City slickers in the Dover sun.

It was a tough day at the office for Mitch Brundle and his charges despite starting the game on the front foot. The hosts took an early lead through Josh Ajayi who’s neat finish rounded off a quick break. Alfie Paxman drove the ball at Chris Haigh in the Oxford City goal who parried the ball back into the path of Ajayi to give Dover the lead.

It was a false dawn for the Whites as moments later, Zak McEachran came close with a shot that flashed just wide of Stuart Nelson’s post. The away side had the wind in their sails and in the 18th minute, equalised from a corner when Humphrey Ewers waltzed into the box, controlled the ball and fired past the Dover stopper.

Just after the half hour mark and the visitors were in front. The ball played into Ajayi deep into the Oxford half didn’t stick and just three passes later, Nelson was again picking the ball out of his net. It was a clinical counter that winded the Whites who looked punch drunk going into the break.

It was a knock-out blow that had the Whites reeling as just 60 seconds after the restart, Dover had a mountain to climb when the impressive McEachran made it 3-1. By this time it all started to unravel for the home side. Oxford played some decent stuff, which shows their league placing is on merit.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Dover who could of closed the gap but George Nikaj, who was put through on goal, could only fire wide. Moments later, Luke Wanadio turned his marker inside out as he twisted one way and then the other, only to fire across goal and out for a goal kick.

On the 70th minute mark, the Gaffer stripped off his training top and entered the fray in the hope of inspiring a resurgence. Instead the Whites defence was breached again when Oxford substitute Lolos fired home with Dover unable to clear their lines defending a corner.

It got even worse as the game as a contest was all but over when Stuart Nelson brought down an Oxford forward in the box. Lolos placed the ball on the spot and sent Nelson the wrong way. Oxford enjoyed their trip to the south coast whereas it was back to the drawing board for the boss with a massive game now on Tuesday night at Concord Rangers.

As ever we hope to see as many of you there to give the lads a push.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Boateng, Paxman, Moses, Janjeva, Higgs, Martin, Oliver, Wanadio, Pierrick, Ajayi

Subs: Baptiste, Brundle, Nikaj, Carney, Sterling

Oxford City: Haig, Miccio, Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran, Sanderson, Williams Bushell, Humphrey Ewers

Subs: Davies, Laciofano, Lolos, Harrison, Wilson

Attendance: 672

Dover dealt a Bank Holiday blow. 

It wasn’t the ideal start for the Whites as after just four minutes, Harvey Bradbury fired the hosts into the lead with Dover unable to clear their lines.

Despite the early setback, the visitors grew into the game with some neat and tidy possession and could have scored when Jordan Higgs fired his shot against a defender on the goal line after good work by Pierrick down the left hand side.

Dartford had the ball in the net again in the 18th minute when Nelson spilled a long range effort and a Darts forward tucked away the rebound but the linesman’s flag cut short any celebrations. Moments later and Joshua Ajayi spun his man but could only send his volleyed effort into the away fans behind the goal.

In the 28th minute, Lee Martin looked to have been fouled in the box but the referee was having none of it and awarded the Whites a corner. The ball was swung in and Jordan Higgs planted a bullet header into the Dartford goal.

Once Dover had equalised the game seemed to become a scrappy affair, with both sides trying to get hold of the ball.

In the second half Dover pressed forward early on but it was the hosts who took the lead when Luke Allen curled in a 20 yarder. It looked like a foul on Jordan Higgs in the build up but the referee opted to play on. It was costly for the Whites as seconds later the ball was in the net.

Luke Wanadio sent a cross come shot sailing over the crossbar but it wasn’t to be in the second period with the Whites beginning to look tired.

Defeat in Dartford is not going to define this season. We now look ahead to a home game against Oxford City.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Goodman, Janjeva, Higgs, Oliver, Martin, Wanadio, Pierrick, Ajayi

Subs: Moses, Baptiste, Boateng, Nikaj, Carney

Dartford: Wynter, Chin, Essam, Bonner, Coulson, Statham, Smith, Fonkeu, Bradbury, Dudzinski, Meade

Subs: Allen, Murtagh, Dunn, Oduadu, Napa

Attendance: 1246

Dover are undone by a tidy Hampton and Richmond outfit.

