Archives: News

ONE IN AND ONE OUT FOR BRUNDLE

Ins and outs at Crabble today. 

Jake Goodman has had his ban rescinded by the FA following an appeal from his red card during against Worthing. Goodman was sent for an early shower in the incident which resulted in the visitors receiving a penalty in which they scored to make it 3-0. The defender will now be available for the trip to Slough tomorrow and will travel with the squad.

Alfie Pavey and the club have decided to end his contract by mutual consent with the forward leaving Crabble with immediate effect. Pavey had been with us over two spells and we wish him well in the future and thank him for his time with us.

Best of luck, Alfie.

MEET THE MANAGER EVENING

Come and meet the new manager up at the Megger Community Stadium.

Mitch Brundle became the youngest manager in the top six divisions in England when he replaced the outward departing Andy Hessenthaler last month and he is giving you the opportunity to come and meet him in the Centre Spot on Thursday 9th February.

The event will start at 7PM and will give fans the opportunity to meet the new gaffer as well as ask him any questions you may have. Unfortunately questions can only be asked in person and not in advance.

The bar will also be open and we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

UP NEXT – SLOUGH TOWN

Dover head to Slough looking to bring back three valuable points on their travels.

Mitch Brundle and his side will be looking for a positive result on the road this Saturday as the Whites head to Slough to face Slough Town. The Rebels are only a couple of places and three points worse off than us so it will be a crucial game for both teams who will be looking at pulling away from the bottom of the pile.

The gaffer could face selection headaches for the first time with Jake Goodman serving a ban for his red card against Worthing and Myles Judd could also miss out through an accumulation of bookings.

Slough are unbeaten in five matches since Boxing Day, winning two and drawing three. Even at this stage of the campaign, a win here will be vital to push on for the remainder of the season. Goals have been hard to come by for the Whites but Brundle promised that they would be working on this in training in the lead up to the game.

Unfortunately there will not be any DAFCLive Text for this match so we will try and keep you updated as much as possible on the socials. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.

COYW.

Ticket Information:

Adult 18-64 – £13

Concessions 65+ – £7

Student 16-17, NUS – £3

Child 5-15 – £1

Arbour Park, Stoke Road, Slough, SL2 5AY
Parking:

There is no charge for parking in Unreserved bays at Arbour Park. Parking is not allocated and is managed on a first come, first served basis. Parking for Blue Badge holders is available on a first come, first served basis.

From the M25 (south): Exit at Junction 15 (signposted Reading/Slough) onto the M4. Exit the M4 at Junction 5 (signposted Colnbrook/Datchet/Langley). Head west on London Road (A4). Pass the Sainsbury’s Superstore on your right hand side and drive straight over the roundabout, continuing on London Road. Pass the Tesco Slough Extra store and then the turning to Slough Rail station on your right and at the next junction, turn right onto Stoke Road (B416). Continue along Stoke Road for 0.7 miles, going straight ahead at the crossroads with Shaggy Calf Lane and Elliman Avenue (following the signpost to Slough Cemetery & Crematorium, Wexham Park Hospital and Stoke Poges). The entrance to Arbour Park is a few hundred yards further on the right hand side.

THE MANAGERS REACTION

Mitch Brundle spoke to Matt Gerrard of BBC Radio Kent post defeat to Worthing.

Worthing are a good side and we are at a stage of development but we could have avoided the goals which is the most frustrating thing. They are a team that’s been together for a long time and it just shows you that’s where the level is. They beat Dartford 3-0. We had our chances today but we cant seem to finish them at the moment. It’s frustrating as we had three in the first half that would change the game but we seem to lack that cutting edge.

You go from a positive performance at Hemel and then you get beat 3-0. Should it have been 3-0? No. Should it have been a red card? No. Should it have been a penalty? Yes. Their goalkeeper has made some great saves. Alfie has had one tipped round the post, they put bodies on the line. Fair play to them they were better than us today. They schooled us today in a way to play football.

