Watch it here: https://youtu.be/poUZrKMEnUQ

Whites defender Fuad Sesay talks to Justin Allen about being back at Crabble, celebrating his 21st birthday with his team-mates and the change in environment under boss Jake Leberl.

Dover Athletic stormed to an emphatic 5-1 victory over Dartford in front of 1,018 fans at The Megger Community Stadium, as they moved to second place in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

From the first whistle, Dover looked sharp, with early chances from Luke Baptiste and Ruben Soares-Junior giving a taste of what was to come. Dartford’s defence, which had only conceded three goals in the league before this match, looked shaky from the outset, and it wasn’t long before the cracks showed.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when a goalkeeping blunder by Dartford’s Matt Kerbey gifted Soares-Junior the opening goal. Kerbey spilled a cross, and Soares-Junior, quick to react, tapped home from close range to give Dover a 1-0 lead.

Just two minutes later, Dover capitalised on another defensive error from Dartford, with George Wilkinson doubling the lead. Matthews, after winning the ball in midfield, combined well with Soares-Junior who passed to Wilkinson before slotting the ball into the net.

Dover’s pressure was relentless, and in the 43rd minute, a poorly handled free kick by Kerbey led to Baptiste poking in the rebound, making it 3-0 just before half-time.

The second half saw more of the same from Dover. In the 50th minute, Alfie Matthews added a fourth goal with a brilliantly struck free kick that left Kerbey with no chance. Dartford’s afternoon went from bad to worse despite a consolation goal from Jeremiah Pinder in the 56th minute, as Dover continued to dominate proceedings.

Ruben Soares-Junior completed the rout with his second of the game in the 82nd minute, neatly finishing after a well-placed cross from Baptiste.

Despite making several substitutions, Dartford struggled to gain any foothold in the match. Dover, on the other hand, maintained control even as manager Jake Leberl rotated his squad late on. The introduction of players like Henry Young, Tamas Amgbaduba, and Lindell Stewart kept the pressure on Dartford, ensuring there would be no comeback.

This comprehensive win not only boosts Dover’s position in the league but also marks their first competitive victory over a Kent rival since January 2020. Dover’s attacking prowess was on full display as they took their tally to 24 goals in just six league games.

Dover Athletic – 5

Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (25′)
George WILKINSON (27′)
Luke BAPTISTE  (43′)
Alfie MATTHEWS (50′)
Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (82′)

Dartford – 1

Jeremiah Pinder (56′)

Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 1,018
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Peter Conn
Venue: Megger Community Stadium

Dover: Walker, Charles-Cook, Sesay, Tennent, Cocoracchio, Baptiste (Stewart 83mins), Matthews (Young 67mins), Nijaj (Amgbaduba 76mins), Soares-Junior (Silcott-Brown 85mins), Pont (Gyebi 90mins), Wilkinson.

Dartford: Kerbey, Odaudu, Hill, Dsane, Jones, Olopade (Carruthers 79mins), Box, Pinder, Okoye, Williams, Christian-Law (Allen 59mins). Subs not used: Marsden, Whitefield, Apat.

Dover are back at the Megger Community Stadium once again for another big Kent Derby against Dartford. After a disappointing FA Cup exit in midweek, The Whites turn their attention back to the Isthmian Premier Division campaign.

Dover Athletic

On Tuesday, Dover hosted Kent rivals Sittingbourne in an FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay at Crabble. Sittingbourne dominated early, quickly taking the lead with a header that looped over Walker. Dover struggled in the first half, only coming close when Soares-Junior hit the post. In the second half, Matthews tried to inspire a comeback with several chances, including a long-range shot that hit the bar. Manager Jake Leberl’s substitutions injected energy, but Dover couldn’t find a breakthrough. Despite late pressure and a penalty shout, Dover’s FA Cup run ended as Sittingbourne held on to progress to the next round.

Kieron Agbebi (foot) remains unavailable with injury.