It was a pretty even first 45 minutes here at Crabble with both sides spurning a decent chance each to take the lead but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time.

George Nikaj, still looking for his first goal since his return from his loan spell at Ashford, nodded a cross against the foot of the post in the 11th minute. That goal is just not coming for the young forward who is not getting the rub of the green in front of goal.

Hampton and Richmond had a couple of good chances themselves with Jake Goodman coming to the rescue with a timely block on the edge of the six yard box. Moments later and Jordan Thomas looked to have made enough ground at the far past but the cross just evaded him.

Visiting skipper Jake Gray blazed over in the 33rd minute from the edge of the penalty area when a little composure would have been the order of the day. Gray was in the thick of it again when in the last minute of stoppage time, Gray fired a shot past Stuart Nelson after the Whites goalkeeper had made a cracking save with his legs moments earlier. But it was all in vain as the hosts headed down the tunnel 1-0 down.

On the hour a slip from the Hampton defender enabled a cross from Paxman to find Ajayi but his control and shot was well blocked in a last ditch effort to keep the score line at 0-1.

Moments later and Jake Gray nearly doubled his and his teams tally with a dinked effort over Nelson which only found the side netting. With the Whites looking to force an equaliser, the hosts were starting to exploit the gaps left at the back.

In the 67th minute, that man Gray did manage to find the net. After a long ball through to Kurran-Browne, who looked to have been offside, he neatly played the ball back into the path of Gray who fired a low shot into the far bottom corner to give Hampton and Richmond breathing space.

Despite the setback, the Whites poured forward in the hope of making the last quarter of the game a contest. In the 73rd minute, Noah Carney’s spin and shot was wildly over the crossbar with the goal beckoning for the young forward.

With seven minutes left of normal time, Gray thought he was taking home the match ball when his effort beat Nelson, only to go narrowly wide, with half the ground thinking the ball was in.

Substitute David Fisher wrapped things up for the visitors in the 88th minute when he raced onto a through ball and placed his shot into Nelson’s bottom corner. 0-3

It was a wretched day for the Whites who are now only eight points clear of the drop zone. Hampton and Richmond leapfrogged us with that win, dropping us one place down to 15th in the table.

The lads will look to bounce back next week at St Albans and end this winless streak. We hope to see you there.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Moses, Goodman, Sterling, Wanadio, Wilkinson, Pierrick, Baptiste, Nikaj

Subs: Janjeva, Boateng, Carney, Ajayi, Agbebi

Hampton & Richmond Borough: Julian, Donaldson, Inman, Fernandez, Whittingham, Gray, Kurran-Browne, Deadfield, Clifton, Dunne, Thomas

Subs: Barzey, Fisher, Johnson, Comley, Davis

Attendance: 605

Whites fall to the Bluebirds

Dover travelled west again in a hope to put right the defeat on Tuesday night, only to come unstuck on a pitch that resembled that of Melbourne primary school. (If you know, you know)

Mitch Brundle’s Whites couldn’t get out of second gear despite equalising in the opening moments of the second half.

Dover had an abundance of chances in the first period with Wanadio and Higgs both testing Will Henry in the hosts goal. Luke Wanadio should of opened the scoring when put clean through, only for Henry to rush out and save smartly. The Whites had plenty of the ball and played some good football up the hill and could have gone ahead but for some smart goalkeeping to keep the scores level.

Then in the 22nd minute, Chippenham broke down Dover’s right and shot across Nelson who could only parry the ball out into the path of Joe Parker, who slotted home for the Bluebirds.

Dover hit back almost immediately after the restart when a corner was played short along the ground to Myles Judd, who lashed the ball of the underside of the crossbar and into the far corner of the net. All of a sudden momentum was with visitors as the Whites poured forward down the slope. There was a flurry of attacks immediately after the equaliser but the hosts stood firm as Dover huffed and puffed to try and find a breakthrough.

