Match Report by Fred Deveson
A bright afternoon in Wiltshire saw Dover narrowly lose to Chippenham Town 2-1, but the performance from the Whites showed significant improvement.
The away side changed their thinking and approach for the game yesterday, with there being an increased emphasis on keeping the ball and looking to build attacks slowly from the back.
The Whites made the best start to the game. Baptiste was looking lively on the left and Nikaj was working hard on the right and getting some joy against their left back.
Dover won some early corners and looked threatening from them but there was no goal yet.
The majority of possession was Dover’s and they looked ever more threatening when building from the back. However, it was Chippenham who had the best chance of the half, when their number four went in behind Ojemen and hit the bar.
Soon after, the ball was picked up in the middle by Naylor, who ran into the box and was bundled over but no penalty was the decision. The hosts then counter but it comes to nothing.
The visitors looked threatening from set-pieces and that is exactly how they took the lead. A good ball from Wilkinson came in and it was Holding who rose highest and the ball dribbled in. Dover were one up.
The second half started similarly, with Dover dominating the ball. The hosts came out with more energy and enthusiasm as they sought an equaliser.
The Bluebirds got themselves a free-kick in a good positionoutside the area but Jinadu saved easily once again. The away side then went up the other end, earnt themselves a corner and almost doubled their lead but Naylor headed just over.
Not long after, the hosts were back on level terms. Some poor defending from Dover and confusion in the penalty area gave their forward an open goal to tap the ball into.
The pressure from the home side grew as the game wore on. The Whites were getting tired towards the end and this only helped the hosts.
Then in the 87th minute, it was Chippenham Town who took the lead. A corner came in and was headed out but not far enough, as their number four crashed a shot off the bar which just went over the line. The referee gave the goal much to the delight of the home fans.
Dover made a late surge to try and level the game but their hopes and efforts came to nothing and it was the hosts who took all three points.
It’s Maidstone at home next Saturday for Dover who will look to bounce back against the FA Cup story of the season.
Chippenham Town: 1 HENRY 2. HEWLETT 4. FASANMADE 6. HAINES 9. MCCLURE (C) 10. OWEN-EVANS 12. MEHEW 14. SPOKES 15. ELLISON 16. BRADBURY 20. KING
Subs: AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 7. JOHNSON, 8. EVANS, 17. WILLIAMS, 19. JONES
Dover Athletic: 1 JINADU, 3 CHARLES-COOK 16 MENSAH (C), 26 HOLDING, 4 OJEMEN, 15 NAYLOR, 14 WILKINSON, 8 OLIVER, 22 BAPTISTE, 10 NIKAJ, 20 DEMBELE
Subs: 7 OLADIPO, 17 HATCHER, 18 YOUNG, 11 ALLEN, 23 STEWART