Match Report by Fred Deveson

A beautiful evening in Gloucester saw Dover once again come away with nothing in a game that could have ended differently had some big chances been taken.

The game started with a mesmeric sunset behind the stadium on a chilly evening in Gloucester, and the Whites started the game on the front foot. The ball was laid off to Baptiste on the edge of the area but his effort went over the bar with three minutes on the clock.

Baptiste was at it again a few minutes later with an effort that went much closer, and got a touch on the way for a corner. He and Dover had started well.

Truro started to form some attacks of their own, firing the ball into the front men who held it up and linked the play well.

The “home” side forced a good save by Rowley on minute 20, and the ball fell for the attacker but Oyenuga was there to stop it going in for Dover.

The Whites did not let this get to them, however, as Nikaj had a superb chance to put Dover in front but hit the bar from relatively close range.

It only took Truro 5 minutes after this scare to score the first and only goal of the game. It was a well worked goal with number 9 Harvey finishing well into the bottom corner past the outstretched Rowley.

Soon after, it was Harvey again who attempted a chip on Rowley but the ball bounced back off the bar. The rebound also hit the woodwork and Dover survived.

The second half started poorly for Dover, with the hosts dominating. No notable chances came until the 61st minute, with a flowing move ending in a shot going wide from a good position.

Baptiste was still looking lively and his shot from range went just past Hamon’s goal. Stewart had a shot from a similar position soon after, which was saved well by the goalkeeper.

Substitutions were made during the second half, with Wilkinson and Drakes-Thomas coming on to sure up the midfield, but these did little to impact the game.

The game gradually drew to a close with Truro defending their lead very well and seeing out the 1-0 win to make it back-to-back wins for the team.

A special thank you to the 15 travelling Dover fans who made the journey, a fantastic commitment and the support is hugely appreciated.

The champions Yeovil await Dover on Saturday for the final game of the season.

City: Hamon, Palmer, Adelsbury, Dean, Riley-Lowe, Rooney (Palfrey, 52), Melhado, Porter, Law, Harvey (Brett, 70), Neal (Hinds, 60). Subs not used: Johnson-Fisher, Buse.

Dover: Rowley, Charles-Cook (Drakes-Thomas, 82), Mensah, Holding, Naylor (Wilkinson, 71), Oyenuga, Oliver, Baptiste, Nikaj, Akehurst, Stewart. Sub not used: Young, Neil-Gray, Garrett. 

Referee: Stacey Pearson
Attendance: 73

Match Report by Fred Deveson

It was a beautiful sunny day for it in Hampton as the Whites were unlucky to leave the game with nothing, while the hosts take all 3 points in a 1-0 win.

The game started fairly evenly, with little action to report for the first 20 minutes. Dover had had a lot of the ball in the opening exhanges, however, and were looking the most likely team to score.

The first chance for the Whites did eventually come in the 24th minute when Wilkinson had a shot saved after a good move by the away side.

The hosts went up the other end from this move, and hit the bar after working their move nicely on the left-hand side. Despite the two chances, the game remained level.

Hampton did turn up the heat from this moment, with a corner coming in and a header being well saved by Rowley. The rebound was then blocked on the line by Naylor who kept the score 0-0.

The visitors came back from this well. Baptiste sees his effort blocked in the box after another good move by Dover, and then the rebound was put over by Nikaj.

Dontai Stewart had been working hard this first half, and his efforts were paid off when he won a header to set himself in behind the defence. His effort then hit the foot of the post and bounced clear.

The second half started much like the first, with little happening in the opening 15 minutes.

The first and only goal of the game came in the 61st minute for the hosts and it was another set piece that carved Dover open again. Hampton had got themselves a lead which was perhaps against the run of play.

George Nikaj had a chance to equalise as the game progressed towards the latter stages. His spin and shot in the box went just wide of the goal.

He then had another chance soon after, getting in behind the defence but he took too long and his effort was blocked the defender as the hosts survive another attack from Dover.

Some late substitutions were made by Dover but these made little impact and the game gradually came to a close, with Hampton and Richmond sealing an important win for their playoff hopes.

It’s a long trip to Gloucester for Dover up next, with the Whites facing Truro in their last away game of the season.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

An incredibly warm afternoon saw Dover take a late point in Hertfordshire to draw the game 1-1, when it arguably should have been more than just the one point that the Whites took.

The first half was a poor one from the Whites. Rowley was called into action within the first three minutes, being forced into a good save down to his right after a nice move by the hosts.

