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WHITES WIN AT CHESTER

CHESTER 0-2 DOVER

Lokko (64)
Astles og (71)

WHITES continued their play-off push with a win at struggling Chester on Tuesday night.

A header from Kevin Lokko and an own goal from home skipper Ryan Astles after the restart saw Dover win their second consecutive league game as they rose one place to sixth in the National League ladder.

Chris Kinnear’s men almost made the ideal start as Adebayo Azeez skewed an effort wide after turning his marker in the box.

The host’s first meaningful attack came from Andy Halls. Femi Ilesanmi’s tackle on Gary Roberts fell into the path of the defender, who could only stab wide of the far post.

Athletic then tried their luck on goal twice in quick succession. Firstly, Cambridge loanee Azeez scooped Mitch Brundle’s fiercely struck free kick into the grateful arms of home keeper Andrew Firth.

Moments later, Ryan Bird sliced wide after Mitch Pinnock played in the forward.

At the other end, Roberts curled a wicked free kick onto the roof of Mitch Walker’s net and Dover’s keeper saved well from the head of Shaun Hobson.

Kevin Lokko twice went close from corners for the away team, but it was Chester who went closest just before the half time whistle.

Harry White run onto Jordan Archer’s flick-on, but the striker could not get the better of a sprawling Walker, with Dover’s stopper able to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Following the restart, Azeez blasted over from the edge of the box and Mitch Brundle tested Firth with a low 20-yard drive minutes later.

Walker was out quickly to grab the ball from Matty Waters after the attacker got the better of two Dover defenders.

And Whites’ stopper produced an even finer piece of goalkeeping to deny
Tom Crawford.

Walker athletically beat away the midfielder’s deflected volley before the ball could reach the top corner.

White then blazed wide after a run from deep and Marcus Bignot’s side were punished for their missed chances.

Brundle’s accurate corner was met by the head of Lokko and the defender, signed on-loan from Stevenage last month, guided the ball into the top corner to open his account for the club.

And seven minutes later the visitors lead was doubled.

Jeffrey outpaced Halls to reach Brundle’s through ball and though Astles was first to the winger’s ball into the box, Chester’s big defender was only able to divert the ball past a stunned Firth and into his own net.

And the drama was not over as the another defensive mix-up almost handed Kinnear’s side a third goal.

Azeez headed Jeffrey’s cross towards Hobson standing on the goalline, but hesitation from the centre back almost allowed Azeez to steal in before the ball was finally cleared.

And Dominic Vose had one final chance for Chester in injury time, but lashed his free kick well over.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that started against Leyton Orient on Saturday. Manny Parry and Liam Bellamy replaced Nortei Nortey and Josh Passley, who started as substitutes.

Chester: Firth, Halls (Mahon 82), Astles (c), White, Hobson, Vose, Waters, Crawford, Roberts, Archer, Anderson (Hannah 69).

Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Jones, Akintunde.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Lokko, Ilesanmi, Bellamy (Passley 74), Brundle (c), Pinnock (Daniel 66), Bird (Jeffrey 61), Azeez.

Subs not used: Okosieme, Nortey.

PREVIEW: CHESTER V WHITES

Dover will be aiming to make it consecutive National League wins when they travel to Cheshire on Tuesday evening.

Boss Chris Kinnear will be confident of a win after seeing his side beat Leyton Orient at the weekend, but will not have fond memories of his last visit to the Deva Stadium.

A second half blitz saw The Blues run out 5-0 winners in October 2016, though current Chester boss Marcus Bignot will likely be happy with any winning margin after seeing his team lose their last two league matches.

And two of Dover’s squad will be familiar with their surroundings.

Winger Kane Richards made 69 appearances for Tuesday’s hosts, while striker James Alabi netted 23 times in 58 matches for Chester.

CHESTER’S RECENT FORM

24/02/18:  DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3-2 CHESTER

Two late goals saw the Daggers come from behind to claim the points at Victoria Park.

Fejiri Okenabirhie curled the hosts ahead early on, but the away side restored parity on the stroke of half-time when Jordan Archer turned in Gary Roberts’ cross.

Chester then went ahead through Billy Waters’ tap-in after home keeper Mark Cousins parried Dominic Vose’s shot.

But Okenabirhie slammed in the leveller with five minutes remaining and John Still’s team were not finished there.

The unfortunate Andy Halls put through his own net in the dying moments to hand hosts Dagenham victory.

PREVIOUS MEETING

16/09/18:  DOVER 4-0 CHESTER

Whites won their second game at Crabble this season with a convincing 4-0 victory over struggling Chester.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco headed in a first-half opener with further goals from Mitch Pinnock, Nortei Nortey and Mitch Brundle after the break.

The home side opened the scoring on 21 minutes thanks to Gallifuoco. The Australian rose above a static Chester defence to head in Brundle’s accurate corner.

With half-time on the horizon, Walker dived onto Ross Hannah’s low drive and the same striker curled a free-kick over following a clumsy challenge on him by Connor Essam, resulting in a booking for the Dover defender.

