Dover Athletic defender Joe Tennent catches up with Justin Allen to discuss his return to the club. Joe speaks about the frustrating injury he picked up, his month on loan at Whitehawk and returning with the sole aim on helping the team reignite their promotion bid. Also the Whites ace speaks about his day job – working as a football coach, including for Premier League giants Chelsea.
The Whites are looking for a Senior Ball Person to join our matchday team.
We are seeking a dedicated volunteer aged 14 and over to assist in retrieving match balls during home games. As a Senior Ball Person, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of play by quickly recovering balls that leave the pitch, whether they’ve gone down the slope or behind the stands, and returning them promptly to the dugout area.
This is a great opportunity to be part of the matchday action, gaining experience in a fast-paced sporting environment while supporting your local club. This is a volunteer role but you will be provided with a Club tracksuit, free entry to matches and a complimentary meal and drink.
Volunteers are a vital part of Dover Athletic, and we truly appreciate the time and dedication given to helping the club operate smoothly on matchdays.
If you’re interested in joining the team, please get in touch with [email protected].
Dover head to Canvey Island in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Dover Athletic
On Tuesday night, Dover Athletic’s Kent Senior Cup run ended in heartbreak as they lost to Welling United on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The match began at a high tempo with early chances for both sides. Dover threatened from the fourth minute and created a significant opportunity in the 29th minute before Eniye Amgbaduba’s rebound goal gave them a 1-0 lead. Welling equalised in stoppage time from a wide free kick, sending the match to penalties. In the shootout, missed spot-kicks and key saves decided the contest, with Dover’s Jacob Mensah failing to convert. Disappointed, Dover now refocus on their league campaign.
In the reverse fixture Dover Athletic secured a 3-2 victory over Canvey Island at the Megger Community Stadium. In front of 911 fans, controversy sparked early when a long-range effort by Elliott Ronto hit the crossbar and was awarded as a goal after offside confusion. Dover responded, and just before half-time, Ruben Soares-Junior capitalised on a pass from George Nikaj to equalise. In the second half, Ronto restored Canvey’s lead from a free-kick, but Alfie Matthews then scored, followed by a decisive finish from Nikaj to clinch the vital win.
Canvey Island
Whitehawk secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Canvey Island in the Isthmian League Premier Division at The Enclosed Ground on Saturday. The home side struck early as young Gillingham loanee Harry Bridle opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Whitehawk doubled their lead just before half-time when Emmanuel Mensah found the net in stoppage time, taking the score to 2-0 at the break. In the second half, Bridle further impressed by scoring twice more, netting in the 49th and 54th minutes to seal the win and his hat trick.
Canvey Island sits in 18th place in the Isthmian Premier League with 34 points from 31 matches. Their season has been challenging, with 11 wins, 1 draw, and 19 losses. At home, they have managed 5 wins from 16 matches, while their away form has been slightly worse, securing just 6 wins from 15 games. They have scored 39 goals but conceded 54, leaving them with a goal difference of -15.
Last 6
22/02 – Whitehawk (A) – Lost 0-4
18/02 – Chelmsford City (H) – Won 0 (3) – 0 (2) on penalties (Essex Senior Cup Semi-final)
15/02 – Bognor Regis Town (H) – Lost 0-4
08/02 – Carshalton Athletic (A) – Lost 1-2
04/02 – Bowers & Pitsea (H) – Won 2-0
01/02 – Chatham Town (H) – Won 1-0
The Venue
The Steves Taxis Stadium, Park Lane, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 7PX
More information: https://www.canveyislandfc.com/information
Admission
£12.00 Adults
£8.00 Concessions (over-60’s, students with valid ID)
£3.00 U16’s (must be accompanied by an adult)
DOVER defender Tamas Amgbaduba has enjoyed starting the last two games – despite the results.
Amgbaduba started the 2-0 loss to Whitehawk at Crabble in the league on Saturday before again appearing in Tuesday’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final heartache at Welling.
The Whites player talks to Justin Allen on DAFCtv about his season so far in East Kent, growing up with his brother and now team-mate Eniye and how he recently appeared in an adidas advert with Jude Bellingham and Pedro.
Also he is eyeing a dream brotherly ending to the season.
Dover Athletic welcome Chatham to The Megger Community Stadium.
