Dover Athletic are back on the road on Tuesday evening as the Whites travel to Victoria Road to take on Dagenham & Redbridge in National League South. Jake Leberl’s side will be looking to respond following Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Maidenhead United, while the Daggers have made an impressive start to the campaign and sit second in the table after seven matches. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Tuesday night’s fixture.
Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic fell to a 3-0 defeat against Maidenhead United at the Megger Community Stadium, with the Whites playing much of the second half with ten men. The visitors started brightly and went close on 15 minutes when N’Guessan volleyed over from Coley’s corner. Dover gradually settled into the contest, but Maidenhead opened the scoring on 28 minutes as Clerima rose highest at the far post to head home from a corner. The Whites responded well and went close before the break when Williams’ deep cross was turned back across goal by Beadle, only for Sheriff to be denied by the visiting defence. Dover began the second half positively, but their task became harder on 54 minutes when Charles-Cook received a second yellow card for bringing down Coley on the counter. Williams fired over from distance before Maidenhead doubled their advantage on 64 minutes, Hall applying a faint touch to a ball across goal to guide it into the corner. Dover almost responded six minutes later when Williams headed against the crossbar, but Maidenhead added a third in stoppage time as Coley raced through and finished into the far corner.
From the Management
“We know it’s going to be a really difficult game. They’re a really difficult side to get at and we saw that last year when we went there and put in a really disappointing performance. We’re going to need to be a hell of a lot better than we were there last year, and a hell of a lot better than we were today, if we’re going to get anything out of it.”
Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge were held to a 1-1 draw away at Horsham after recovering from an early setback. The hosts took the lead after 10 minutes when a low cross found Reece Meekums, who finished neatly into the bottom corner. The Daggers responded well, with Andy Carroll heading just over before Dieng missed a good opportunity from the edge of the box. Their pressure eventually paid off on the half-hour mark. Charles Clayden’s cross caused confusion in the Horsham defence, with Sparks turning the ball into his own net to level the scores before the interval. The second half remained tight, although Dagenham created the better openings. Carroll fired wide after meeting a crossfield pass, before Clayden struck the side netting with ten minutes remaining. The best chance to win the game then fell to Carroll. The striker latched onto a long ball and rounded the goalkeeper, but was unable to convert into the empty net. Horsham manager Dom Di Paola was sent off late on for delaying a restart, but there was no further breakthrough as the points were shared.
Dagenham & Redbridge have made an impressive start to the new National League South campaign, sitting second after seven matches with five wins, one draw and just one defeat. Their 16-point return has underlined the early optimism surrounding a club determined to respond after a disappointing 13th-place finish last season. The summer brought significant change at Victoria Road, with Lee Allinson overseeing a major rebuild and bringing in a younger, more energetic squad. Nathan Ashmore added experience in goal, while the likes of Liam Vincent, Harry Beautyman, Charles Clayden and Antony Papadopoulos have strengthened a side expected to challenge near the top. Allinson’s team have so far combined a strong defensive record with enough attacking quality to grind out results, conceding only five times in their opening seven fixtures. Their latest outing ended in a 1-1 draw at Horsham, where they recovered from an early setback through an own goal forced by Clayden’s delivery. After several seasons of underachievement, expectations are understandably high. The Daggers were widely tipped to be among the promotion contenders before a ball was kicked, and their early form suggests those predictions were well founded. Dover therefore face one of the division’s strongest early-season performers on Tuesday night.
Last Time
Last time the sides met, Dover Athletic were beaten 2-0 by Dagenham & Redbridge at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, with two second-half goals settling a competitive contest. There was little between the sides during the opening 45 minutes. Dagenham went close when Haigh cut inside and struck the crossbar, while Walker was also called into action to deny Stephenson. Dover created chances of their own, with Nikaj trying his luck from distance before Sheriff saw a powerful header tipped over. Nikaj then came close to breaking the deadlock when he met a cross unmarked inside the area, only for Howes to produce an acrobatic save. The hosts applied more pressure after the break and took the lead shortly after the hour. Young delivered a pinpoint cross from the flank, allowing Stephenson to rise and power a header beyond Walker. Dover made changes in search of a response, but Dagenham continued to threaten. Walker produced an excellent save to deny Haigh from a free kick, while Beadle made a crucial block on the line. The hosts sealed the points six minutes from time when Leech pulled the ball back for Harrack to sweep a first-time finish into the top corner.
The Venue
Victoria Road Stadium
Victoria Road, Dagenham
RM10 7XL
Admission
Adults: £20
Concessions: £15
15–21: £12
10–14: £8
U10: £1