In terms of the players going on the transfer list, I need to bring people in and to do that people will have to go. Alfie has been fantastic you know, I thought he was excellent today which is the reaction you are after. Just because you go on the list doesn’t mean that you wont play for me again. We have to make space in the squad but as long as they are willing to work and play the way I want them too. Alfie is a great lad and a great character. Saturday he had a knock so he didn’t make the squad but today he was back in the fold.

I think my right hand side is strong compared to my left at the moment. We need to get that balance right. The left hasn’t offered the same penetration going forward. I think Myles Judd has been excellent tonight as well as Boateng. Our goals didn’t come down that side they came down the left where we was isolated 1 v 1. But look, we need to be more clinical and I will go and work on that now and make sure that we are ready to go.

It’s not the defeat that’s the most painful thing but it’s the consistency and not being able to score goals. We look exciting going forward and I think people can see that but we need the strikers and midfielders to start scoring. Everyone needs to chip in. It’s not a crunching result. It’s something we need to learn from and move on. I might have to put my boots back on. If we are struggling for numbers and it will make the team better than I will have to analyse it from the outside. If I wasn’t the manager would I be playing? We will have to look and see what happens.

STRIKER – DID YOU HIT THE NET?

Latest Striker Lottery results for Wednesday 1st February

Congratulations to all the winners and better luck next time if your name wasn’t drawn out. It could well be your time next week.

For anyone who doesn’t know how the Striker Lottery works well let me explain if for you. Each week, so long as you have paid your £1 weekly subscription, your number will be entered into a draw. If your number is drawn, congratulations – you’re a winner! It’s as simple as that. The draw is held every Wednesday. Keep an eye on the website and social media pages for full details. Who knows, your number could scoop the £1,000 top prize.

Please note that only paid-for tickets are entered in the draw. For your convenience, your membership fee can be collected from you, or you can pay at the Club Office or, to save time, you can pay monthly or quarterly by standing order.

Contact [email protected] to register your interest and good luck.

DOVER ATHLETIC 0 WORTHING 3

Dover fall to defeat as play-off chasing Worthing taste victory.

Worthing began the brightest of the two sides, forcing two early corners as the Whites tried to settle into a rhythm. Dover managed to weather the storm with Josh Ajayi breaking the offside trap in the 5th minute to race onto a through ball, only for Harrison Male in the visiting goal to clear with his head.

The visitors took the lead inside ten minutes when a nod down in the box from Joel Colbran was neatly finished by Kane Wills. It had been coming with Worthing applying early pressure.

Dover looked to hit back immediately when a beautiful whipped free-kick by Martin on the right was met by Myles Judd, only for his header to sail over the bar and the linesman to raise his flag. Moments later and Worthing nearly doubled their lead when a cross on the left by Meekums evaded everyone including the far post. It was a let off for Dover who were looking a little shell shocked after the goal.

In the 18th minute, neat play between David Boateng and Josh Ajayi unlocked the Worthing defence, only to see Ajayi’s shot saved smartly by Male. Almost immediately it was the turn of the Dover goalkeeper to make a save when Nelson palmed away Oliver Pearce’s effort for a corner.

Ajayi looked the most likely to score last Saturday and he nearly opened his Dover account on 24 minutes when again Boateng linked up with the forward, only to see his effort graze the roof of the net.

A minute later and the Whites had a mountain to climb. Again Colbran doing the damage down the right with a superbly weighted slide pass into the path of Pearce who slotted into the bottom corner to double Worthing’s lead.

With Dover now chasing the game, Boateng, who had been teeing up Ajayi, decided to go on his own and arrowed a low drive across goal that Male seemed to get a finger too. From the resulting corner, that man again Colbran, headed off the line from under his own crossbar.

It was a flurry of corners for the visitors at the tail end of the first half that brought about some fine defending and a cracking save by Nelson, diving down to his near post. It was vital for Dover to not concede again before the break with the manager preparing his half time notes.