Dover Athletic
On Saturday, Dover Athletic fell to their third straight defeat, losing 2-0 to Whitehawk at the Megger Community Stadium. Harry Bridle capitalised on an early defensive lapse to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Despite dominating possession, Dover struggled to break down a resilient Whitehawk defence. George Nikaj and Ruben Soares-Junior linked up well, but goalkeeper Joseph Osaghae kept Dover at bay. As the hosts pushed for an equaliser, Whitehawk sealed the win in stoppage time through Billie Clark’s breakaway goal.
In our previous encounter with Chatham this season Dover played to a 1-1 draw in a competitive Isthmian League Premier Division clash at The Bauvill Stadium, watched by 1,903 fans. Chatham dominated early possession but couldn’t break Dover’s defence, with the first half ending goalless. Jack Evans gave Chatham the lead in the 51st minute with a curling strike, but Dover responded swiftly as George Nikaj equalised in the 64th. Both sides pushed for a winner, but resolute defending and key saves ensured the points were shared.
From the Manager
“Overall, we’re pleased with the performance against Welling and we have to take that into Saturday. Last Saturday wasn’t good enough. Things have gone against us in recent weeks, but Saturday, nothing went against us – we just weren’t good enough and we have to take full responsibility. Us as management team take full responsibility for that. We want to repay the fans support and make sure that we put on a performance that gets the supporters excited again. 11 games to go so it’s really important that the supporters continue to get behind us and hopefully we get back to winning ways.”
Chatham
On Saturday, Chatham Town battled to a 1-1 draw against Horsham, after falling behind in the first half. Horsham took the lead in the 38th minute when Harvey Sparks’ free kick curled directly into the net. Chatham responded just after halftime as Jamie Yila’s driven cross caused chaos, with Kareem Isiaka credited for the equaliser. The Chats dominated for a spell, with Yila creating chances, but a breakthrough remained elusive. Debutant goalkeeper Henry Molyneux impressed, while Jordy Robins dictated midfield. A frantic finish saw Chatham push for a winner, but both sides settled for a hard-fought point.
Chatham Town sits in 13th place in the Isthmian Premier League with 39 points from 30 matches. Their season has been a mixed bag, recording 10 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses. At home, they have managed 5 wins from 15 matches, while their away form is identical, with 5 wins from 15 games. They have scored 40 goals but conceded 35, giving them a goal difference of +5.
Last 6
15/02 – Horsham (A) – Drew 1-1
08/02 – Cray Wanderers (H) – Lost 1-4
01/02 – Canvey Island (A) – Lost 0-1
28/01 – Hashtag United (A) – Won 3-2 (Alan Turvey Trophy)
19/01 – Potters Bar Town (A) – Lost 0-1
11/01 – Wingate & Finchley (H) – Won 3-1
The Venue
We look forward to welcoming Chatham to the Megger Community Stadium. More information on getting to the ground can be found here: https://doverathletic.com/visit-crabble/
Megger Community Stadium. Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB.
Admission
Adults: £15
Concessions: £14
U18: £9
U11: FREE with a paying adult
We now only accept card on the gate and operate a cashless ground.
Dover Athletic’s Kent Senior Cup journey came to an agonizing end as they fell to Welling United on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
The game began at a high tempo, with Dover immediately threatening through Kweku Lucan in the 4th minute, only for the Welling goalkeeper to rush off his line and clear the danger. The early stages were evenly contested, with neither side managing to take control.
Dover created the first real chance of the game in the 29th minute when Matthews fired a powerful shot from range, forcing the Welling keeper to parry the ball wide. Just four minutes later, the Whites got their reward.
A moment of persistence from Eniye Amgbaduba broke the deadlock. The forward pressed aggressively as the Welling goalkeeper attempted to deal with a pass back, and his clearance ricocheted off Amgbaduba and rolled into the net, giving Dover a 1-0 lead.
Dover grew in confidence after the opener, and Mampolo came close in the 36th minute, firing just over from the edge of the box. The visitors saw out the remainder of the half comfortably, heading into the break deservedly ahead.
Welling responded with a half-time substitution and started the second period with intensity, forcing Dover onto the back foot. The home side carved out a couple of half-chances early on, but the Dover defense remained resolute, blocking multiple attempts.
Dover had a golden opportunity on the counter in the 57th minute, but the Welling keeper produced a crucial save. The visitors thought they had doubled their lead moments later when the ball found the back of the net following a corner, but the referee disallowed it for a foul on the goalkeeper.
As Welling pushed for an equaliser, Dover continued to defend well while looking dangerous on the break. A well-worked delivery into the box in the 71st minute almost led to a second goal, but no one could apply the finishing touch.
