Archives: News

JEFFREY ARRIVES ON LOAN

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce the loan signing of winger Anthony Jeffrey from Sutton United until the end of January.

The 23-year-old, who played against Whites in the 2-2 draw at Gander Green Lane in October, will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s National League game at Leyton Orient.

Jeffrey, who will wear the No.25 shirt, joined Sutton from Forest Green Rovers last July and has made 11 appearances for the U’s this season.

While he was with Forest Green, Jeffrey, who started his career as a trainee with Arsenal, spent last season on loan at Boreham Wood where he made 26 appearances and scored three goals.

Welcome to Crabble Anthony!

NEW CUP DATE SET

Following Tuesday’s postponement, our Kent Reliance Senior Cup Quarter-Final against Folkestone Invicta will now be played at Crabble on December 4th at 7.45pm.

Admission for the game is £10 for adults, £5 for concessions while under-11s get in for free.

LAST CHANCE FOR TICKETS

Tickets for our National League game at Leyton Orient on Saturday are still on sale at the club office at Crabble.

But you better be quick as they are only on sale until noon on Thursday.

Prices are as follows:

Adults £18

Concessions £16

Under-18 £5

Office hours are 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Please note that there is a charge for debit / credit card purchases, this is to cover the cost of providing the service.

You will still be able to buy tickets on matchday, but not at the discounted price for purchasing in advance.

FOLKESTONE DERBY CUP TIE

CUP GAME POSTPONED

The club can confirm that our Kent Reliance Senior Cup Quarter-Final against Folkestone Invicta has now been postponed.

The game was scheduled to be played at Crabble tomorrow, November 14th, at 7.45pm.

A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.

 

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Striker James Alabi talks to the camera after scoring his first goal for Whites in Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Eastleigh.

 

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Connor Essam has his say after scoring his first goal of the season in the 2-0 home win against Eastleigh on Saturday.

WHITES BEAT EASTLEIGH TO STAY TOP

DOVER 2 EASTLEIGH 0

(Alabi 31, Essam 57)

Dover maintained their one point lead at the summit of the National League table with victory against Eastleigh at Crabble on Saturday.

James Alabi and Connor Essam both grabbed their first goals of the season as Chris Kinnear’s men extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches.

Dover started strongly with Nortei Nortey drilling a 20-yard effort into the arms of visiting keeper Ross Flitney.

And the home side appeared refreshed following a two-week break with Alabi and skipper Mitch Brundle narrowly off target with shots from range.

Mitch Walker received a fright when Mark Yeates’ free kick took a deflection, but the ball landed straight into the arms of the home keeper.

But normal service was resumed on the half hour mark as Alabi grabbed his first goal in a Dover shirt.

The striker, on-loan from Tranmere, nodded in Mitch Pinnock’s long throw at the second attempt to put the leaders ahead.

Josh Passley then almost notched his first strike for Whites seconds later, but his curling effort fizzed agonisingly wide.

Some neat intricate play ended with captain Brundle volleying Femi Ilesanmi’s cross just wide as Athletic continued to pepper Flitney’s goal with shots.

Ilesanmi was indebted to Walker after Dover’s stopper denied Ben Williamson in the box after the Nigerian defender passed the ball straight to the attacker.

Flitney saved well top scorer Ryan Bird a 10th of the season, getting down quickly to palm the forward’s low drive away for a corner.

And following the restart, the visiting keeper had to be at his best deny Alabi.

The striker collected Pinnock’s throw, turned smartly and fired goalwards, but his strike was well blocked by Flitney.

But there was nothing Flitney could do about Dover’s second on 57 minutes. After Bravely blocking Essam’s header from a Brundle corner, he could only watch the sweeper slam home his first of the campaign from the rebound.

Alabi fired over after a lung busting run and cross from Nortey and Ilesanmi’s drive from sub Kadell Daniel’s lay-off flashed wide of the mark.

Dover’s claims for a handball in the area against Callum Howe were waived away by the referee after a shot from Nortey appeared to bounce off the Lincoln loanee.

And Walker spectacularly tipped away Howe’s injury time blast from the edge of the box.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that drew at Gateshead, with Ilesanmi returning to the starting line-up following suspension, replacing Loui Fazakerley who was a substitute.

Dover next travel to Brisbane Road to face Leyton Orient on Saturday 18th November.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle (c), Nortey, Ilesanmi, Alabi (Daniel 71), Bird, Pinnock.

Subs not used: Richards, Fazakerley, Okosieme, Deen-Conteh.

