*BS*The club’s Academy side has enjoyed success in clashes with fellow Kent sides Ebbsfleet United and Gillingham – match reports from Harry Priddle and Rhys Austin can be found below.*BF*

*BS**IS*Ebbsfleet 2 DOVER 3*IF**BF*

Dover looked to carry on the good league form against Ebbsfleet.
Dover started the game bright with great intensity and high pressure which wasn’t matched by Ebbsfleet and this was proven when Simbarashe made a good run down the wing and pulled it back for Priddle who slotted it away on the half volley.

Dover didn’t settle for the 1 nil lead and they grabbed a second through Alfie Paxman and it was Simbarashe the provider again. But after this Ebbsfleet started to get in to the game and for the last 15 minutes of the half Dover were pinned back.

After half time Ebbsfleet were still on top as Dover started the second half slowly and Ebbsfleet managed to get one back from a set piece through bad marking from Dover.

Ebbsfleet continued to dominate but Dover’s work rate and desire helped them maintain the lead and they kept breaking on the counter and chances falling Alfie, Alusine and JJ Donnelly. Soon after Dover scored a third and it was a well worked team goal that was slotted away by JJ Donnelly.

Dover didn’t want to allow Ebbsfleet back in to the game and they managed to do so until 3 minutes from time when Ebbsfleet grabbed a second but time was up before they could cause Dover any more troubles.

Dover got a good 3 points away from home and this allowed them to stay top of the table.

Match Report by Captain Harry Priddle

*BS**IS*Gillingham 1 DOVER 1 (Dover win 3-1 on penalties)*IF**BF* – League Cup

We turned up on a wet soggy pitch, willing to go through to the next round of the league cup.

The first half Dover Athletic started poorly and couldn’t keep the ball well, so that gave confidence to the Gillingham side to attack Dover. Then when Dover kept the ball there were some good spells where Simba was travelling down the channels and delivering the ball into the box where no one was their to tap it in.

The Dover side was letting the Gillingham side through to keep creating chances but they couldn’t punish Dover’s mistakes in the midfield. The Gillingham side started to create more good chances with consecutive corners, but the Dover side held on to defend the corners well. Gillingham also had a couple of chances to create something from free kicks outside of the box, but they couldn’t get through.

The first half was really sloppy from Dover, they couldn’t create good enough chances to score and get shots on target. With sloppy passes and Dover not being able to match the determination from the Gillingham side it went to the second half at 0-0.

Straight from the second half Gillingham played it back to their midfielder straight over the top to their right midfielder and with our right back slipping over the Gillingham side went straight on goal to try and score but they could not punish the Dover athletics poor performance.

Still at 0-0 both teams were trying to break through each other but when Dover had a chance up the other end to score the Gillingham’s goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and kicked it long over the top where our centre back missed timed the header and flicked it on to their striker and they went through on goal to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Dover then had to go to get and equalizer before it went straight to penalties, with Dover creating some chances when Alu for Dover Athletic hitting the post from inside the box where he should of scored.

Then their was a cross from the left hand side straight to Josh where he took a touch and then slotted it home to make it 1-1.

Then only minutes to go till the end of the game no chances were created. After full time it went to penalties. The score on penalties was 1-3 to Dover Athletic. It was poor penalties from Gillingham, Josh took the first penalty and scored, Gillingham stepped up and hit the crossbar, second penalty for Dover which Brandon missed, the second penalty for Gillingham the stepped up and they missed, then stepped up Alife and he scored so the score is 2-0, then Gillingham stepped up the then Rhys in goal saved their penalty.

Then Dover Athletic missed their 4th penalty. Then they scored their penalty to make it 2-1 where then Dover had to score their penalty to win the game, where Jack stepped up and slotted it in to win the game.

Match Report by Academy player Rhys Austin