Archives: News

Dover Athletic 0-1 St Albans City

Match report by Fred Deveson.

The fans were in full voice for last night’s match against St Albans, but it was the away side who took all three points.

The away side started the game on top and had lots of the ball and some good chances. Dover couldn’t get near the visitors at the start of the game.

Daniel Jinadu was called into action a couple of times early on and the Dover goalkeeper made a number of good saves to keep the score level. 

The away side were efficient in attack and were making some good combinations that were working well for them and Dover just couldn’t handle it. 

Destiny Oladipo made his first start for the club in the league but did not have much to do due to the visitors pinning Dover back, but when he did get the ball he used his strength effectively and was a very good outlet.

George Wilkinson had a long range effort from the half way line go wide of the goal and that was Dover’s only real threat in the first half. 

It wasn’t long after this that the visitors took the lead however. Shaun Jeffers, St Albans’ main man, found the back of the net after a good passing move by the away side. The goal had been coming.

The second half started much brighter for Dover. Two substitutions were made by Jake Leberl at half time which saw Dembele and Young come on, both of which provided an injection of energy and enthusiasm.

Dembele made some positive runs in behind the defence and worked incredibly hard to try and level the scoring. 

The chances did eventually come thick and fast for the hosts. Dembele chased a hopeful ball in behind and managed to get the better of the defender but his effort was saved. He then picked up the loose ball and tried to lift it over the goalkeeper but the ball bounced back off the bar. Nikaj then had a chance to finish but his effort was blocked and the chance to equalise went amiss.

Dover continued to have lots of the ball but chances for either side were few and far between.

Towards the end of the game St Albans had a shot crash off the post after a brilliant effort left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. 

The game then petered out with the away side wasting time and seeing out there 0-1 win to make 9 wins in their last 13 games. 

Dover Athletic: 1 DANIEL JINADU, 3 ROMAN CHARLES-COOK, 16 JACOB MENSAH (C), 26 SCOTT HOLDING, 4 PETER OJEMEN, 25 JOHN OYENUGA, 14 GEORGE WILKINSON, 8 FREDDIE OLIVER, 22 LUKE BAPTISTE, 10 GEORGE NIKAJ, 7 DESTINY OLADIPO

Subs: 9 ZIDAN SUTHERLAND, 15 CHARLIE NAYLOR, 18 HENRY YOUNG, 11 IFFY ALLEN, 20 NICK DEMBELE

St Albans City: 1 JOHNSON, 2 JAMES, 3 BROWN, 4 SMITH, 6 CLARK, 8 RASULO, 9 JEFFERS, 11 BANTON, 15 HUTCHINSON, 18 FRANCIS-CLARK, 28 HODDLE

Subs: 5 BOWRY, 7 BLACKMAN, 12 WEISS, 19 BURGER, 31 MENSAH

Attendance: 410

Referee: Steven Hughes

New Signing: Kai Neil-Gray

Prior to our home game against Dartford on February 17th, Dover Athletic confirmed the signing of Kai Neil-Gray, who signs permanently after impressing against Beckenham.

The Whites’ new attacking midfielder scored in the 0-4 win at Beckenham and impressed the manager so much so that he has signed permanently for the club.

In an interview with the new Dover man, Kai said he was “really excited” to get going and that he feels like he has already settled in with the squad well, having played against Beckenham already with the team and having been around the squad for a while already.

Neil-Gray also said that due to having partaken in training and having seen how the team plays and what the manager wants, he feels like he has settled in well already and is ready to hit the ground running.

Kai expressed his desire to give back to the fans for the remainder of the season and to show everyone what he is capable of. The new attacking midfielder also says he is capable of playing out wide on either flank which is something that the team will welcome.

The new number 24 also said he can “do a bit of everything” from tracking back to running in behind and being progressive with the ball, which is no doubt going to have a positive impact on the team.

Interview by Fred Deveson

Up Next – Dover Athletic vs St Albans City

Match preview by Fred Deveson.


It’s back-to-back home games for Dover Athletic who play twice in four days at Crabble as they look to make a push for survival.

St Albans are on a good run at the moment, being unbeaten in all but one of their last eight games, winning five of those. They currently sit in a playoff spot and are looking to make a push for promotion to the National League.