Goalkeeper Claudio Boakye-Sarfo was called into action in the 75th minute, making a fantastic save to tip a Welling header over the bar. Dover made a series of late substitutions to shore up their defense as Welling continued to push forward in the closing stages.
Despite Dover’s defensive resilience, Welling found their breakthrough deep into stoppage time after the referee had indicated seven minutes to be added on. With ten minutes of added time played, the hosts finally breached the Dover backline after a wide free kick to level the game at 1-1, sending the tie to penalties.
The shootout began with both sides missing their first spot-kicks. Boakye-Sarfo managed to get a hand to a couple of Welling’s penalties, but Dover’s Jacob Mensah missed a crucial attempt rattling the bar, allowing the hosts to clinch a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
A frustrating end for Dover, who were moments away from progressing to a deserved final but ultimately fell to a late equaliser and the lottery of penalties. They will now shift focus back to league action, as they prepare to host Chatham Town on Saturday.
Welling United: Lovett, Statham, Quick, Burchell, Di Trolio, H Walker, Cornish (Ballard-McBride 72), Kelly (Kennedy 46), Kamara (Redfearn 53), Z Walker (Grant 63), Taylor-Crossdale.
Subs (not used): Poole.
Booked: Ballard-McBride 90+8 (foul)
Goal: Di Trolio 90+11
Dover Athletic: Boakye-Sarfo, T Amgbaduba, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Gyebi, Matthews, Lucan (McCarthy 90+10), Wilkinson, E Amgbaduba (Soares-Junior70), Mampolo (Onu 90+7), Fiddes (Tennent 89).
Subs (not used): Gillmore.
Booked: Gyebi 64 (foul on H Walker), Wilkinson 82 (foul), Matthews 90 (foul), Boakye-Sarfo 90+3 (time wasting)
Goal: T Amgbaduba 34
Referee: Michael Butcher
Att: 298
Fancy watching the Whites take on Chatham 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:
The very special experience costs £29.95 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 served with Melba Toast and Salad Garnish
Main:
Cottage Pie served with Vegetables and Gravy
Dessert:
Apple Tart served with Ice 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
Dover head to Welling in the Semi Final of the Kent Senior Cup
Dover Athletic
On Saturday, Dover Athletic fell to their third straight defeat, losing 2-0 to Whitehawk at the Megger Community Stadium. Harry Bridle capitalised on an early defensive lapse to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Despite dominating possession, Dover struggled to break down a resilient Whitehawk defence. George Nikaj and Ruben Soares-Junior linked up well, but goalkeeper Joseph Osaghae kept Dover at bay. As the hosts pushed for an equaliser, Whitehawk sealed the win in stoppage time through Billie Clark’s breakaway goal.
In the Quarter Final, Dover Athletic advanced with a composed 2-0 win over Deal Town at The Megger Community Stadium. Ruben Soares-Junior opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a precise finish, while George Nikaj sealed the victory in the 63rd after a smart assist from Soares-Junior. Deal pressed but struggled to break down Dover’s defence, with goalkeeper Claudio Boakye-Sarfo making key saves.
From the Manager
“We want to do well in every game, every game we play in. We’ll probably give a few of the other boys an opportunity that haven’t been playing in this match. But we’ll have a think over that at the weekend and see where we’ll go.”
Welling United
Our hosts Welling United fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against National League South leaders Dorking Wanderers at Park View Road, despite a spirited performance. The visitors struck in the seventh minute as Josh Taylor turned and found the top corner. Welling responded well, with Harvey Walker testing the keeper and Gene Kennedy rattling the crossbar. Just before halftime, TJ Bramble squandered a golden chance to equalise. The second half saw few opportunities, as both teams battled in midfield. Ultimately, Welling couldn’t break through.
Welling United advanced to the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals with a thrilling 4-3 win over Phoenix Sports. The Wings dominated early, with Josh Redfearn scoring in the seventh minute before TJ Bramble volleyed in for 2-0. Phoenix roared back after halftime, equalising with two quick goals—one from a penalty after Bramble’s red card. Welling regained control with two penalties converted by Elliot Long. A stunning strike from Harvey Browne set up a tense finale, but Welling held on.
Welling United sits in 21st place in the National League South with 31 points from 33 matches. Their season has been challenging, securing 9 wins, 4 draws, and suffering 20 defeats. At home, they have managed 6 wins from 17 matches, while their away form has been weaker, with just 3 wins from 16 games. They have scored 35 goals but conceded 60, leaving them with a goal difference of -25.
