Season: 2016-2017

Dover Athletic FC v Wrexham

DOVER’S impressive unbeaten record against Wrexham continued but in frustrating fashion at a bitterly cold Crabble on Saturday.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side created plenty of chances but failed to capitalise on them as the Dragons salvaged a point with a late equaliser.

Midfielder Joe Healy scored for the second consecutive home National League game to put Whites ahead 20 minutes into the second half before substitute Jordan White equalised 10 minutes from the end.

With honours finishing even, it means Dover have now drawn three of their six games against Wrexham while winning the other three.

It also meant both games between the clubs ended in draws this season following the 0-0 stalemate at the Racecourse Ground on the opening day of the campaign.

Boss Kinnear made one change to his starting side from the one that beat Chester two weeks ago with Hartlepool United loanee Nicky Deverdics replacing Jack Parkinson in midfield.

And it wasn’t long before Deverdics was in action.

Some neat interplay between him and Ricky Miller ended up with Ricky Modeste firing over in the opening minutes.

Miller had a goal disallowed in the 15th minute – much to the relief of Wrexham defender Curtis Tilt.

The central defender let a ball go and could only watch in horror as Miller pounced on the error.

Miller rounded goalkeeper Chris Dunn and slotted home only to be ruled offside.

Deverdics hit the side netting not long after, finding himself in a bit of space following Aswad Thomas’ cross.

Dunn produced a stunning finger-tip save to turn over Healy’s header – he wasn’t to know the referee had already blown for a foul.

Thomas then missed a glorious chance to put Dover ahead in the 31st minute after his free header from Deverdics’ pin-point free-kick sailed harmlessly over Dunn’s bar.

Moments later, Deverdics tried his luck from range with Dunn happy to see the effort curl just wide.

Thomas headed another Deverdics free-kick wide as Dover continued to threaten before half-time.

Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold had nothing to do until just after the hour mark when he safely gathered Oliver Shenton’s cross.

The deadlock was finally broken five minutes later when Deverdics’ shot was parried by Dunn into the path of Healy and he made no mistake.

Two minutes later Dover went close to adding a second when Miller’s 25- yarder whistled past the post with the striker adamant Dunn had got a finger on it.

Dover continued to press and yet another Deverdics free-kick fooled everyone and bounced just wide of Dunn’s goal with the keeper stranded.

But with Whites looking set to make it back-to-back wins in the league, a double substitution from the visitors soon ended that hope.

Just three minutes after coming on, John Rooney and White combined to level things up.

Rooney’s cross evaded White’s head, cannoned into the post before hitting White and going in.

Wrexham, who have not won on their travels since September, had the last say in the game, with Arnold saving a stoppage-time free-kick from Rooney at the second attempt.

The result keeps Dover fifth ahead of the trip to North Ferriby United next Saturday.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”181″ gal_title=”DAFC v Wrexham 11/02/17″]

v

Dover Athletic v VCD Athletic

NEW signing James Caton marked an impressive debut with a goal as Dover reached the semi-finals of the Kent Reliance Senior Cup after beating Ryman League North side VCD Athletic at Crabble on Monday night.

Moses Emmanuel’s second-half header put Dover ahead before further goals from Connor Essam, Caton and Ira Jackson jnr sealed the win.

But VCD, who had lost their past five league games, didn’t let the hosts have it all their own way.

They started brightly and it needed a smart save from Mitch Walker to turn Victor Caicedo’s shot away.

Dover replied with Emmanuel heading a cross from James Hurst straight at visiting keeper Niklas Freund, son of former Tottenham and Leicester midfielder Steffen.

Hurst then tried his luck with a snap volley, but his effort flew harmlessly over.

Emmanuel found Jim Stevenson with a clever pass, but the ball was taken off the midfielder’s toes before he could shoot.

Former Shrewsbury Town man Caton, sparkling on his first start, unleashed a fierce volley which just cleared the crossbar.

A poor defensive clearance let Emmanuel through on goal, but his audacious chip sailed narrowly wide.

Lewis Perkins’ smart turn and shot was well held by a diving Walker.

Walker then spectacularly denied Caceido with a fingertip save after the visiting striker pounced on captain Loui Fazakerley’s weak back pass.

Mitch Pinnock’s curling free-kick just before half-time flew the wrong side of the post as Whites ended a dominant first half performance without a goal.