They have had some difficult games in this run, but they have drawn to Yeovil, beaten Torquay and drawn to Hampton and Richmond, all of which are promotion rivals.

A positive for Dover is that they are winless in their two away games, but they have beaten Torquay 0-4 in the south west.

The visitors on Tuesday have won eight of their last twelve games and appear to be scoring freely of late, despite their latest game being a 3-1 defeat to Bath. 

George Wilkinson said before the Dartford match that the team are going to do all they can in the little time that there is to prepare for the Tuesday game. The midfielder said it is important that the players playing full 90 minutes look after themselves and that the team as a whole has to be on it.

Whilst St Albans’ record is looking very good of late, Dover’s home record hasn’t been too bad of late. Despite the loss to Dartford, the performance was promising and wins against Slough and Aveley have shown that Crabble isn’t always an easy place to go.

The Whites have lost seven of their last nine games, however, which is a worrying sign in itself, but not all of the defeats have been deserved. 

In the head-to-head between the two, Dover have edged it. The Whites have won three times, drawing twice and losing twice, which is a positive sign.

It’s sure to be a good game on Tuesday night, and Dover will be looking to bounce back after the loss to Dartford.

First team coach Mike Sandmann has said before the game:

A quick turnaround from the disappointment of Saturdays result, it’s important to not to dwell too much and make sure we learn from every match taking into the next.

We need to get back to be difficult to play against and make sure we are organised better throughout the pitch from set plays.

Mike Sandmann

Dover Athletic vs St Albans City, Tuesday 20 February 2024, 7.45pm.

Ticket Information:

Admission for this match is by turnstile only. We accept both card and cash on the gate.

Adults – £17

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult

We are also offering a five game ticket. These can only be used by one individual per match and not in groups.

Adult – £75 (£10 saving)
Concession – £65 (£10 saving)

Dover Athletic 1-2 Dartford

Match report by Fred Deveson

A milder afternoon saw Dover fall short once again, as they lostout to Billy Terrell and Dartford in a narrow 1-2 defeat.

The game kicked off was Dover kicking from left to right, and it was the hosts who dominated the start of the game, having plenty of the ball in the Dartford half.

George Nikaj was looking positive on the right for the hosts and had a penalty shout waved away in the early exchanges. The away side then broke away but they attack came to nothing.

The Whites were utilising the wide areas well and Baptiste found himself in some good space in the wide area, but his ball came to nothing, and Dartford survived again.

The visitors did make a comeback halfway through the first half. A close-range effort was saved by Jinadu after a well worked move by the away side. 

Dartford then picked up the ball around the edge of the area and fired a shot at Jinadu, who made a great diving save to his right to keep the score level.

The visitors kept the pressure up and Jinadu was called into action again, as were Mensah and Holding, who kept the away side at bay well for large parts of the first half.

The number 7 of Dartford had a shot that went just over, but that wasn’t it for the first half, as the visitors did eventually take the lead. George Wilkinson said pre-match that Dover had been working on set-pieces during the week, but that was exactly how Dartford went ahead. A corner came in from the visitors and the header away only fell to a purple shirt and he fired it past the goalkeeper to put the visitors in front.

The Whites started the first half much like they started first; on the front foot, and whatever the manager said at half time definitely had an impact.

Baptiste found some more space in the wide areas and delivered a great ball, only for Billy Terrell to stop it reaching Zidan Sutherland with a good save.

Another chance came soon after for The Whites as George Nikaj fires the ball across the face of goal, with no one there to meet it.

George Nikaj had some more joy down the right hand side, as another ball in from him fell to Wilkinson, who’s effort crashed off the bar. 

Substitutions started to come for Dover, as manager Jake Leberlbrought on Destiny Oladipo and Iffy Allen in a bid to get the equaliser. 

And shortly after bringing on Oladipo, it was the big number 7 who got the goal for Dover to level it up. Roman Charles-Cook made a good overlapping run into the box and delivered a perfect ball to Oladipo who squeezed it in from close range.

However, just eight minutes later, a corner came in from Dartford and Jacob Mensah was adjudged to have handballed and a penalty was given. 

The visitors converted the penalty, sending the travelling fans into delirium. 

