Enterprise National League South
Saturday 4 October 2025 – Longmead Stadium
Attendance: 1,250
Dover Athletic fell to defeat in the Kent Derby at Longmead Stadium despite taking a first-half lead through Jalen Jones. After a strong opening period, the Whites were undone by two quick-fire goals from Tonbridge Angels early in the second half and could not find a way back into the game.
Both sides began brightly, with Tonbridge’s Babajide sending the first real effort over the bar on eight minutes, before Nikaj responded for Dover with a shot that drifted wide. The hosts began to settle into possession, but Dover’s backline looked comfortable in the early exchanges.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute. Good build-up play around the box saw Sesay deliver an inviting cross from the left, which fell perfectly to Jones, who rifled his strike into the roof of the net to give Dover the lead. Beadle’s long throws continued to cause problems for the Tonbridge defence, while Jones was called on at the other end to make a vital last-ditch tackle.
Just before the break, Soares-Junior tested Adams in the Tonbridge goal with a weaving run and strike, but the keeper parried to safety. Dover went in at half-time a goal to the good.
The second half, however, belonged to the Angels. Within three minutes of the restart, they were level. Akehurst’s drive was parried by Walker, but skipper Wagstaff reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and restore parity.
Moments later, Tonbridge struck again. A flowing move involving Sablier and Simon ended with Akehurst’s low cross turned in at the far post by Peart for 2–1.
From there, Dover struggled to regain their grip on the game. Tonbridge dominated possession and forced the visitors deep into their own half, with one effort even cleared off the line on 70 minutes.
Boss Leberl turned to his bench, introducing Mampolo, Sodje, Wilkinson, Coker, and Sheriff in search of fresh impetus. Baptiste tried an ambitious overhead kick that sailed over, but chances were scarce as Tonbridge held firm. Sodje picked up a late yellow card, and despite five minutes of added time, Dover could not fashion a clear opening to equalise.
A frustrating afternoon for Dover, who were unable to build on their first-half lead and saw their run of draws end in defeat. Attention now turns to next weekend’s home clash against Horsham at the Megger Community Stadium.
Tonbridge Angels:
1 Adams, 2 Williams, 4 Wagstaff, 5 German, 6 Penney, 8 Higgs, 9 Simon, 10 Sablier, 11 Babajide, 18 Bakrin, 27 Akehurst
Subs:
7 Pierrick, 13 Foley, 14 Taylor-Crossdale, 16 Mundele, 17 Unwin, 20 Matton, 21 Peart
Dover Athletic:
1 Walker (C), 2 Charles-Cook, 3 Sesay, 4 Jones, 6 Cocoracchio, 7 Baptiste, 8 Matthews, 10 Nikaj, 14 Soares-Junior, 16 Beadle, 24 Mensah
Subs:
Wilkinson, Coker, Sodje, Lukombo, Gillmore, Mampolo, Sheriff