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PREVIEW: WHITES v CHARLTON

Dover host Charlton Athletic on Tuesday in the third match of their pre-season campaign.

Whites drew 2-2 against another League One side, Gillingham, on Saturday, with Ryan Bird and Giancarlo Gallifuoco both netting on their home debuts.

Manager Chris Kinnear once again has a fully fit squad to pick from with some triallists likely to feature.

The Addicks, managed by Karl Robinson, have played five friendlies so far, including Crumlin United (W 5-0), Limerick (L 3-2) and UCD (L 4-1) during a two-week training camp in Ireland.

Charlton also sent two separate squads to play Greenwich Borough and Welling United last Saturday, winning both games 4-0 and 3-0 respectively.

The  game kicks off at 7.45pm and admission is as follows:

Adults £10, concessions £5, under 11’s free with paying adult (Included with season ticket).

CAPTAIN’S REACTION

Captain Mitch Brundle gives his post match verdict following Dover’s draw with Gillingham and talks about life in Kent after signing for the club in the summer.

MANAGER REACTION

Manager Chris Kinnear gives his post match thoughts immediately after watching his side draw with Gillingham.

DOVER DRAW WITH GILLS

Dover and Gillingham shared the spoils in an exciting all-Kent pre-season friendly thanks to Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s second half tap in.

The defender, who signed a one year deal with Athletic earlier this week, punished Gillingham goalkeeper Thomas Holy after the Czech stopper allowed Mitch Brundle’s free kick to wriggle underneath his body and into the path of the Australian.

Ryan Bird had earlier given the home side the lead five minutes into the first half, but Gillingham hit back through goals from Connor Wilkinson and Luke O’Neill before Gallifuco levelled.

Dover made the perfect start as Bird expertly directed Femi Ilesamni’s cross into the back of the visitors net via the post.

Jake Hessenthaler, son of former Dover Manager Andy, went close with a header and Gillingham had an even better chance to level 10 minutes later.

Goalkeeper Mitch Walker felled a Gillingham triallist in the box, but redeemed himself by diving left to push away Wilkinson’s spot kick.

However, the White’s stopper was unable to keep Wilkinson out for long as the visiting striker slotted pounced on Connor Essam’s miscontrol to slot home.

The home side almost had the lead shortly after the break, but Jamie Allen’s close range effort was deflected wide. Lee Martin then let fly from the edge of the box for Gills, but his effort flew the wrong side of the post.

The League One side took the lead on 61 minutes as Luke O’Neill crashed a close range header past a helpless Walker.

But Gallifuoco was on hand to equalise minutes later and Dover were inches away from winning the match late on as Holy tipped a triallist’s curling effort onto the cross bar.

Earlier boss Chris Kinnear made one change to the starting line up from Tuesday night’s 3-0 win at Deal Town.

Gallifuoco, Bird and two triallists came in for Loui Fazakerley, George Essuman, Tobi Sho-Silva and Mitchell Pinnock, who all came on as second half substitutes against Gills.

Whites host another League One side, Charlton Athletic, on Tuesday 18th July, kick off 19:45.

Dover: Walker, Trialist (Fazakerley 46mins), Ilesamni (Barnard 70mins), Gallifuoco, Parry (Essuman 75mins), Essam (Trialist 75mins), Richards (Trialist 61mins), Brundle, Bird (Trialist 61mins), Allen (Sho-Silva 61mins), Trialist (Trialist 70mins).

Gillingham: Nelson (Holy 46mins), O’Neill (O’Mara 46mins), Ogilvie (Garmston 46mins), Zakuani (Ehmer 46mins), Trialist (Tucker 46mins), Hessenthaler (Oldaker 46mins), Byrne (Trialist 46mins), Martin (Wright 46mins), List (Wagstaff 46mins), Wilkinson (Mbo 46mins), Trialist (Stevenson 46mins). Subs: Hadler, Chapman, Simpson, Cundle.

Attendance: 1,084

 

 

KENT CUP SENIOR CUP DRAW

Our defence of the Kent Reliance Senior Cup starts will start with a home game.

Dover, who beat Welling United 2-0 in the final last season, will face the winner of the Round 1 clash between FavershamTown or Sittingbourne.

The tie is due to be played on either 12th or 13th September.

 

TRAINING GROUND CHAT

Watch what Connor Essam had to say after training on Thursday night ahead of Saturday’s clash with Gillingham at Crabble.

