Category: Match Report

MATCH REPORT: DEAL TOWN 0-3 DOVER ATHLETIC

Ben Williamson marked his Dover debut with a goal as Andy Hessenthaler’s squad got some more valuable minutes into their legs at The Charles Ground.

The frontman, who joined us in June, scored the third and final goal after coming on at half-time, one of seven changes made during the interval as the manager gave some trialists their opportunity to impress.

It was a trialist, the only one in action in the first half, who opened the scoring inside the opening 15 minutes before Ricky Miller doubled the lead 10 minutes later with his third goal in two games.

Hessenthaler rang the changes at half-time with only captain Sam Wood, TJ Bramble, goalkeeper Josh Bexon, and Jake Goodman remaining on the pitch from the starting line-up.

Williamson ended the scoring in style, firing home with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

MATCH REPORT: DOVER 4 – 1 ASHFORD UNITED

Striker Ricky Miller scored twice in the first half of his return to Crabble as Whites put four past Ashford United in their first pre-season game.

Miller started the rout for the home side inside the first 10 minutes, before James Caton doubled Whites’ lead just after the half hour mark.

Whites’ number nine then doubled his tally and got Dover’s third towards the end of the half from the penalty spot, before second-half substitute Aaron Cosgrave slotted home the fourth.

Miller wasted little time in getting the home faithful singing his name again after he opened the scoring in the eighth minute after getting on the end of Travis Gregory’s cross into the box.

He almost doubled his tally shortly after, but his shot towards the near post was well saved by the Ashford goalkeeper.

Caton – also making his return to the club – doubled Whites’ tally with a superb curling effort from the edge of the area which gave the keeper no chance.

Whites were then awarded a penalty for handball, with the spot-kick being slotted home into the left corner by Miller.

He almost got his hat-trick with the last chance of the half, but his header was wide of the target.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler made 11 changes at half-time but Dover still looked lively, winning a penalty five minutes into the second half, but it was pulled wide by a trialist.

However, moments later Whites were 4-0 up as Cograve calmly placed the ball home to put the result beyond doubt.

Ashford did get a consolation midway through the second half, with their striker putting the ball past the trialist goalkeeper.

Chances were hard to come by after this, with the best one coming from a trialist who hit the post after a brilliant run.

Whites are back in action on Tuesday night as they travel to Deal Town.

MATCH REPORT: DOVER 3 – 1 BARNET

Whites moved off the bottom of the National League on Tuesday night after a convincing win over relegation rivals Barnet.

In wet and muddy conditions, Andy Hessenthaler’s men were 3-0 up at the break thanks to Will De Havilland’s early double and Ahkeem Rose’s fine volley.

Substitute Michael Petrasso pulled a goal back on the hour mark for The Bees, but the hosts held on for their first win of 2021 as they leapfrogged their hosts in the table.

Both sides had early chances, with ex-White Alfie Pavey seeing his early effort tipped wide by Dover keeper Oliver Webber, before Rose dragged his shot narrowly wide at the other end.

It was the home side who struck first when Ryan Hanson’s floated free-kick was inadvertently flicked into path of the lying-in-wait De Havilland, with the defender making no mistake from close range.

Centre-back De Havilland doubled his tally for the game and the season two minutes later, firing in after Sam Wood’s corner was played into a dangerous area.

Whites then added a third with 10 minutes of the half remaining when Rose gave visiting stopper Scott Loach no chance with an accurate volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Petrasso pulled a goal back for The Bees on the hour mark, bundling the ball in the net after connecting to a cross, however Whites held firm as the conditions worsened, almost adding a fourth on two occasions in the final 10 minutes.

First Rose tried to chip Loach from distance, but the Barnet keeper, already out of the penalty area, was able to head the ball away, before Ade Azeez’s shot was deflected onto the post from Barnet’s number one.

The win moves Whites to within seven points of safety ahead of their next league match, a crunch clash away to Yeovil Town, who sit one place above the relegation zone.

Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that lost against Solihull three days earlier, with Wood, Travis Gregory, Marvel Ekpiteta and Azeez coming in for TJ Bramble, Marshall Wratten, Jack Munns and Bayli Spencer-Adams, with the latter returning to parent club Watford earlier in the week.