But Dover’s defence was not to be breached and they pulled further ahead on 62 minutes when Pinnock collected Brundle’s pass and fired into the bottom corner from twenty-yards, leaving away stopper Alex Lynch no chance of saving his shot.

It was the midfielder’s first league goal for Whites and seven minutes later another Dover player had the same accolade.

Sub Tobi-Sho Silva got the better of Ryan Astles on the left and his low centre found Nortey free in the area to sweep home his first goal in a Whites shirt.

Kadell Daniel struck the angle of post and bar with a fierce effort, before Brundle made the points safe on 82 minutes.

Sho-Silva’s run and shot was parried by Alex Lynch into the path of Dover’s captain, who slipped the ball underneath the away keeper.

OTHER MEETINGS

28/01/17: Dover 3-1 Chester
01/10/16: Chester 5-0 Dover
24/11/15: Chester 1-1 Dover

TEAM COLOURS

For those wanting to wear the same colour shirt as the players, captain Mitch Brundle and his teammates will be wearing their gold ones.

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18 (Seating), £15 (Standing)
Concession – £12 (Seating), £10 (Standing) *
Under 21’s – £10
16-17 year olds – £5
5-15 year olds – £3
Under 5’s – Free

* Senior Citizens / Students with NUS Card / Unemployed with proof of unemployment / Armed Forces. Please note Under 21’s and 16-17 years olds pay on the turnstiles as normal, but are requested to have proof of identity or age if asked by the turnstiles operator.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 7:45pm 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 7pm.

TUESDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

ALDERSHOT TOWN V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
GUISELEY V BARROW
MAIDSTONE UNTED V MACCLESFIELD
SUTTON UNITED V WOKING

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Eastleigh on Saturday 10th March and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It departs Crabble at 10:45am and the the prices are as follows:

Adult members £20, adult non-members £35 and accompanied child (Under 16) £10.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat.

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

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Boss Chris Kinnear talks to the camera following Whites 1-0 home win against Leyton Orient on Saturday.

WHITES BEAT ORIENT

DOVER 1-0 LEYTON ORIENT

Pinnock (82)

MITCH Pinnock’s volley eight minutes from time saw Whites beat Leyton Orient at Crabble on Saturday and move up to seventh in the standings.

The midfielder collected Ade Azeez’ pass and fired into the top corner to score for a fourth successive league match.

The game, the only National League fixture this weekend to survive the freezing temperatures across the UK, started slowly with Azeez’s shot wide from Ryan Bird’s pass the only effort of note in the first quarter of an hour.

Josh Koroma had the game’s first shot on target as home keeper Mitch Walker acrobatically saved the winger’s free kick.

And the from the resultant corner, Craig Clay’s goalbound header bounced off Azeez’ shoulder and over the bar, with some Orient players appealing in vain for a hand ball against Dover’s attacker.

Striker Azeez then nodded Pinnock’s set piece over as the match picked up pace.

The Cambridge loanee tried his luck again shortly after, this time driving straight at visiting keeper Dean Brill from an angle.

Macauley Bonne headed Koroma’s free kick into the hands of Walker and the Zimbabwean international somehow ballooned over as he raced through following a swift Orient counter attack.

Azeez blazed over on the stroke of half time after the away defence unwittingly played him in, with Mitch Brundle quick to vent his frustration at the striker’s decision to go for glory rather than find Dover’s captain at the far post.

Following the restart, Brundle stung the palms of Brill from distance and Orient’s goalie reacted well to turn away Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s backwards header.

Dan Holman almost netted after finding room in the box and fizzing a shot just wide of Walker’s post.

And one of Athletic’s players went even closer moments later.

Brundle’s free kick struck the visiting wall and fell into Nortei Nortey’s path, with the midfielder drilling a 20-yard effort against the base of the post.

Walker foiled another Koroma free kick, flinging himself low to tip the winger’s curler wide.

But it was the 26-year old’s next two saves that proved pivotal to Whites win.

With Holman bearing down on goal, Athletic’s keeper came out quickly to block the striker. Lemar Reynolds then fired the rebound against the post, with Walker spreading himself to deny the lieing-in-wait Ebou Adams.

And once Pinnock struck, Orient were only able to muster one more attempt at goal.

But defender Josh Coulson skewed Bonne’s pass horribly wide deep in injury time as Chris Kinnear’s men held on to register a second successive home league win.

Earlier, Dover’s boss made two changes to the side that started away at Fylde last weekend. Kevin Lokko and Nortey replaced Manny Parry and Liam Bellamy, who began as substitutes.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Lokko, Passley (Okosieme 56), Brundle (c), Nortey (Bellamy 70), Ilesanmi, Pinnock, Bird (Parry 90), Azeez.

Subs not used: Jeffrey, Daniel.

Leyton Orient: Brill, Caprice (Harrold 87), Coulson (c), Widdowson, Ling (Brophy 66), Koroma, Clay, Adams, Reynolds (Ekpiteta 77), Holman, Bonne.