A few minutes later, our captain was called upon as he cleared a header off the line from their number 9. Dover were under lots of pressure in the opening exchanges at Hemel Hempstead.

The hosts did not let up either, as on minute 20, they put together a lovely passing move which ended in a shot that went just wide of the goal.

The goal did soon come for The Tudors however. Another well worked move ended in the ball coming over to the far side and the wide man hit a beautiful volley beyond Rowley who could do nothing about it. The hosts had a deserved lead.

The manager made two changes at half time in a bid to switch things up for the second half. Wilkinson replaced Young and Stewart came on in place of the carded Kai Garrett.

The second half started in a much better way for the Whites. Wilkinson came on and made a big difference to the team, providing good energy in the midfield. It was his shot that went just wide after a nice move.

Then came what Dover thought was the equaliser. Wilkinson side footed the ball back into the box from near the corner flag and Dontai Stewart nodded it in, but the goal was ruled out for offside much to the confusion of the visiting fans.

Baptiste was much more lively in the second period, and towards the end of the game he had a shot go just wide of the goal after a lovely ball picked him out on the left. Dover were banging on the door now.

It wasn’t until the 90th minute, however, that Dover did eventually find the back of the net (legally). Some excellent work by Charles Cook lead to him crossing the ball which was defended poorly and then prodded home for the Whites with just a few added minutes remaining. A deserved leveler.

The visitors continued to push for that winning goal which nearly came, as Wilkinson’s corner floated just over the bar, but that was to be it for Dover who took just one point back to south east Kent.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

Dover 1-0 Chelmsford, and it’s not an April fools joke! Dover came out victorious at Crabble on Monday afternoon as they saw off title challengers Chelmsford City.

The game started and right from the first minute, Dover were more than up for the fight. They were battling hard and winning the ball in good areas.

Despite this, the first chance fell to the visitors. They got the ball in a good position on the left and after a save by Rowley, it was eventually scrambled away and the hosts survived.

Not long after this, however, it was the Whites who took the lead. Luke Baptiste was set free on the left wing and after some good footwork, he put a lovely ball into the box. Charles Cook got on the end of it but his shot was blocked, and it fell to Young who tapped it in for his first ever senior goal.

The first half continued to be dominated by Dover, who had less of the ball but more of the chances. Shortly after the goal, Freddie Oliver headed the ball over the bar after Akehurst’s corner.

The hosts were lethal on the break and the threat continued. Nikaj in particular was playing very well on the right, leading the counter attacks especially well. On this occasion, he worked the ball into the box well but his shot was superbly blocked and it went out for a corner, which came to nothing.

Dover started the second half how they ended the first, with lots of energy and fight. It was Baptiste and Nikaj leading the charge and the two almost combined to get a second for Dover but it wasn’t meant to be on this occasion.

The Whites were looking dangerous from set pieces too, with a header by Naylor finding the fingertips of the Chelmsford goalkeeper. Dover were so close a second that they probably deserved.

Towards the end of the game, the away side did make a push for an equaliser. The crosses and corners came flying inbut the hosts defender exceptionally well.

Rowley was called into action a couple of times, with a save down to his near post being the pick of the bunch as the second half wore on.

The Whites made some changes as the second half drew closer to it’s end, with the manager looking to bring on some fresh legs to help in the defence of the 1-0 lead.

The corners kept coming from the away side but Dover defended every one of them very well and looked incredibly solid. The visitors did not have a clear-cut chance all game.

There was some scrapping between players at the end, but eventually Dover held out and secured what is most likely their best result of the season so far against high-flying Chelmsford.

Dover are back on the road this Saturday against Hemel Hempstead, and will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Dover Athletic: Rowley (GK); Charles-Cook, Mensah ©, Holding, Oyenuga, Naylor, Young (Wilkinson 90+4’), Oliver, Baptiste, Nikaj (Dembele 85’), Akehurst (Garrett 67’).

Unused substitutes: Stewart, Drakes-Thomas.

Yellow cards: Young.

Chelmsford City: Gray (GK); Barnum-Bobb, Jenkins, Winfield © (Alexander 54’), Brookes; Ochieng, Wordsworth, Dunne (Ruff 66’); Alfa, Carruthers (Francis 54’); Hockey.

Unused substitutes: Castiglione, Watts.

Yellow cards: Winfield, Jenkins, Francis.

Match Officials: Harrison Blair (Referee), David Spain (Assistant), Michael Butcher (Assistant).

Attendance: 628