Match report by Fred Deveson

A milder afternoon saw Dover fall short once again, as they lostout to Billy Terrell and Dartford in a narrow 1-2 defeat.

The game kicked off was Dover kicking from left to right, and it was the hosts who dominated the start of the game, having plenty of the ball in the Dartford half.

George Nikaj was looking positive on the right for the hosts and had a penalty shout waved away in the early exchanges. The away side then broke away but they attack came to nothing.

The Whites were utilising the wide areas well and Baptiste found himself in some good space in the wide area, but his ball came to nothing, and Dartford survived again.

The visitors did make a comeback halfway through the first half. A close-range effort was saved by Jinadu after a well worked move by the away side. 

Dartford then picked up the ball around the edge of the area and fired a shot at Jinadu, who made a great diving save to his right to keep the score level.

The visitors kept the pressure up and Jinadu was called into action again, as were Mensah and Holding, who kept the away side at bay well for large parts of the first half.

The number 7 of Dartford had a shot that went just over, but that wasn’t it for the first half, as the visitors did eventually take the lead. George Wilkinson said pre-match that Dover had been working on set-pieces during the week, but that was exactly how Dartford went ahead. A corner came in from the visitors and the header away only fell to a purple shirt and he fired it past the goalkeeper to put the visitors in front.

The Whites started the first half much like they started first; on the front foot, and whatever the manager said at half time definitely had an impact.

Baptiste found some more space in the wide areas and delivered a great ball, only for Billy Terrell to stop it reaching Zidan Sutherland with a good save.

Another chance came soon after for The Whites as George Nikaj fires the ball across the face of goal, with no one there to meet it.

George Nikaj had some more joy down the right hand side, as another ball in from him fell to Wilkinson, who’s effort crashed off the bar. 

Substitutions started to come for Dover, as manager Jake Leberlbrought on Destiny Oladipo and Iffy Allen in a bid to get the equaliser. 

And shortly after bringing on Oladipo, it was the big number 7 who got the goal for Dover to level it up. Roman Charles-Cook made a good overlapping run into the box and delivered a perfect ball to Oladipo who squeezed it in from close range.

However, just eight minutes later, a corner came in from Dartford and Jacob Mensah was adjudged to have handballed and a penalty was given. 

The visitors converted the penalty, sending the travelling fans into delirium. 

That wasn’t it for Dover’s chances however, as a free-kick came in from the left by Wilkinson which was met by Nikaj, who headed it goalwards but it was somehow cleared off the line.

Dartford then survived the final few minutes to take all 3 points back home with them for the first time since Boxing Day.

Dover Athletic: Jinadu, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Holding, Naylor (Oladipo 69mins), Oyenuga, Wilkinson, Oliver, Baptiste (Allen 61mins), Nikaj, Sutherland. Subs not used: Ojemen, Young, Dembele.

Dartford: Terrell, Wynter, Smith (Maloney 86mins), Nembhard, Rooney (Adebowale 86mins), Romain, Coulson, Shomotun, Box (Wall 77mins), Clifford, Statham, Subs not used: Whitefield, Boulton.

Referee: Dan England.

Attendance: 794.