That wasn’t it for Dover’s chances however, as a free-kick came in from the left by Wilkinson which was met by Nikaj, who headed it goalwards but it was somehow cleared off the line.

Dartford then survived the final few minutes to take all 3 points back home with them for the first time since Boxing Day.

Dover Athletic: Jinadu, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Holding, Naylor (Oladipo 69mins), Oyenuga, Wilkinson, Oliver, Baptiste (Allen 61mins), Nikaj, Sutherland. Subs not used: Ojemen, Young, Dembele.

Dartford: Terrell, Wynter, Smith (Maloney 86mins), Nembhard, Rooney (Adebowale 86mins), Romain, Coulson, Shomotun, Box (Wall 77mins), Clifford, Statham, Subs not used: Whitefield, Boulton.

Referee: Dan England.

Attendance: 794.

Up Next – Dover Athletic vs Dartford

Match Preview by Fred Deveson.

Dover are back at Crabble this weekend as they host Dartford, who are struggling towards the bottom end of the league. 

The visitors have a particularly poor record in their last five matches, losing every one of them, and only scoring two goals in that tricky period.

The away side are without a win since boxing day, when they came out on top away to Welling United, who are themselves fighting for survival. 

Dartford are not big scorers either, having only scored four goals this calender year, which is something Dover will be looking to exploit this weekend, as the Whites’ defence has largely improved despite letting in six last weekend at Worthing.

The away side have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven games and have been the first to concede in four of their last five, showing just how poor their record is of late.

The visitors have had a slightly busier schedule recently, with postponements making their schedule difficult. Dartford hosted Chippenham during the week; a game in which the visitors took a 0-1 win. 

As for Dover Athletic, their record has not been much better than Dartford’s lately but they did find their scoring boots last week at Worthing, scoring four times in a 6-4 defeat. 

The defence has somewhat weakened in the last two away fixtures, conceding nine in the last two, but at home it is a different story, with Dover keeping a clean sheet against Slough last time out at Crabble.

The two George’s at Dover have scored plenty for Dover in the past few games, with George Wilkinson getting two wonderful goals against Worthing, and George Nikaj netting the winner against Slough and the equaliser at Taunton. 

The Whites will be hoping that the pair can find their form once again against a leaky Dartford defence.

before the game Manager Jake Leberl has said:

We look to bounce back here today & get back to being a lot harder to beat than we have been in the two previous away games, where at home to date we have been, it’s our job to motivate the players & install the correct work ethic & temperament into the group to keep going to the last kick of the season which I feel we have just come away from in last two games, we need to build for whatever lay ahead what we can’t do or accept is down tools.

Jake Leberl

Dover Athletic vs Dartford – Saturday 17 February 2024, 3pm

Ticket Information:

Admission for this match is by turnstile only. We accept both card and cash on the gate.

Adults – £17

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult

We are also offering a five game ticket. These can only be used by one individual per match and not in groups.

Adult – £75 (£10 saving)
Concession – £65 (£10 saving)

Dartford – VIP Style

Fancy watching the Whites take on Dartford in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

  • Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
  • A three-course meal served at your table
  • Reserved undercover premium padded seating
  • Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus a dedicated paid bar before and after the match
  • Complimentary match day team sheet

The very special experience costs £28 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Starter 

Pate with Melba Toast and Salad Garnish

Main

Roast Beef, Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Vegetables served with Gravy

Dessert

Red Velvet Cheesecake with Cream

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your VIP ticket please email [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373

Club Statement: Kent Senior Cup

Dover Athletic are aware of the allegations bought forward around fielding an ineligible player in the Kent Senior Cup second round match on 6 February.

The Kent FA are yet to receive our response and thus no confirmation of expulsion from the competition has been made.

A further club statement on the outcome of this will be released in due course.

Worthing 6-4 Dover Athletic

Dover lose in goal-fest on the West Sussex coast with 4 goals from Dover Academy graduates.

The first 15 minutes saw early chances for either side with the Whites getting the first shot on goal. At the other end a scrappy goal mouth scramble from a Worthing corner was cleared off the line by Ojemen.

Not long after Worthing hit first after a turnover of possession in midfield resulted in a ball over our defence. Jinadu was caught outside of his box trying to claim the ball and was lobbed.