Whites stayed on the attack after the break and Hurst saw his header easily gathered by Freund.

A lightning counter-attack started by Emmanuel found Jackson bearing down on goal, but his snatched effort went wide.

Dover finally made the pressure pay when Emmanuel opened the scoring in the 65th  minute, bravely heading home Hurst’s cross.

Whites doubled their lead five minutes later in spectacular fashion thanks to substitute Essam.

Hurst sent another set-piece into the box and the centre back, who had his back to goal, turned and fired past Freund.

The goalkeeper soon found himself stranded again moments later but was relieved to see Emmanuel’s lob hit the top of the net.

It was soon 3-0 after Caton’s trickery proved too much for the VCD defence as he was bundled over in the penalty area.

Caton picked himself up to dispatch the spot kick low past Freund.

Jackson, who has returned to Crabble after a loan spell at Margate, rounded things off with a stunning 25-yard strike in stoppage time.

Bromley or Welling, who play each other next week, Charlton Athletic and Folkestone are the other sides left in the competition.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

v

Dover Athletic FC v Chester

RICKY Miller scored twice as Dover ended a two-game losing run and moved back into the play-off places after beating Chester FC 3-1 at Crabble.

Joe Healy also scored his first goal for the club as boss Chris Kinnear’s side secured their first win at home since beating Woking by the same margin on November 22.

Dover started the day sixth but finished it fifth after regaining it from Barrow AFC following their defeat against Forest Green Rovers.

The first shot of the day saw Ross Lafayette’s effort easily saved by Chester goalkeeper, Walsall loanee Liam Roberts, in the opening minute.

The Blues leading marksman, James Alabi, had a shot charged down before the frontman fired well over Steve Arnold’s goal.

Alabi was proving a threat and missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead in the 22nd minute, slicing Johnny Hunt’s cross wide from close range.

Dover responded with Lafayette’s run towards Roberts’ goal needing a superb last-ditch tackle by Ryan Lloyd to clear the danger.

There was to be no denying Dover taking the lead from the penalty spot moments later.

Miller was sent tumbling by Matty Waters and the National League’s leading scorer got up and sent Roberts the wrong way to bag his 26th league goal.

But the lead lasted only three minutes courtesy of a sublime curling shot by Alabi.

Ricky Modeste went agonisingly close to restoring Dover’s lead 10 minutes before half-time seeing his cross-cum-shot beat Roberts and go inches past the woodwork.

The sides went into the break even – it didn’t stay that way for long.

Four minutes into the second half, Dover hit the lead again – thanks to Miller’s determination.

Miller brushed aside Blaine Hudson and beat the challenge of Theo Vassell to fire past Roberts.

Jack Parkinson fizzed a 20-yarder just wide before Healy added a third in the 58th minute.

The former Maidstone midfielder, who was making his first National League start for Dover, hit a half-volley that flew past Roberts.

At the other end, Arnold saved Hudson’s close-range header before Vassell shot wide.

But there was to be no comeback as Dover avenged their 5-0 defeat at Chester earlier this season.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to his starting side from the loss at Lincoln City with Moses Emmanuel, Tyrone Sterling and James Hurst making way for Parkinson, Modeste and Healy.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”180″ gal_title=”DAFC v Chester City 28/01/17″]

v

Lincoln City v Dover Athletic FC

DOVER suffered their second consecutive National League defeat on the road after losing 2-0 at table-topping Lincoln City on Friday night.

Tyrone Sterling’s early own goal and Terry Hawkridge’s second-half strike secured the three points for the Imps at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln increased their lead at the top to five points with the win while Whites stayed fifth ahead of Saturday’s fixtures.

Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold had not even touched the ball before he was beaten in the ninth minute.

Sam Habergham’s cross was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Sterling to give the Imps, beaten 2-0 at Drabble in September, a dream start.

And Habergham, Lincoln’s left-back was at it again soon after – his dangerous cross cannoned into Richard Orlu and behind for a corner.

Arnold made his first save of the night in the 20th minute, going low to deny Hawkridge.

Dover’s first attempt on goal saw Lincoln keeper Paul Farman easily gather Sam Magri’s effort from range.

The hosts replied with Matt Rhead heading a Hawkridge corner wide before Nathan Arnold fired well over his Dover namesake’s goal.