Subs not used: Grainger, Lawless.

Referee: Christopher O’Donnell

Attendance: 1,348 (299 Leyton Orient)

Yellows: Essam, Gallifuoco (Dover)

PREVIEW: WHITES V LEYTON ORIENT

Dover will be looking to avenge their last-16 FA Trophy defeat against Orient when the two sides meet for a second time at Crabble this season.

The O’s, currently 16th in the National League, were victorious last month thanks to David Mooney’s late winner and visiting manager Justin Edinburgh will be confident of a win once again.

You see, his side have won their last three league matches away from home, with wins at Fylde, Halifax and Chester.

But Chris Kinnear will be buoyed his own side’s last home performance.  His charges beat Dagenham & Redbridge thanks to Mitch Pinnock’s spectacular winner.

However Athletic’s boss will be wary of a familiar face this weekend.

Orient striker Dan Holman, on loan from Cheltenham town, scored twice in six loan appearances for Dover in 2015.

PLEASE NOTE THE MATCH IS SEGREGATED.

LEYTON ORIENT’S RECENT FORM

24/02/18: LEYTON ORIENT 3-3 GATESHEAD (FA TROPHY)

Gateshead set up a replay at the International Stadium after coming from three goals down at Brisbane Road.

The hosts looked to be cruising thanks to stunning strikes from Josh Koroma and Ebou Adams either side of the break.

And Orient’s passage to the last four seemed even more certain when Josh Coulson headed in Koroma’s free-kick with just over half an hour left to play.

The visitors scored what seemed a consolation on 68 minutes when Danny Johnson converted Scott Barrow’s cross.

Johnson was then at it again ten minutes later, firing past O’s keeper Dean Brill from a tight angle.

And Richard Peniket kept the Heed’s Wembley dream alive, heading home Rees Greenwood’s pass in injury time.

PREVIOUS MEETING

03/02/18: DOVER 3-4 LEYTON ORIENT

AN impressive comeback was not enough for Whites as they were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Leyton Orient at Crabble.

Sub David Mooney chipped in an injury-time winner after a brace from Ryan Bird and a stunning lob from Mitch Pinnock had seen the hosts overturn a three goal deficit.

George Elokobi had headed the visitors ahead in the first half, with further strikes from Macauley Bonne and Matt Harrold putting the O’s  in control.

Dean Brill had to be alert early on, tipping over Giancarlo Gallifouco’s looping header from Nortei Nortey’s ball.

And it was the visitors who had the lead ten minutes before the break as Elokobi powered in Jobi McAnuff’s corner.

Harrold was within a whisker of doubling Orient’s lead, just missing Jake Caprice’s ball across the goalmouth.

And there was still time for one more chance in a breathless first half as Josh Passley slid in to clear Harrold’s clever finish off the line.

Zimbabwean international Bonne collected the ball 30 yards from goal and curled a stunning effort into the top corner, beyond Walker’s despairing grasp.

And the tie was seemingly over once Harrold stabbed in Elokobi’s knockdown to make it 3-0.

But Dover and in particular Bird had other ideas as the striker fired Pinnock’s shot into the bottom corner to reduce the arrears.

With ten minutes left, Pinnock stylishly pulled his side back into the tie.

The winger took advantage of some miscommunication between Josh Coulson and Brill, lobbing over the stranded Orient keeper from distance.

And the turnaround was complete just one minute later thanks to Bird’s 16th goal in all competitions this season.

The striker slotted his second of the game, following up after Brill tipped sub Kadell Daniel’s angled shot his way.

But Orient sub Mooney had the final say with a classy finish, with Dover unable to muster a leveller in the final moments of the tie.

OTHER MEETING

18/11/18:  Leyton Orient 1-1 Dover

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s (Accompanied by an adult) – Free

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

BOREHAM WOOD V MACCLESFIELD TOWN
ALDERSHOT TOWN V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
BARROW V EASTLEIGH
CHESTER V BROMLEY
EBBSFLEET UNITED V WREXHAM
HALIFAX TOWN V SUTTON UNITED
GUISELEY V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V WOKING
SOLIHULL MOORS V MAIDSTONE UNITED
TORQUAY UNITED V AFC FYLDE
TRANMERE ROVERS V GATESHEAD

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach travelling to Chester on Tuesday 6th March and it is not too late to book your space on it.

It departs Crabble at 12:30pm and the the prices are as follows:

Adult members £30, adult non-members £45 and accompanied child (Under 16) £15.

There is also a coach leaving for Eastleigh at 10:45am on Saturday 10th March and the costs are:

Adult members £20, adult non-members £35 and accompanied child (Under 16) £10.

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

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

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The club are looking for volunteers to help take the new protective covers off the pitch at Crabble at 8am on Saturday ahead of the National League clash with Leyton Orient.

We have taken no chances over the past week and the playing surface has been protected from the elements.

So if you are able to give us a helping hand, please call the club office on 01304 822373 to add your name to the list.

All assistance will be greatly appreciated.