With Dover piling forward to try and force a breakthrough, Chippenham broke and with the ball on the right flank, crossed for Fasanmade to head home from close range. It was a real sucker punch for the visitors who had began to gain momentum on the home side.

Again the Whites poured forward in search of an equaliser, leaving huge holes in behind which in the 80th minute, Owen Windsor swept home from a cross to send the home fans into a conga behind Nelson’s goal. Dover had been well and truly humbled in the last 20 minutes and the conditions hadn’t helped the legs after a long journey from the south coast.

The midweek games are over for a while now so the lads have a weeks rest between games. See you at Crabble next week.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Goodman, Sterling, Higgs, Martin, Wilkinson, Wanadio, Pierrick, Carney

Subs: Agbebi, Brundle, Moses, Janjeva, Baptiste

Chippenham Town: Henry, Jones, Richards, D’Abadia, Mehew, McClure, Fasanmade, Bray, Tizzard, Parker, Russe

Subs: Simpson, Windsor, Hanks, Bradbury, Kouisseoue

Attendance: 565

Cheshunt stun the River End with a scrappy win.

It was a freezing cold Crabble on this Tuesday evening but the Whites soon raised the temperature with a first half performance that was everything but a goal.

The luck really hasn’t been with the home side in front of goal of late and the opening 45 minutes followed in the same form.

After the opening ten minutes, Brandon Pierrick hit a daisy cutter along the floor which looked easy pickings for Adam Desbois, only for the visiting keeper to fluff his lines and fumble behind for a corner.

Moments later and Pierrick again jinxed his way into the Cheshunt box, only to see his fierce shot crash down off the underside of the crossbar and away for safety. The forward must have thought he had opened his account for his new club.

Lee Martin had provided two delicious balls into the penalty area, one of which looked destined to land on Higgs toe, but the Cheshunt defence plucked it from the midfielders boot when it looked like Dover would open the scoring. From the resulting corner, Martin again teased the Cheshunt backline with an arcing cross that was clawed away from Desbois with Sterling about to nod home.

The home side had a flurry of crosses which seemed to cause panic in the visitors box but the second ball just wouldn’t fall to anyone in a white shirt. A common theme of late. The visitors had barely tested Nelson, who saved smartly early In the half when Alfie Cue wriggled free to shoot low into the Dover stoppers grasp.

It was another blank in the opening 45 minutes for Brundle’s charges but it definitely wasn’t for the want of trying.

Seven minutes into the second half and Dover’s long clean sheet record was broken, completely against the run of play. Zech Obeiro’s shot seemed to squirm under the body of Nelson and into the net.

Dover looked to hit back through both Pierrick and Ajayi with both failing to hit the target when it looked easier to score. Pierrick with the easiest of the two chances who blazed over when composure was needed.

Cheshunt were still looking to hit the Whites on the break and in the 78th minute, Fraser Alexander made Dover pay for all the missed chances with a volley that shot past Nelson and into the bottom corner.

It was a real sucker punch Dover who were pushing hard for an equalising goal. Cheshunt had been clinical, albeit the opening goal was more luck than judgement.

In the 87th minute Cheshunt put the game to bed with a headed goal by Josh Popoola when it looked like the visiting forward was offside, but alas, the assistant referee kept his flag down.

If ever there was a game of two halves, it was definitely this. The team needs to dust themselves down and get ready for Chippenham on Saturday.

See you there.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Sterling, Moses, Higgs, Wanadio, Martin, Nikaj, Ajayi, Pierrick

Subs: Wilkinson, Carney, Agbebi, Baptiste, Janjeva

Cheshunt: Desbois, Cracknell, Pitblado, Hobbs, McKenzie, Da Silva Beccles Richards, Camara, Cue, Ekongo, Maja

Subs: Thompson, Popoola, Obiero, Alexander, Edwards

Attendance: 482

Another clean sheet for super Mitch’s side.

Dover looked to have brought their form from Saturday after a blistering opening few minutes saw both a penalty shout turned down and an effort by George Nikaj get bundled wide.

