollock, Beckett, Monville, Hernandez, Kyei, Steward, Hudson, Manor

Subs: Ramsay, Bettamer, Munns, Day, Modeste

Attendance: Unknown – no announcement