Dover never took their chances in the first period and it continued after the restart when Boateng fired tamely into the keepers hands from close range. At this point you are just thinking its going to need someone to score off their backside to break the goal drought.

George Wilkinson had entered the fray at half time and nearly halved the deficit when a curling shot was deflected wide for a corner. There were huge shouts from the home players who turned to the referee, only to see him pointing to the corner flag. It looked like a penalty but nothing doing.

Worthing began to apply some pressure of their own with a succession of corners causing chaos in the River End penalty area that Stuart Nelson was glad to claim at the second attempt.

And it was the River End again that was the centre of the action in the 70th minutes as Jake Goodman was deemed to have tripped Meekums In the penalty area which resulted in a spot kick and a red card for the Dover defender, for presumably being the last man. It was a harsh decision at a time when Dover were looking to take control. Kealy stepped up and struck the ball straight down the middle to put the visitors 3-0 up.

Alfie Pavey had replaced Josh Ajayi and nearly made an impact, cutting inside his man and forcing a smart save from Male who was largely a spectator in the second half.

Myles Judd was sticking to the cause with first a saving tackle when it looked like Worthing were about to score and secondly when he received a harshly given yellow card for what looked like a fair tackle on the halfway line.

With time ebbing away, Pavey again jinxed his way into the box, turning his defender inside out before unleashing a shot that was palmed away for a corner. It was a bright cameo from the substitute who was keen to get his name on the score sheet.

We were all keen for anyone to get on the scoresheet for the home team but for the third successive match it was not to be the case. The difference between the two sides was the fact that Worthing took their chances and we didn’t.

Slough away this Saturday will be another stern test. Hopefully we will see you there.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Sterling, Paxman A, Goodman, Higgs, Martin, Carney, Ajayi, Paxman J, Boateng

Subs: Pavey, Wilkinson, Baptise, Byford, Oliver

Worthing: Male, Colbran, Livesay-Austin, Wills, Racine, Rodari, Chambers, Pearce, Kealy, Myles-Meekums

Subs: Bowry, White, Beresford, Akanbi, Thorn

Attendance: 566

COME AND JOIN OUR ACADEMY

Are you a school leaver who aspires to become a footballer? Well this is the opportunity for you. 

You will be studying at the Abbey School in Faversham as well as training and playing matches. Trial dates are attached and who knows, you could be the next player to join the long list of academy graduates playing in our first team.

Date: Tuesday 14th February

Contact: [email protected]

A POINT ON THE ROAD AS THE WHITES DRAW BLANK

Whites fail to break the deadlock in a much improved performance away from home.

All three new signings were thrust straight into the starting eleven for Mitch Brundle’s side as the gaffer looked to make changes from the previous defeat. In came Jack Paxman, David Boateng and Josh Ajayi, replacing Alfie Pavey, Luke Baptiste and Luke Wanadio but it was the hosts who nearly took the lead in the opening minute when Charlee Hughes flashed wide when it looked easier to score.

Dover’s first real chance of the game came in the 9th minute when Carney delivered a lovely cross into Boateng, who’s first time shot was block away for a corner. Just four minutes later and debutant Paxman looked to have opened his Dover account from a direct free-kick only to see it edge past the post by a whisker, via a nick off the defending wall. It was a bright start from the Whites with lots early possession and plenty of neat passes.

However Hemel nearly took the lead in the 19th minute when a low cross from Elftheriou was sliced behind by Sterling with the subsequent corner being cleared to safety. In the 26th minute Dover really should have scored when Carney’s header came back off the bar from a lovely worked cross by Myles Judd. Dover looked to capitalise on the rebound but the referee blew for a foul on a defender.

Judd was in the mix again when he fired a long range effort on 33 minutes which was easily gathered by King in the Hemel Hempstead goal. With the half ticking to a close, a long ball over the backline by Judd was met by the run of Ajayi but the debutant fired narrowly wide. It was the last action of the half as both teams headed to the changing rooms with no goals to show for their efforts.