Ricky Miller had a free-kick charged down before Jamie Grimes headed another Miller free-kick wide.

Back at the other end of the pitch, Luke Waterfall’s header from a corner hit former White Sean Raggett before Arnold saved on the line.

Miller, the league’s leading goalscorer with 25 to his name, then saw his shot saved at the second attempt by Farman just before half-time.

While Dover threatened at the end of the opening half, it was Lincoln who did at the start of the second.

Reading loanee Sean Long hit the bar with Arnold beaten with a cross-cum-shot seconds after the restart before Adam Marriot turned half-time substitute Theo Robinson’s cross wide from close range.

Joe Healy came on to replace James Hurst in midfield 10 minutes into the half as boss Chris Kinnear made his first change.

Dover went close to getting back on level terms when Miller’s 30-yard free-kick hit the post with Farman beaten.

Some nice work by Aswad Thomas ended with Moses Emmanuel seeing his shot deflected wide.

Healy’s corner was turned goalwards by Thomas before being cleared off the line.

Hawkridge finally ended Dover’s hopes of getting back on level terms when he found some space and fired home low past Arnold.

The final piece of action on the night saw Connor Essam seeing his shot saved by Farman with almost the last kick of the game.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to his starting side from the 2-1 loss at Macclesfield last time out, with Eastleigh loanee Essam replacing Ricky Modeste.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”179″ gal_title=”Lincoln City v DAFC 20/01/17″]

v

Herne Bay FC v Dover Athletic

TYRONE Marsh’s second goal of the season secured Dover a place in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup quarter-finals after a 1-0 win at Ryman League, Division 1 South side Herne Bay on Monday night.

The striker’s stunning strike just before half-time saw boss Chris Kinnear’s side through and earn a home tie with Ryman League North VCD Athletic.

The clash with VCD, who ended Gillingham’s hopes in the last round following a 3-2 win, will be played on a date to be arranged.

Kinnear named a strong side for the second round tie at a bitterly cold Winch’s Field and his starting side, which was captained by Loui Fazakerley, included new loan signing Connor Essam.

The five substitutes were all Academy members.

Dover had the first attempt of the night with Jim Stevenson seeing his shot comfortably saved by Jack Delo in the eighth minute.

The hosts forced a couple of corners before Delo was called into action again to save from Marsh and Stevenson.

Joe Healy, making his first start since arriving from Maidstone United, fired well wide before seeing his header from Marsh’s cross cleared off the line.

Marsh eventually broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time, firing past Delo from distance.

Healy had a goal disallowed just after the break before Herne Bay hit the woodwork.

Marsh tested Delo twice before Academy youngster, midfielder Chris Barnard, saw his effort charged down after being put clear by Marsh.

Barnard rounded the advancing Delo with five minutes to go but a defender cleared the danger.

The last chance of the night went to Herne Bay with Mitch Walker saving a close-range header.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

v

Macclesfield Town v Dover Athletic

JAMIE Grimes’ second goal in as many games was not enough to prevent Dover from losing 2-1 against Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose on Tuesday.

The captain, who found the back of the net against York on Saturday, gave Dover a half-time lead before the hosts secured the points through Chris Holroyd’s double.

Although he was thrilled to score his third goal of the season, Grimes admitted he’d rather have returned home with three points.

He said: “We conceded two sloppy goals and it cost us again.

“We battled hard as a team to try and get a result but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”

Despite the loss, Grimes’ side stay fifth ahead of the trip to Lincoln City on February 20.

Grimes said: “It’s nice to have a bit of a break now to work on a few things before that game.”

Macclesfield started the game strongly and Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold saved from Danny Rowe in the opening minutes before the winger saw his shot cannon into a crowded area and go wide seconds later.

Dover’s first attack in the seventh minute ended with James Hurst, making his first start, seeing his thunderous shot deflected behind for a corner.

But it wasn’t long before Grimes stunned the home crowd by beating goalkeeper Scott Flinders to Hurst’s free-kick to head his side ahead.

The lead was almost doubled when Ross Lafayette saw his effort cleared off the line with Flinders beaten.

Hurst tried his luck from range but his shot sailed harmlessly wide of Flinders goal.