From the Manager

“The boys have given a hell of a lot, there’s a lot of tired boys, we have a few niggles as well, so we’re seeing where we are at training on Thursday. We’ve got to get over disappointments, never too high, never too low. We’ve started off incredibly well in the league and this is the first real big disappointment. On Tuesday, for the first time, for the first game, I actually didn’t see us scoring and we have scored in every game so far, and that happens. Like I say, it’s how we react to that, how the boys react to that. We’ve got to dust ourselves down and regroup and go again.”

Dartford

Dartford FC, who came down to the Isthmian Premier Division with us, have had a strong start to their season, winning four of their first five league matches. They secured away victories against Cray Valley (2-1) and Carshalton Athletic (1-0), and home wins over Canvey Island (2-0) and Chatham Town (3-1). Their only setback came in a 0-1 home loss to Potters Bar Town.

Last Saturday, Dartford cruised to a dominant 6-2 victory over Marlow in the FA Cup at Princes Park. The match began with Dartford asserting control early on, and despite Marlow’s brief resistance, Eddie Dsane opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with a clinical finish. Olly Box added a second just before halftime, putting Dartford firmly in control.

After the break, Dartford quickly extended their lead, with Box scoring again in the 49th minute. Although Marlow pulled one back through a penalty by Kareem Akinnibi, Dartford responded with three more goals, including a brace from Ben Allen and a late strike from Callum Jones. Dartford’s comprehensive performance secured their place in the next round.

Head to Head

17 Feb 2024 Dover 1-2 Dartford
28 Aug 2023 Dartford 2-0 Dover
10 Apr 2023 Dartford 2-1 Dover
13 Sep 2022 Dover 1-3 Dartford
13 Dec 2016 Dover 1-2 Dartford
10 Dec 2016 Dartford 1-1 Dover
17 Jan 2015 Dover 6-1 Dartford
16 Sep 2014 Dartford 2-1 Dover

Kit

Dover Athletic will line up in our white and black home kit, with our goalkeeper in pink. Dartford play in all blue.

The Venue

We look forward to welcoming Dartford to the Megger Community Stadium. More information on getting to the ground can be found here: https://doverathletic.com/visit-crabble/

Megger Community Stadium. Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB.

Admission  

Adults: £15
Concessions: £14
U18: £9
U11: FREE with a paying adult

We now only accept card on the gate and operate a cashless ground.

Watch it here – https://youtu.be/KeBfYEulD1U

Dover keeper and captain Mitch Walker speaks with Justin Allen about the disappointing FA Cup performance against Sittingbourne, urges our “magnificent fans” to keep playing their part in what has been a largely positive start to the season and looks ahead to the Kent derby with Dartford.

Match Report by Fred Deveson

A nice evening at Crabble saw Dover host Kent rivals Sittingbourne in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay, after the two sides drew at Sittingbourne on Saturday afternoon.

The game began with the visitors on top. They were winning their aerial duels well and managed to control the game to their liking. 

It did not take Sittingbourne long to take the lead, as an uncontested drop-ball situation is made the most of, with the ball being lofted into the box. The visitors won the first header, and the second header too, which looped over Walker and into the far corner. 

The away side stayed on top for most of the first half, crashing an effort from outside the box off the post and creating some good chances. Dover were under a lot of pressure in the first half. 

It wasn’t until the end of the first half that Dover had their best chance of the game, with a long range effort from Soares-Junior hitting the post and bouncing clear. 

Early into the second half it was clear that Matthews wanted to take the game by the scruff off its neck. He was dropping deeper to get on the ball and began pulling the strings in midfield. He had a couple of good chances, made by his own play, but they were blocked. 

The manager, Jake Leberl, made some changes as the half wore on, with Amgbaduba coming on, along with the likes of Young, Silcott-Brown, Cocoracchio and Sesay. These substitutions added lots more energy to the team and brought some hope for the Dover fans.

Matthews continued to run the game from the middle, and he had two long range efforts, one that was saved superbly by the goalkeeper, and another that smacked off the bar from even further out than the first effort. 

Sittingbourne defended Dover’s late attacks well, and whilst there was a penalty shout towards the end, the Whites were unable to break down the defence and the game then petered out, with Dover’s FA Cup journey coming to an end, and Sittingbourne progressing to the next round, where they will face Lordswood. 

