Matthew Robinson’s goal proved the difference at Mike Sandmann’s Academy beat their Ebbsfleet counterparts 1-0 in the Conference Youth Alliance League.

Sandmann’s young side had not played for three weeks, so it was a great win against their Kent rivals.

The game started slowly and although Ebbsfleet had more of the ball they failed to carve out any real chances to worry captain Stan Waller in the Dover goal.

Dover made the breakthrough in the 29th minute after Chris Barnard was fouled about 30 yards from goal.

Robinson took the kick, it struck the wall and sailed over the Ebbsfleet keeper to give Dover the lead.

Sandmann gave the players a dressing down about the lack of intensity at half-time and Dover looked a completely different side in the second half.

The central defence paring of Joshua Spencer and Kyron Connolly stopped any form of attack from Ebbsfleet.

Although Dover started a lot brighter in the second half, they were rather lack-lustre in front of goal and couldn’t find that final pass.

Sandmann said: “We lacked intensity, but a good result and couldn’t fault the work rate.”

MOM: Kyron Connolly

Report by Lewis Mitchell