Macclesfield replied with Kingsley James’ shot failing to trouble Arnold before Chris Holroyd volleyed Rowe’s cross wide.

The hosts continued to press with both Neill Byrne and James heading over from consecutive Rowe corners.

Ricky Miller’s first effort of the night came in first-half stoppage time, chipping just over Flinders’ bar.

The second half started with James shooting well wide before Hurst forced Flinders into a flying save moments later.

Moses Emmanuel had a goal disallowed for offside following a smart pass by Lafayette.

Chris Kinnear jnr replaced Hurst seven minutes in the half and the midfielder volleyed just past Flinders’ goal soon after.

Holroyd finally gave the home fans something to cheer about when he turned home Whitaker’s effort from close range in the 67h minute, despite Dover’s appeals for offside.

And the Silkmen’s leading scorer added a second seven minutes later after he raced clear to slot past Arnold.

Dover went in search of an equaliser and Flinders needed to be at his best to turn aside Emmanuel’s dipping volley.

But there was to be no coming back.

Earlier, Kinnear made two changes to his starting line-up from the side that drew with York.

Ricky Modeste replaced Sammy Moore after the midfielder was recalled by his parent club Leyton Orient while Hurst replaced Stevenson.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”178″ gal_title=”Macclesfield Town v DAFC 11/01/2017″]

v

Dover Athletic FC v York City

DOVER were unable to see off a spirited York team after they were twice pegged back at Crabble on Saturday.

Captain Jamie Grimes put Dover ahead early on before Jon Parkin levelled for the visitors.

Ricky Miller’s second-half penalty restored the lead for boss Chris Kinnear’s side before Shaun Rooney’s header earned a point for bottom-of-the-table City.

York, making their first trip to Crabble, almost stunned the home crowd with an early goal, but Rhys Murphy’s heavy touch from Parkin’s through ball allowed Steve Arnold to smother.

Dover hit the lead in the sixth minute after Grimes’ shot went in off the post from Sammy Moore’s free kick.

York replied with Matt Fry blasting Yan Klukowski’s knockdown over the bar from 10 yards before Arnold beat away Simon Heslop’s shot as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

Miller’s angled effort missed the far post by a whisker after he got the better of Klukowski out wide.

Parkin, signed permanently by the Minstermen the day before having previously been on loan from Newport, levelled on 36 minutes from close range, prodding home Simon Lappin’s corner.

Fry’s last-ditch challenge denied Ross Lafayette on the goal line following good work by Miller.

Kinnear made two tactical changes at the break, with Moses Emmanuel and Moore making way for Ricky Modeste and debutant James Hurst.

Lafayette cooly cleared Aarran Racine’s header off the line after the restart and Parkin struck the post with a fierce drive minutes later.

Dover restored their lead when referee Adrian Quelch awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute after Miller was fouled by Rooney.

The striker picked himself up and calmly slotted in his 25th league goal of the campaign.

Rooney atoned for his error and levelled five minutes later, powerfully heading Sean Newton’s centre into the bottom corner.

Daniel Nti almost took all three points back to Yorkshire after running through in injury time with only the keeper to beat, but Arnold denied the substitute with his foot.

Earlier, Dover had made one change to the starting side that beat Maidstone on New Year’s Day with Jim Stevenson replacing the ill Jack Parkinson.

Hurst, who joined on Wednesday, started on the bench.

The draw kept Dover fifth, three points behind Dagenham but with a game in hand.

Whites travel to Macclesfield on Tuesday night for the second time this season after the initial game on 26th November was abandoned due to fog.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

YORK CITY REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”177″ gal_title=”DAFC v York City 07/01/2017″]

v

Maidstone United v Dover Athletic FC

CLINICAL finishing saw Dover climb two places into fourth in the National League after a 4-1 win against Maidstone United at a cold and wet Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Moses Emmanuel’s double set Whites on their way and though Vas Karagiannis pulled one back for the hosts, Ross Lafayette and Ricky Miller ensured boss Chris Kinnear’s side came away with the three points.

Maidstone made the stronger start to the game, Alex Flisher pulled the ball back for Jamar Loza to slot home, but skipper Jamie Grimes blocked bravely with a last-ditch tackle.

Yemi Odubade then stole a march on Aswad Thomas out wide and passed infield to Karagiannis, but goalkeeper Steve Arnold parried the fierce drive.