Skipper Lee Martin was injured during the warm up and was replaced by Luke Baptiste, who set up alongside Freddie Oliver in the heart of the midfield, who continued where he left off last week. Oliver was unfortunate to be booked early on for what was an early reducer but the referee was having none of it.

It was Nikaj who looked the more likely to threaten the score board when he hit the back of the net after the ball ricocheted back off the post, only for the offside flag to ruin his post goal celebration.

Moments later it was another chance for the forward who took a ball beautifully on his chest while facing his own goal, swivelled, but only managed to hit his shot into the floor. It wasn’t for the want of trying from Nikaj who had showed desire and endeavour but had nothing yet for his efforts.

Havant managed to weather the early storm and gradually grew into the game, showing attacking promise through ex Dover full back, Josh Passley.

Danny Wright blazed over in the 10th minute when he really should have done better but besides the odd flurry of attacks, The Whites seemed to have the visitors at arms length as the two teams went into the break level at half time.

On the hour mark, the visitors were given a reprieve when Miller-Rodney clattered Oliver, having been booked just minutes earlier. The referee didn’t see the incident but the Havant man should of been heading for an early shower.

Moments later and Nikaj’s race was run after he was left in a heap on the floor. The Whites were going to have to be creative in the last 20 minutes of the match with both central midfield players missing in Higgs and Martin and now Nikaj coming off.

The injuries were beginning to wrack up for Brundle as Freddie Oliver followed Nikaj to the physio’s room, limping off to be replaced by Will Moses.

Luke Wanadio missed the win on Saturday due to illness but he didn’t miss the Havant goal in the 79th minute. Wanadio played a ball through the Carney whose cross found Ajayi in the middle. His shot was straight into the body of Sharman-Lowe, only for the ball to bounce back out into the path of Wanadio who fired into the net.

Havant huffed and puffed as they looked for an equaliser but the Whites held on to record another three points on the board. It was the third clean sheet in as many games and 11 points from 15. Brundle’s army marches once more.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Goodman, Sterling, Wanadio, Ajayi, Nikaj, Pierrick, Oliver, Martin

Subs: Moses, Carney, Agbebi, Baptiste, Brundle

Havant & Waterlooville: Sharman-Lowe, Passley, Newton, Oastler, McCarthy, Kealy, Miller-Rodney, Collins, Gobern, Wright, Shroll

Subs: Nembhard, Rooney, Roberts, Burnett, Matthews

Attendance: 422

Dover head back to Crabble with all three points.

It was a first half that Dover seemed to dominate with possession but unfortunately couldn’t find that killer pass.

The home side forced a flurry of corners in the opening stages but Dover defended any balls into the box well. It was a strange half in the respect that the home team were playing like the away side and trying to catch Dover on the break, which were few and far between.

The first shot of the game came in the 24th minute. Dylan Morgan shot straight down the throat of Nelson who never broke sweat in the opening 45 minutes.

Seconds later and Jordan Higgs hit an identical shot to Morgan which was easily claimed by Irish in the Taunton goal.

In the 42nd Martin, Lee Martin was fouled after some lovely footwork from the skipper had enable him to evade two challenges before a cynical foul from Lee Lucas drew the first booking from the referee. Martin took the resulting free kick himself and bent the ball inches over the crossbar.

Dover had played well but were heading into the break level. We were still waiting for the debutant to burst into life. Pierrick had shown flashes on the ball but it’s never easy coming straight into a new side and system.

Minutes after the restart and the debutant broke down line before a fizzer from Judd forced a smart save from Irish in the home goal. Dover had begun the half in emphatic fashion and were looking the team more likely to break the deadlock.

Just ten minutes later and the Whites were celebrating. Pierrick again breaking down the right hand side, crossing into the feet of George Nikaj who set the ball back into the path of Jordan Higgs, who fired past Irish to send the travelling contingent wild. It was everything that Dover deserved for their possession and build up play.

The home side rallied but despite their best efforts, couldn’t force Dover into any mistakes. The referee must have brought some new cards this week and was determined to use them as he starting flashing them around as the game started to get scrappy.

