Dover Athletic 4–1 Enfield Town
National League South
Crabble Athletic Ground
Attendance: 862
Dover Athletic ended their long wait for a league victory in emphatic fashion, coming from behind to defeat nine-man Enfield Town at Crabble. Three goals in an 11-minute second-half surge turned the match on its head before returning forward Ruben Soares-Junior sealed the win deep into stoppage time.
The afternoon had not begun comfortably. After Dover had struck the crossbar early through Alfie Matthews and missed a clear chance from close range via Jalen Jones, Enfield took the lead on 15 minutes. A loose challenge in midfield allowed the visitors to break, and Billy Leonard drove a low strike beyond Mitch Walker to put the visitors ahead.
But Enfield’s advantage was complicated almost immediately. Rolando Onu raced onto a ball behind the defence, and captain Adam Thompson hauled him down as he prepared to finish. The referee produced a red card, leaving the visitors with ten men for over an hour. Matthews struck the resulting free-kick straight at goalkeeper Rhys Forster, and though Dover controlled possession for long spells afterwards, they lacked precision in the final third before the interval. Walker also had to be alert to tip away a close-range header, ensuring Enfield reached the break a goal up.
Dover introduced Francis Mampolo for the second half, and the tempo lifted. The Whites forced Enfield back, probing through combinations in wide areas and looking for Matthews between the lines. Forster denied Mampolo’s low drive, while a volley from George Nikaj brushed past the far post.
The pressure finally told in the 69th minute. The ball broke kindly to Harrison Sodje 20 yards from goal, and the left-back drove a precise, low finish inside the far post to level the match and claim his first goal for the club.
From there, the momentum was only moving one way. Enfield’s resistance collapsed further five minutes later when substitute Donaldson pulled Jones down in the area from a long throw. The referee produced a second red card and pointed to the spot. Matthews stepped up and, though Forster guessed correctly, found the corner to give Dover the lead.
Moments later, Matthews struck again – and this time in spectacular fashion. The midfielder collected the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a rising drive that flew beyond Forster and into the net, sparking a release of relief and celebration around Crabble.
Dover controlled the final minutes with composure, spreading play and drawing the sting from what had been a tight and tense contest. Leonard sent one dangerous cross across the face of goal for the visitors, but with the clock deep into added time, Dover added a fourth. Mampolo threaded a clever pass through the middle and Soares-Junior, back from injury, finished calmly to mark his return in perfect fashion.
Dover now turn their attention to next weekend’s FA Trophy second-round tie at home to Dorchester Town.
Dover Athletic: Walker; Charles-Cook (Marjoram 82), Jones, Mensah (Soares-Junior 69), Sodje; Cocoracchio (Beadle 69), Odelusi, Baptiste (Mampolo 46); Matthews, Nikaj, Onu (Coker 79).
Subs not used: Gillmore, Gurung.
Enfield Town: Forster; Adom-Malaki, Bullas (Brown 84), Benjamin (Ackason 89), Hawkins; Knight (Jones 26), Leonard, Davis (Donaldson 73), Gallimore, Dillon (Wood 84), Thompson.
Subs not used: Connolly, Reynolds.
Referee: Tolu Sangowawa.