Tuesday 28th October 2025
Dover Athletic 0
Chelmsford City 1 (Clark 57’)

Enterprise National League South
Attendance: 774
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Venue: Megger Community Stadium

Dover Athletic’s poor run of form continued on a cold and restless night at Crabble as they fell to a 1–0 defeat against Chelmsford City, their ninth league match without a win.

There was early promise from the home side, with Nikaj’s pressing almost forcing an opening goal inside the first minute after a poor back pass, but the move ended in chaos as Sheriff clashed with visiting keeper Haigh. The Dover forward was unable to continue, replaced by Coker after just five minutes.

The disruption seemed to knock Dover’s rhythm, though the Whites did piece together some neat attacking play. Baptiste and Matthews combined well down the left, with the latter firing narrowly into the side netting on 22 minutes. Soon after, Matthews was brought down on the edge of the box, earning a dangerous free-kick, but his effort was deflected off the wall and out for a corner.

Chelmsford grew into the half, with Walker twice saving smartly, first from Taylor’s header after a Remy cross, then again from distance as the Clarets began to find gaps. The half-time whistle came with the game goalless, scrappy, and without much quality from either side.

The second half began with a warning for Dover as a lapse at the back allowed Taylor and Remy through on goal. Walker produced two superb stops to deny them, but the reprieve was short-lived. On 57 minutes, sloppy passing out from defence proved costly. Clark pounced on a loose ball, exchanged passes with Taylor, and arrived to sweep home from Lyle Taylor’s low cross.

Chasing the game, Dover struggled to create any sustained pressure. Passes went astray, frustration mounted, and Chelmsford’s midfield pairing of Odusanya and Kudiabor took control. Manager Jake Leberl made a flurry of changes: Mampolo for Baptiste, Wilkinson and Beadle for Matthews and Mensah, and later debutant Marjoram for Charles-Cook. The substitutions injected some energy, but not enough composure.

Mampolo hesitated when through on goal, Nikaj hit the side netting, and Beadle appeared to be bundled over in the box — appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee. As the clock ticked into the final minutes, Coker blazed over from a promising position, and Marjoram was booked late on as Dover’s frustration boiled over. The final whistle went after five added minutes and continued a winless run that started in early September.

With no weekend fixture, Dover now face a much-needed period of reflection before travelling to Horsham on Tuesday, knowing a response is vital against a fellow recently promoted side.

Dover Athletic:

1 Walker (C), 2 Charles-Cook, 4 Jones, 21 Mensah, 15 Sodje, 6 Cocoracchio, 18 Gurung, 7 Baptiste, 8 Matthews, 10 Nikaj, 11 Sheriff

Subs: 12 Sesay, 14 Coker, 22 Marjoram, 23 Beadle, 24 Wilkinson, 25 Mampolo, 26 Gillmore

Chelmsford City:

1 Haigh (GK), 2 Ronan, 3 Barbrook, 5 Grimwood, 6 Longe-King, 8 Odusanya (C), 12 Kudiabor, 15 Clark, 16 Tompkins, 18 Tamplin, 33 Taylor

Subs: 13 Eastwood (GK), 7 Castiglione, 11 Holmes, 14 Remy, 17 Corbett, 19 Appiah, 20 Adigun