Ajayi had looked lively in the first half and should have opened the scoring early in the second after just one minute when he shot straight at the keeper instead of finishing when put through on goal. It was a huge chance for the Whites in a game in which we had controlled.

Noah Carney then broke the offside trap and rounded King in the Hemel goal but the angle was not ideal to shoot. Turning back into traffic, Carney slid the ball into the path of the lively Ajayi who’s shot was blocked by two defenders on the line.

The game had become quite stretched mid way through the half with both sides now playing on the counter. Kaylen Hinds shot low into the bottom corner but Nelson saved smartly to keep the scores at 0-0. Just moments later and it was Lee Martin who was warming the hands of King with a left footed shot.

With four minutes of injury time shown on the board, it was down to someone to try and make the headlines but the two teams couldn’t be split and the game was tied. The Whites had the best of the chances but goals pay the rent and unfortunately it wasn’t to be in terms of paying the landlord.

Dover looked a lot more positive in their play than against Tonbridge but only have a point to show for their efforts. It’s now two games without scoring but the chance to put that right comes in a couple of days at home to Worthing. 0-0 but a clean sheet.

The manager was disappointed not to take the three points but could see the positives from the performance. ‘I wanted to win the match but the team looked alot more hungry and I was pleased after Tuesday night. We could have won the game had Josh scored those chances but that will come. The new lads have barely had time to train with us but already I can see they will fit in well.’

We face Worthing on Tuesday at Crabble. See you there.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman A, Goodman, Higgs, Martin, Sterling, Carney, Ajayi, Paxman J, Boateng

Subs: Wilkinson, Agbebi, Baptiste, Byford, Oliver

Hemel Hempstead Town: King, Eleftheriou, Williams, Poku, Westbrook, Ajayi, Hill, Young, Hughes, Castiglione, Hinds

Subs: Mukendi, Brown, Roberts, Holness, Kane

Attendance: 515

EUROPEAN DARTS CHAMPION ROSS SMITH VISITS CRABBLE

Can Dover hit the bullseye against Worthing with Ross Smith in attendance? 

Local lad Ross Smith will be in the Centre Spot prior to kick off on Tuesday night before our match against Worthing. Smith, who won his first major televised final by beating the now World Champion Michael Smith 11-8 back in October, will be happy to take autographs with a special page in the matchday programme designated to the champ and a space for you to grab his signature.

Smith will also be signing a shirt and a set of darts of which there will be a raffle. Tickets can be brought on the evening in the Centre Spot so keep your eyes peeled for these. We hope to see as many of you as we can as Ross is from the Dover area and we like to celebrate our own.

Well done Ross, carry on the good work and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

COYW

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for this game can be purchased at the turnstile only.

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £16

Over 60 – £14

Under 18 – £8

Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult

INCOMINGS AND OUTGOINGS AS JOSH AJAYI PUTS PEN TO PAPER

Brundle bolsters his forward line with latest signing but others set to leave. 

With Jack Paxman and David Boateng coming through the door the gaffer had wasted no time in bringing in more reinforcements. Josh Ajayi signs a deal with the Whites from Ramsgate amidst interest from Tottenham Hotspur and League Two Stevenage. It’s a deal which will run till the end of the current campaign with an option to extend into next season.

The 19-year-old, who’s scored 17 league goals for the Rams this season, had been invited back for a second week of training with Tottenham under-23s but despite the interest has decided to stay on the south coast. Ajayi had previously been at Crystal Palace in the under-18’s and then had trials at both QPR and Cardiff before finding his feet with Ramsgate.

Welcome to Crabble, Josh.

Dover are now willing to listen to offers for Alfie Pavey and Luke Wanadio with the pair both being transfer listed, while Chike Kandi will be released by mutual consent.