Eastleigh: Flitney, Hoyte, Howe (c), Boyce, Shaw, McSheffrey (Strevens 62), Hollands (Matthews 62), Miley, Yeates, Constable (McAllister 65), Williamson.

Subs not used: Zebroski, Read.

 

PREVIEW: WHITES V EASTLEIGH

Athletic will aim to continue setting the pace in the National League standings following a two-week break.

And boss Chris Kinnear will be hoping his side can keep up their impressive record against this weekend’s opponents.

Dover have won five and lost just once in six National League matches against the Spitfires.

However Richard Hill’s side come to Crabble in confident mood, having won 2-1 at Macclesfield in their previous away game.

Top scorer Ryan Bird and centre-back Connor Essam both started the last campaign as Eastleigh players and could feature against their former side.

Home fans might also recognise some familiar faces from the visiting squad.

Goalkeeper Ross Flitney made 55 appearances for Whites over a two year period and defender Ayo Obileye featured three times during a loan spell last season.

And Assistant Manager Andy Hessenthaler managed Dover during a three-year spell, winning two successive promotions.

EASTLEIGH’S RECENT FORM

EASTLEIGH 2-2 CHESTER

Strugglers Chester came back from two goals down at the Silverlake Stadium to claim only their second away point since Marcus Bignot took over as manager.

Ben Williamson put the home side ahead from 18 yards on two minutes and Gary McSheffrey doubled the Spitfires lead shortly after the restart.

James Akintunde tucked in Kingsley James’ cross seven minutes later to reduce the arrears and the visitors were denied a second after home keeper Ross Flitney saved Ryan Astles’ effort.

But the big defender was not to be kept out for long, powering in Lucas Dawson’s corner in the last minute.

PREVIOUS MEETING

25/02/17: DOVER 3-0 EASTLEIGH

Ricky Miller’s fourth hat-trick of the season ensured there was no happy return to Crabble for Richard Hill.

Caretaker boss Hill, who was in charge of his first game since Martin Allen’s sacking, could only watch as Dover condemned the Hampshire side to a fourth consecutive National League defeat.

Home fans did not have to wait long to celebrate a goal as Miller opened the scoring on three minutes. Visiting goalkeeper Rya Clarke parried Nicky Deverdics’ shot and predator Miller finished it off from close range.

James Constable’s turn and shot whistled past Steve Arnold’s post and Ross Lafayette, sporting a bandage from a cut to the forehead earlier in the match, saw a deflected effort fly wide.

Whites doubled their advantage on 71 minutes, with that man Miller on the scoresheet again. The striker’s half-volley slipped from Clarke’s grasp and rolled into the net.

Miller completed his treble eight minutes later after robbing Adam Dugdale and curling into the far corner.

OTHER LEAGUE MEETINGS

16/08/16: Eastleigh 2-4 Dover
10/11/15: Dover 1-2 Eastleigh
22/09/15: Eastleigh 2-5 Dover

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s – Free with an accompanying result.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES (3pm unless stated).

ALDERSHOT TOWN V AFC FYLDE
BARROW V MACCLESFIELD TOWN
BOREHAM WOOD V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
FC HALIFAX TOWN V WOKING
GUISELEY V BROMLEY
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V GATESHEAD
SOLIHULL MOORS V SUTTON UNITED
TORQUAY UNITED V MAIDSTONE UNITED
TRANMERE ROVERS V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
EBBSFLEET UNITED V LEYTON ORIENT (5:30pm)

AWAY TRAVEL

There are coaches travelling to Leyton Orient (Saturday 18th November), Dagenham (Tuesday 21st November) and Bromley (Saturday 2nd December).

It’s not too late to book a seat and prices are per game:

Adult members £15, adult non-members £30 and accompanied child (Under 16) £5

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat, or see him in the Centre Spot after the match against Eastleigh.

Please note you are now required to pay for your seat in advance by cash or via bank transfer.

 

 

 

ACADEMY GO ON GOAL SPREE

Dover Academy continued their unbeaten start to the National Youth Alliance League season with a crushing 10-0 win against visiting Eastbourne Borough at Abbey School.

Josh Spencer, Marshall Wratten (pictured above) and Matty Robinson all scored twice as coach Mike Sandmann’s young side wrapped up their fourth consecutive league triumph in style.

An own goal put Dover ahead before Spencer’s double and one from Robinson and Jack Cussen made it 5-0.

Dover keeper Lewis Mitchell then pulled off a great save just before half-time to deny Eastbourne reducing the deficit.

Man-of-the-match Wratten struck twice after the break with Kieran Smith, Robinson and Jordan Bartlett all getting on the scoresheet.

Match report by Jack Smith