Stones had a glorious chance through Odubade as he only had Arnold to beat following neat interplay with Jack Paxman, but Dover’s stopper proved a formidable barrier for the former Eastleigh man.

Dover’s first chance saw Sam Magri race onto Miller’s pass and fire just wide of the far post.

Emmanuel broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion with his 10th league goal of the season in the 28th minute.

Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan brilliantly saved Emmanuel’s first effort from the edge of the area after a clever pass from Miller, but the rebound fell straight back for the forward to fire into the top corner.

Loza almost capitalized on Tyrone Sterling’s error, but his volley through a crowded box went straight at Arnold.

Emmanuel shot straight at Worgan when put through by Richard Orlu, but he did not have to wait long for his second as he smashed home Lafayette’s cross from an angle on 54 minutes to double Dover’s lead.

Maidstone searched for a way back into the game and Magri was well positioned to clear away Flisher’s drive.

The home side did pull a goal back on 58 minutes as Odubade’s low cross was slid home by Karagiannis.

Worgan kept Maidstone in the game, diving low to his right to deny Miller’s first time attempt after nice work from Emmanuel.

Arnold’s challenge on Odubade had Maidstone calling for a penalty, but referee Constantine Hatzidakis waved the claims away.

The resulting corner from Karagiannis was heading straight in, but Arnold was able to fist the ball to safety.

Lafayette’s deadly strike on 74 ended any hopes of a comeback as he collected a ball from Orlu and fired across Worgan to take his league goal tally into double figures for the campaign.

Worgan denied Sammy Moore his first of the season after saving his curling effort and Lafayette’s follow up shot was blocked.

Arnold’s fingertips denied Loza from close range and Tom Mills somehow missed the target after Dover’s goalie missed Flisher’s cross as Maidstone were unable to set up a grandstand finish.

Miller, who was feeling under the weather, sealed the win after he ran onto Lafayette’s through ball to slot home in injury time.

Earlier, Whites made one change from the reverse clash on Boxing Day, Moore came in for Ricky Modeste who dropped to the bench.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”176″ gal_title=”Maidstone United v DAFC 01/01/2017″]

v

Dover Athletic FC v Maidstone United

DOVER missed climbing into the play-off places after being held to a 1-1 draw by Maidstone United in the Kent derby at Crabble on Boxing Day.

Ricky Miller had put Whites ahead from the penalty spot in the opening half with his 25th National League goal of the season before Jamar Liza equalised for Stones in the second half.

The point keeps Dover sixth, one point out of the playoffs and they would have been in them after three of the five clubs above boss Chris Kinnear’s side lost.

Dover started brightly and  Aswad Thomas volleyed just over shortly after kick-off before Ross Lafayette saw a goal-bound header deflected wide.

Steve Arnold’s first piece of action saw him deny Yemi Odubade before Whites took the lead in the 16th minute.

Miller went down after a challenge from Tom Mills and got up to send Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan the wrong way.

Moses Emmanuel curled an angled effort just wide before Maidstone replied with Kevin Lokko going close with a header and Arnold produced a stunning save to turn over Loza’s shot.

At the other end, Miller was denied by Jamie Coyle’s brave block following a one-two with Lafayette. He then skewed wide Thomas’ pass from inside the box.

Alex Flisher should have levelled matters just before the interval but blasted Vas Karagiannis’ free-kick well over the bar from close range.

Lokko was almost left red-faced after his lapse in concentration let in Lafayette, but Worgan intercepted the ball ahead of the target man.

After the break, Arnold was the busier of the goalkeepers, saving from Karagiannis, Flisher and Loza.

Loza was not to be denied though, his stunning lob from out wide in the 60th minute flew over Arnold and into the goal off the post.

Miller almost won the game at with a deflected shot that spun just wide before  Lafayette’s free-kick at the death flew just wide.

Earlier, Kinnear named the same starting side from the 1-1 draw at Forest Green Rovers.

The only changes came on the bench where Sammy Moore and Jim Stevenson replaced Mitch Walker and Joe Healy.

Moore had missed the past four games with a hamstring injury while Stevenson had been ill on the trip to The New Lawn.

Dover and Maidstone meet again at the Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day at 6 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”175″ gal_title=”DAFC v Maidstone United 26/12/2016″]

v