Margate 0-1 Dover Athletic
Pre-Season Friendly
Hartsdown Park
Saturday 4 July 2026
Dover Athletic began their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win over Margate at Hartsdown Park, as Rolando Onu’s first-half header proved enough to settle the Whites’ opening summer test.
On a warm afternoon up the Kent coast, Jake Leberl’s side were given their first run-out of the 2026/27 campaign, with a mixture of senior players, new signings, academy lads and trialists all getting valuable minutes.
The opening stages were scrappy, with neither side able to take control in the first quarter of an hour. The ball struggled to settle and clear chances were at a premium as both teams looked to find their rhythm after the summer break.
Dover, however, struck with their first real moment of quality. Decarrey Sheriff delivered a deep cross from the right-hand side which drifted over the Margate goalkeeper and towards the back post, where Onu was waiting to head the ball over the line and give the Whites a 1-0 lead.
The goal sparked Dover into life and they quickly began to take command of the contest. Nazir Bakrin went close almost immediately after the opener, heading just wide from a corner, before Onu again threatened from another set-piece as Dover continued to dominate in the air.
Bakrin also made his presence felt at the other end, producing a crunching challenge to halt a Margate counter-attack as the hosts looked to respond.
The Whites continued to look the more dangerous side as the half progressed. Onu saw an effort blocked in the goalmouth after another Dover attack, while Luke Baptiste almost produced a spectacular second when he attempted to lob the Margate goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
Sheriff was heavily involved during a strong spell before half-time. First, he forced the Margate keeper into a sharp save with a stinging strike, before seeing a volley inside the box kept out moments later as Dover pushed to extend their lead.
Margate’s best opportunity of the half arrived just before the break, but the hosts scuffed an effort wide as Dover went in at half-time deservedly ahead.
Leberl made changes for the second half, with another group of players given the opportunity to build minutes. The tempo of the game dipped after the restart, with the warm conditions contributing to a slower second period.
A Dover trialist showed a good burst through midfield early in the half but was unable to release the final ball, while new signing Kola Salami caught the eye with a lively cameo, driving into the area and looking to make things happen in the final third.
With the sun beating down at Hartsdown Park, the referee called for a hydration break midway through the half, and the game became more stretched as both sides made changes and tired legs began to show.
John Oyenuga delivered a dangerous cross as Dover searched for a second, while Margate threatened briefly on the counter late on, only for the move to end with a tame shot that failed to seriously trouble Mitch Walker.
There was also a late opportunity for two young academy players to gain experience, replacing Walker and Bivesh Gurung in the closing stages.
In the end, Dover saw the game out comfortably to begin pre-season with a clean sheet and a win.
The Whites are back in action next Saturday, when Cray Wanderers visit Crabble for Dover’s first home pre-season fixture of the summer.
First half squad:
Mitch Walker, Roman Charles-Cook, Nazir Bakrin, Trialist A, Trialist B, Harry Beadle, Bivesh Gurung, George Wilkinson, Decarrey Sheriff, Rolando Onu, Luke Baptiste.
Second half squad:
Mitch Walker, John Oyenuga, Trialist C, Jalen Jones, Enyinnaya Ezenwanne, Trialist D, Bivesh Gurung, Trialist E, Trialist F, Kola Salami, Luke Baptiste.