Dover looked like they could of extended their lead midway through the half when Josh Ajayi broke through. Ajayi had George Nikaj square of the winger who tried to play in his teammate only for the Taunton defender to get a block in when it looked like Ajayi should of been a little more selfish.

The Whites did manage to get the ball in the net for a second time through Luke Baptiste but it was ruled offside after Ajayi had flicked the ball past Irish. It wasn’t clear if the ball would of ended in the net but Baptiste made sure and the linesman raised his flag.

Like last week, the back four had held firm and it was a well deserved clean sheet with all four defenders worthy of honourable mentions. Freddie Oliver looked like a player who had been playing first team football for ages with a very confident dispaly in the middle of the pitch.

Taunton were hot on the tail of Dover with games in hand but this result will ensure that those games will mean a little more for the peacocks.

Dover are definitely looking up after that performance and long may it continue. Enjoy your weekend, all.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Goodman, Sterling, Higgs, Martin, Oliver, Ajayi, Nikaj, Pierrick

Subs: Moses, Agbebi, Brundle, Baptiste, Carney

Taunton Town: Irish, Foulston, Grimes, Wannell, James, McCootie, Guest, Smith, Sims-Burgess, Morgan, Lucas

Subs: Ball, Stearn, Chamberlain, Evans

Attendance: 787

Whites draw blank as Chelmsford prove a tough nut to crack.

Dover began the first half like they ended the last game, on the front foot. Within a minute Josh Ajayi had warmed the hands of Ed Beach in the Chelmsford goal with a side footed volley that the visiting keeper did well to push away.

Tyrone Sterling had hearts in mouths moments later when a pass back to Stuart Nelson had the Dover stopper scrambling back to his line to clear with the visiting support behind the goal cheering as they thought it had crossed the line. It was a real let off for the Whites.

In the 13th minute, Jordan Higgs nearly opened the scoring when he tried to bundle the ball over the line after a volleyed cross by Wanadio seemed to evade everyone in the six yard box.

Minutes later and Jack Paxman shot agonisingly wide of the post after twisting and turning away from his marker. The Whites had been pushing hard for the opener and they thought had it on the half hour mark.

With neat build up play on the edge of the Chelmsford penalty area, the ball finally made its way to George Nikaj who’s first time shot looped over the stranded Beach, only for the ball to come back off the crossbar. Lee Martin reacted the quickest to head into the net but the celebrations were cut short as the flag was raised for offside.

Ajayi and Wanadio were terrorising their full backs and the latter fired over the crossbar after a cross by Ajayi. Dover certainly deserved more for their endeavour at the halfway stage.

It was a better opening of the second half than the first for the visitors with the away team showing a little more purpose. Khale Da Costa was acrobatic with an overhead kick that flashed wide as Chelmsford tried to get a foot hold in the match.

Jack Paxman went into the referee’s notebook after an accumulation of fouls and the resulting free-kick was fired straight into the body of Nelson. Arjanit Krasniqi was the next offender to be brandished a yellow card as the game began to get a little tetchy from both sides.

Dover still tried to play the way that the manager wanted and even though some of the passing was a little off, it was plain to see that there was a pattern of play in place.

Substitute Tom Blackwell nearly opened the scoring for the visitors but his shot was scuffed safely into the hands of Nelson when he really should have found the net. It was the first real scare for the Whites as Chelmsford looked to gain some momentum.

It wasn’t for the want of trying but it was just one of those days for Brundle’s side who just couldn’t maintain the high levels from the first half but it was a clean sheet and another positive performance.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Paxman A, Goodman, Higgs, Wanadio, Martin, Sterling, Nikaj, Ajayi, Paxman J, Boateng

Subs: Moses, Carney, Baptiste, Byford, Oliver

Chelmsford City: Beach, Barnum-Bobb, Trotter, Winfield, Jackson, Da Costa, Alfa, Grant, Terry, Brooke’s, Krasniqi

Subs: Marsden, James, Blackwell, Jones, Yila.

Attendance: 719