Just five minutes later Whites failed to clear a couple of corners and Worthing grabbed a second.

On the 32nd minute Nick Dembele had a chance through on goal and was taken out by the Worthing keeper just outside of the box. Jeffries was seriously injured in the challenge and was stretchered off after a 15 minute stoppage. We wish him all the best in his recovery.

Soon after the restart Worthing’s Ollie Pearce got his first of the game. George Wilkinson gave an instant reply for Dover with an incredible free kick from near the corner flag which went straight in at the keepers near post. 

A couple of minutes later Luke Baptiste is bought down inside the penalty box and neatly converts the resulting spot kick. At the eventual half time whistle Dover found themselves just one goal behind the opposition after a tough first 45 minutes.

A substitution at half time saw Peter Ojemen make way for Roman Charles-Cook in defence. 

Just 6 minutes into the second half Ollie Pearce struck for a second time and 10 minutes later got his third from the penalty spot. The prolific Worthing goalscorer then got a fourth in the 71st minute.

Wilkinson was able to grab his second of the game in the 77th minute before Archie Hatcher got our fourth goal in the 91st minute, heading into an empty after some great team play to work the ball up the pitch.

Whites host Dartford at Crabble next Saturday after our away trip to Truro on Tuesday was postponed.

Worthing: 13 JEFFRIES, 23 FELIX, 27 YOUNG, 2 COLBRAN, 15 LIVESEY-AUSTIN, 20 WADHAM, 8 KLASS, 28 CASHMAN, 22 FAGE, 17 WILLARD, 10 PEARCE

Subs: REES, WILLS, ROBINSON, O. STARKEY, CHADWICK

Dover Athletic: 1 JINADU, 4 OJEMEN, 16 MENSAH (C), 26 HOLDING, 15 NAYLOR, 25 OYENUGA, 14 WILKINSON, 8 OLIVER, 22 BAPTISTE, 10 NIKAJ, 20 DEMBELE 

Subs: 7 OLADIPO, 17 HATCHER, 18 YOUNG, 3 CHARLES-COOK, 9 SUTHERLAND 

Attendance: 1581

Up Next – Worthing vs Dover Athletic

Match Preview by Fred Deveson.

The Whites are on the road again this weekend as they are hosted by Worthing this weekend, in what is sure to be a great game.

The hosts for this weekend are having an excellent season and currently sit second in the table, behind high-flying Yeovil. 

Worthing have won seven of their last ten matches and are unbeaten in five, showing just how good of a side they are, and how good of a season they are having.

The home team have also scored 2 or more in 6 of their last 8 games, while Dover have conceded the first goal in five of their last six games, making this potentially a very tough visit.

The two sides have faced off three times in recent history, and Dover are winless in this head-to-head. The Whites have also failed to stop Worthing score on all occasions. 

Dover have solidified at the back lately and although they conceded three at Braintree, the defence has been largely solid. The clean sheet and win against Slough and 0-4 thrashing of lower league side Beckenham shows the defence is improving hugely. 

If Dover can find the opening goal on Saturday, they could get a surprise result.

The visitors’ away record this season has been largely poor. Dover are winless in all their away games since Slough on the second game of the season. 

The Whites will be hoping they can find their goalscoring once again this weekend at Worthing as it will no doubt be a tough game for Dover Athletic who are finding scoring a problem as of late.

Worthing vs Dover Athletic Saturday 10 February 3pm:

Home and away supporters will be segregated for our away match against Worthing on Saturday.

Worthing FC strongly advises supporters to purchase tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Gates open at 12pm.

Purchase here – tktp.as/EZDYCT

Adult £16.00

Concessions £12.00

13 – 16 Years £6.00

Adult + 1 Child (6 – 12 Years) £17.00

Adult + 2 Child (6 – 12 Years) £18.00

Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 Children Under 16) £36.00

Under 6 Years £0.00

Fixture Update: Truro City vs Dover Athletic

Due to a new ground sharing agreement between Truro and Taunton Town our away fixture next Tuesday, February 13, against Truro will not take place on this date. The game will be rescheduled to a date to be confirmed, later in the season and be played at Taunton’s Wordsworth Drive Stadium.