PREVIEW: WHITES v GILLINGHAM

Dover play host to League One Gillingham on Saturday in their second of six pre-season friendlies.

The match will give fans the chance to see Summer signings Mitch Brundle, Tobi Sho-Silva, Ryan Bird, Jamie Allen, Kane Richards, Manny Parry and Femi IIesamni in action on home turf for the first time.

Australian defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco is also expected to be involved against our Kent neighbours after signing for Whites on Wednesday, along with a number of triallists.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s new look side won 3-0 away at Deal Town on Tuesday night with George Essuman and Bird among the scorers.

Gills, with former Athletic manager Peter Taylor as Director of Football, have won both their pre-season friendlies so far, beating Faversham Town 1-0 and Dartford 2-1.

Saturday’s game kicks-off at 3pm and admission is as follows:

Adults £10, Concessions £5, Under 11s free with paying Adult ( Included with Season ticket ).

 

 

SAY G’DAY TO GIANCARLO GALLIFUOCO

Dover’s ninth new summing signing is Australian Giancarlo Gallifuoco.

The 23-year-old defender, who played the second half of Tuesday’s 3-0 win at Deal Town, has signed a one-year-deal.

Gallifuoco is no stranger to the National League after spending the 2016/2017 season with Torquay United.

He made 35 appearances for the Devon side in that time, including both games against Dover. He also scored three goals.

Now Gallifuoco is thrilled to be calling Crabble home.

He said: “It is an ambitious club, one that is heading in the right direction and the vision to move the club forward is clear to see.

“Dover have progressed with each passing season – it’s an exciting time to be here and I am delighted I am.

“To be honest, it was a no brainer to come here when the opportunity came my way.

“I am really looking forward to getting down to business.”

Born in Sydney, Gallifuoco joined Torquay last year after a season with A-League side Melbourne Victory.

Gallifuoco first came to England to join Tottenham when he was 18 in 2012 and he spent two years with them before leaving for Swansea City.

He spent a year in Wales before heading back home to play in the A-League.

Able to play in central defence, central midfield and at right-back, Gallifuoco has represented Australia at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels.

He will wear the number four shirt at Dover.

Gallifuoco joins fellow summer arrivals Ryan Bird, Femi Ilesanmi, Tobi Sho-Silva, Connor Essam, Manny Parry, Kane Richards, Mitch Brundle and Jamie Allen.

Welcome to Crabble Giancarlo!!

DEAL TOWN 0-3 DOVER ATHLETIC

George Essuman’s stunning overhead kick set Dover on their way to victory in their first pre-season friendly at a rain soaked Charles Ground on Tuesday evening.

The defender, making his first start since joining from VCD Athletic in March, spectacularly volleyed home Mitch Brundle’s corner to open the scoring midway through the first half.

A fierce strike from one of the triallists and a neat finish from another debutant, Ryan Bird, sealed victory for the visitors after the break.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s new look side, featuring six summer signings, showed their attacking intent straight from kick off.

Connor Essam powered an early header over and Brundle, wearing the captain’s armband, fired a long range effort narrowly off target shortly after.

Whites continued to press and Mitch Pinnock’s pin-point cross found Tobi Sho-Silva at the back post, but the former Bromley forward’s volley was deflected behind.

Deal Town’s defence continued to hold firm, this time recovering to block Jamie Allen’s angled effort following some sublime skill from the pacy striker.

But the home team were unable to hold out any longer as Essuman fired home the resulting corner to give Dover a deserved lead.

A rare attack minutes before the break saw Town hit the post with a header and at the other end Kane Richard’s tight drive stung the palms of Deal’s goalkeeper.

Boss Kinnear made nine changes at half time. Striker Bird, midfielder Chris Barnard and seven triallists were all given 45 minutes.

The home team almost levelled twenty minutes after the restart after some pinball in the box ended in the ball being stabbed wide.

The lead was doubled on 73 minutes after one of the trialist’s found the bottom corner from range.

Bird wrapped the game up late on, collecting a clever through ball and slamming the ball into the bottom corner.

Dover’s next friendly is at home to League One Gillingham on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off.

Dover starting XI :Walker, Fazakerley, Ilesamni, Essam, Parry, Essuman, Pinnock, Brundle(c), Richards, Allen, Sho-Silva.