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

Match Report by Fred Deveson

A warm afternoon in South London saw the hosts Welling United come away 1-0 winners, all but keeping them up this season, and unfortunately relegating Dover Athletic.

The game itself, despite its heartbreaking consequences, was largely uneventful, particularly in the first half.

In the first 30 minutes there was only one or two half chances to note, with one being for the hosts who worked it nicely into the box, but the shot was well blocked.

The Whites had a chance when the goalkeeper fumbled his clearance, but Nikaj couldn’t pounce when the loose ball came to him and the score remained level.

The chances started to come more towards the end of the first half. The hosts got in a good position again and the effort by the forward trickled just wide of the post.

Charles Cook was looking positive from right wing-back, and it was one of his good runs that managed to set free Dembele. The striker took the ball in his stride but could not finish past the Welling goalkeeper.

There was a chance just before the half-time whistle for the home side. A scrappy bit of play in the box eventually fell nicely for the man in red but he fired it just over.

The second half started with the visitors on top. Rowley was called into action down to his right to keep the score at 0-0.

Then came the golden chance for Dover. Charles Cook found himself in a good position and his shot was saved and parried out to Dembele who could not convert.

From this moment on, the feeling grew and grew that the hosts would eventually take the lead.

Rowley was called into action again with around 20 minutes to go, making a good save but giving Welling a corner doing so. This would be the corner that leads to the only goal of the game. The ball came in to the near post and was slotted in to give the hosts the lead.

The Whites did have a chance in the final few minutes of the game, with Wilkinson’s effort from outside the box being tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

The hosts then managed to see out the game after a lengthy period of stoppage time, thus ending Dover’s survival hopes and relegating the Whites with 6 games to go.

It’s Chelmsford at home up next on Monday for Dover

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Johnson (Green 64), Byrd, Ellul, Di Trolio, Lema, A Grant, Adigun, Papadopoulos, Amoo (Kennedy 56), R Grant.

Subs (not used): Roscrow, Burchell, Munns.

Booked: Di Trolio 90+2 (time wasting) Lema 90+4 (time wasting)

Goal: Di Trolio 72

Dover Athletic: Rowley, Charles-Cook (Wilkinson 79), Oliver, Nikaj, Akehurst, Naylor, Mensah, Young (Stewart 82), Dembele, Oyenuga (Garrett 88), Holding.

Subs (not used): Drakes-Thomas, Baptiste.

Booked: Young 40 (foul)

Referee: Lisa Benn

Att: 839