Dover Athletic 0

Sittingbourne 1
Troy Howard (13′)

Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay
Attendance: 734
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Venue: Megger Community Stadium

Dover Athletic: 1 Mitch WALKER (C), 2 Roman CHARLES-COOK, 4 Jeremiah GYEBI, 5 Joe TENNENT, 7 Luke BAPTISTE, 8 Alfie MATTHEWS, 11 Lindell STEWART, 14 Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR, 16 Harrison PONT, 15 Tamas AMGBADUBA, 23 George WILKINSON SUBS: 3 Fuad SESAY, 6 Luca COCORACCHIO, 9 Eniye AMGBADUBA, 12 Matty HOLNESS, 13 Claudio Boakye-Sarfo, 18 Henry YOUNG, 19 Jayden SILCOTT-BROWN

Sittingbourne: 1 Harley Earle, 2 Codey Cosgrave, 3 Henry Lukombo, 4 Ayman El-Mogharbel, 5 Liam Smith (C), 6 Chris Arthur, 17 Henry Sinai, 8 Richie Hammill, 9 Mitchell May, 10 Ryan Kingsford, 11 Troy Howard SUBS: 12 Charma Torsiello, 14 Jay Beckford, 15 Alex Georgiou, 16 Kyle Hawkins, 19 Ethan Fox, 18 Bagasan Graham

I’ve had Dover Athletic Shirts since 1994 (30 years!) and have kept and collected them ever since. It has only been in the last few years that my Football Shirt collecting has really accelerated, and not only to include Dover Shirts but those of other Non-League Clubs, particularly from the 90’s Conference days. I grew up watching us play Conference Football and have great memories of that period and have a vast knowledge of the players and kits of those clubs who participated in the Vauxhall/Nationwide Conference with us throughout those years.

I am very nostalgic about those times which has heavily influenced me to add Shirts, Scarves, Pennants, Programmes and general memorabilia of those 90’s/00’s Non-League teams and competitions. I have over 600 Football Shirts now, 97 of which are Dover ones!

Despite owning nearly a hundred Whites’ shirts, you’d think there wouldn’t be anything left out there for me to look for but there are still a fair few on my wanted list!

Countrywide DERV Shirts are always of interest, of course, particularly the ‘Spall’ 1989-1991 top. The 2002/2003 Yellow & Blue ‘Heritage Transport’ Away Jersey by Admiral, ‘Bergoni’ Sky Blue sponsorless alternative from 2001/2002, the 2005/2006 ‘Criccieth Homes’ Home by ‘Jacetts’ plus a fair few of our more recent ‘Gomez’ sponsored Away Shirts are all on the list. Any Goalkeeper Shirts are always of interest too!

What is your favourite Dover Athletic shirt?

It’s difficult to pick out just one but the 1993-1995 ‘Derv’ Shirt produced by ‘Plaaya’ with the Castle detail sleeve design is up there, along with its classic Yellow & Green Away coloured variant. However, the 1999/2000 trio were a great set of Shirts. The traditional White & Black Home, Red & Black Away and the rare Yellow & Blue Third Shirt were all somewhat iconic. It was the first set of Dover kits produced by Vandanel and all 3 had the same base template which were all somewhat striking in their design.

The shirts were only worn for the one solitary, yet very successful and memorable, season as we finished 6th in the Conference under Bill Williams, our highest ever finish as a Club at that time.

The squad included some of the best players to wear the White Shirt including our gaffer Jake Leberl, Lee Shearer, Dave Clarke, Neil Le Bihan, Simon Wormull & Joff Vansittart.

The Yellow Third Shirt only had a few outings that year including an opening day 2-1 away win away at eventual Conference Champions that season, Kidderminster Harriers. The game that I associate it with most is the 3-2 FA Cup win away at Harlow Town at the Harlow Sports Ground in November 1999, some 25 years ago now incredibly.

How are you feeling about the season ahead?

I’m quietly optimistic about the season ahead. First and foremost it is all about stopping the rot of the past 4 years and consolidating. However, given the improvements around the club both on and off the pitch as well as a rejuvenated outlook and approach, plus the squad Jake has assembled, I believe we are capable of challenging for the Play-Offs but one step at a time, perhaps!