Last 6
15/02 – Dorking Wanderers (H) – Lost 0-1
11/02 – Enfield (A) – Lost 0-2
08/02 – St Albans City (H) – Drew 1-1
01/02 – Weymouth (A) – Lost 1-5
25/01 – Weston-super-Mare (A) – Won 4-1
18/01 – Boreham Wood (H) – Lost 0-1
The Venue
Park View Road, Welling, Kent, DA16 1SY
More information: https://wellingunited.com/club/stadium/
Admission
Adult (18+) – £10.00
Concession – £5.00
15 years and under – £0.00
Tickets can be purchased online: https://wellingunited.com/matches/2024-25/18650/welling-utd-vs-dover/
Dover Athletic suffered their third consecutive defeat as they fell 2-0 to Whitehawk at the Megger Community Stadium. A goal in each half saw the visitors leave with all three points, with Harry Bridle capitalising on an early defensive lapse before Billie Clark sealed the win in stoppage time.
The hosts started brightly, showing early intent when Ruben Soares-Junior delivered a cross in the second minute, though no one was able to meet it. Dover continued to press, with George Nikaj and Soares-Junior linking up well in the opening exchanges. However, Whitehawk struck first in the eighth minute after a defensive error gifted Bridle a chance, and he made no mistake in slotting the ball past Jordan Gillmore.
Dover attempted an immediate response, with a trademark long throw from Tamas Amgbaduba causing some trouble in the Whitehawk box, but the visitors’ defence held firm. The home side struggled to create clear-cut chances despite enjoying good spells of possession.
The best opportunity of the half for Dover came in the 21st minute when Nikaj floated a ball in for Soares-Junior, whose header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Whitehawk goalkeeper Joseph Osaghae.
Tempers flared on the touchline, with Dover’s assistant manager Mike Sandmann receiving a yellow card in the 15th minute. Meanwhile, the visitors pushed for a second goal, forcing Gillmore into a series of superb saves in the latter stages of the half to keep the deficit to just one goal at the break.
Dover came out with renewed purpose after halftime, pinning Whitehawk back in their own half. Despite dominating possession, the Whites struggled to break down a resolute defence.
A promising spell saw Dover get their first shot on target of the second half in the 57th minute, but Osaghae was equal to it once again. As the game wore on, Whitehawk focused on frustrating their hosts, absorbing pressure and making frequent stoppages, which disrupted Dover’s attacking flow.
As the clock ticked down, Dover intensified their efforts, launching wave after wave of attacks. However, the final product remained elusive. The closest they came to an equaliser was in the 89th minute when Soares-Junior’s effort inside the box was well saved by Osaghae.
With eight minutes of added time, Dover pushed men forward in search of a late leveller, but they were caught on the break in the 94th minute. Whitehawk substitute Billie Clark broke free and finished clinically to secure the victory, sparking celebrations among the small traveling support.
Dover Athletic:
27 Jordan Gillmore, 5 Joe Tennent, 3 Fuad Sesay, 6 Luca Cocoracchio, 7 Luke Baptiste, 15 Tamas Amgbaduba, 10 George Nikaj, 14 Ruben Soares-Junior (C), 23 George Wilkinson, 16 Harrison Pont, 26 Jacob Mensah SUBS: 25 Charlie Naylor, 9 Eniye Amgbaduba, 2 Roman Charles-Cook, 28 Kweku-Conrad Lucan, 24 Francis Mampolo
Whitehawk:
1 Joseph Osaghae, 2 Stefan Wright, 3 Will Seager, 4 Andrew Briggs, 5 Geofrey Okonkwo, 19 Jamie Watson, 7 Emmanuel Mensah, 9 Harry Bridle, 8 Rob O’Toole, 10 Charlie Walker (C), 11 Imran Kayani SUBS: 14 Luke Cook, 12 Charlie Lambert, 15 Josh Nandhra, 16 Billie Clark, 17 Eugene Asike
Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 645
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: George Lynch
MITCH WALKER says it is time to remain calm as Dover Athletic start to move into the business end of the season.
The Whites keeper, speaking to Justin Allen on DAFCtv, is out of action until mid-April at the earliest.
But he will be part of Jake Leberl’s backroom team as the players prepare for the remaining games.
The team’s form has dropped recently but Mitch insists that for this team to even be in the promotion argument is a great achievement.
He said: “It’s time to remain calm. The fans have had tough times in recent years and I understand why some have showed concern about recent results.
“But we must remember this is a young team and they are still learning.
“The expectation was to be mid-table this season so to be in the play-off places is a great achievement. There’s no need for panic. There’s a lot of football still to be played and I’m confident we’ll be up there.”
