Season: 2016-2017

Dover Athletic FC v Lincoln City

GREAT WHITES SINK LIMP IMPS

Grimes and Emmanuel strike for Dover.

DOVER made it four wins from five with a 2-0 win over Lincoln City.

An early header from captain Jamie Grimes and Moses Emmanuel’s second-half strike condemned the visitors to their second consecutive defeat.

It was also Dover’s third straight win against the Imps.

Whites were forced into one change from last week’s win at York with Emmanuel coming in for the injured Ricky Modeste.

New loan signing Ayo Obileye was amongst the substitutes.

Lincoln also made one change, with Harry Anderson and Jack Muldoon swapping over after their loss against Barrow last week.

Whites almost scored instantly as Ross Lafayette created a glorious chance from the left for in-form Ricky Miller but he blazed well over from close range.

Midfielder Sammy Moore then struck from 25 yards, but Paul Farman tipped his effort behind for a corner.

From the resulting kick, Moore delivered a teasing cross and Jamie Grimes leapt highest to bullet a header into the top corner – his first goal of the season.

Sean Raggett endured a nightmare return to Crabble after leaving Dover for Lincoln in the summer.

A nasty collision with his own goalkeeper 10 minutes into the game left the defender unconscious for a short while and unable to continue.

Whites continued to take the game to Lincoln with Jim Stevenson volleying just over from all of 30 yards after latching onto Emmanuel’s knock down.

The visitors only had one real chance of note in the half and it came at the midway point.

A ball over the top found Nathan Arnold clear on goal, but his poor touch allowed his namesake Steve in goal to come out and smother the ball.

Athletic’s lively front three of Lafayette, Miller and Emmanuel were causing the visitors all manner of problems and if was the latter who doubled Dover’s lead in the 53rd minute.

Emmanuel played a sumptuous one-two with Lafayette and produce a sublime finish to beat Farman.

The goal seemed to only whet the former Bromley man’s appetite as he searched for another, firing just wide after a jinking run.

Having opened the scoring, the Moore and Grimes partnership were almost at it again as Dover’s skipper planted a header from Moore’s free-kick just the wrong side of the post.

Macauley Bonne had two great headed chances for the Imps in the last 10 minutes.

Firstly aiming straight at Arnold with only the keeper to beat and then missing the ball when only the slightest of connections to a cross would have resulted in a goal.

Miller’s late mazy run almost resulted in a third for Whites, but he shot straight at Farman, whilst at the other end Steve Arnold brilliantly tipped away Nathan Arnold’s strike after Jack Parkinson’s misplaced pass.

Dover remain eighth in spite of the win but are now level on points with Lincoln who drop to fifth.

Athletic face an away trip to the Deva Stadium to face Chester next week.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”157″ gal_title=”DAFC v Lincoln City 24/09/2016″]

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York City v Dover Athletic FC

Miller downs York

Whites back to winning ways

RICKY Miller secured three points and a piece of history at York City on Saturday.

The livewire striker’s seventh goal of the National League campaign ensured Dover won the first-ever contest between the two clubs.

Miller’s first-half strike also condemned the hosts, who were relegated from League Two last season, to their first home defeat of the season.

And it should have been by a big winning margin had Jack Parkinson not fired high and out of the ground from just two yards – an early contender for miss of the season.

Not that it mattered in the end as boss Chris Kinnear’s men had banished the disappointment of Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at another of the relegated clubs, Dagenham and Redbridge, in style.

Dover seized the initiative straight from kick-off with midfielder Jim Stevenson seeing his 20-yard effort go wide of the Minstermen’s goal after five minutes.

That man Miller then got in on the act with his first effort on goal being caught easily by York keeper Kyle Letheren.

The next bit of action came courtesy of one of the referee’s assistants, much to the amusement of the 2,137-strong crowd, which included 121 from Dover.

He collided with a York player trying to keep the ball in play. The player needed treatment and the assistant carried on until he had to be replaced just after the half-hour mark.

Dover were ahead by then courtesy of a sublime Sammy Moore pass and a clinical finish by Miller in the 20th minute.

Moore spotted Miller’s run and his perfect ball over the top set Miller in on goal and his 15 yarder gave Letheren no chance.

Miller wanted more and saw an effort go over Letheren’s bar before the keeper gloved another shot from Dover’s leading marksman.

Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold was called into action for the first time, catching Simon Heslop’s hopeful long-range effort with ease eight minutes from half-time.

After the restart, it was Miller who went close to doubling Dover’s advantage when his free-kick whistled inches wide of Letheren’s goal.

Parkinson should have put Dover further ahead in the 68th minute but he was left holding his head in his hands after he somehow blasted Ricky Modeste’s pin-point cross well over the bar from almost on the line.

Parkinson then missed a chance to redeem himself for his glaring miss 10 minutes later, heading a Moore corner over.

York were offering little in attack, with striker Richard Brodie well handled by Dover captain Jamie Grimes throughout.

Their bruising encounter proved to a battle throughout the game and Grimes won it.

The impressive Moore tried his luck from range before he went off four minutes from time.

But the three points were not secured yet and it needed a couple of late saves from Arnold to ensured they were.

He kept out Jack Higgins’ header before denying Kaine Felix in stoppage time.

Dover had the last say with Ross Lafayette seeing his shot going agonisingly close just before the final whistle.

The win sees Dover climb two places up to eighth ahead of Saturday’s clash with Lincoln City at Crabble (3 pm).

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

YORK CITY REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”156″ gal_title=”York City v DAFC 17/09/2016″]

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Dagenham and Redbridge v Dover Athletic FC

Daggers to the heart

It’s not all-White at Dagenham for Dover

DOVER’S delight at beating Forest Green Rovers on Saturday proved to be short-lived.

Dagenham & Redbridge ensured that after beating Whites 2-0 at Victoria Road on Tuesday night.

First-half goals from Jordan Maguire-Drew and the National League’s leading scorer, Oliver Hawkins, ended Dover’s hopes of a third consecutive league win.

The defeat, Dover’s seventh in 11 games against Dagenham, also saw boss Chris Kinnear’s side drop two places to 10th while the Daggers moved up to second.

And to complete a disappointing trip to east London, Richard Orlu injured his hamstring in the second half.

Kinnear made no changes to his side following the 4-3 triumph over Forest Green Rovers, but it didn’t take long for the Daggers to seize the initiative.

The hosts opened the scoring after just two minutes when Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jordan Maguire-Drew’s shot beat unsighted Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold and went in off the post.

Dover missed a glorious opportunity to get back on level terms 10 minutes later after Ross Lafayette shot wide from close range after Aswad Thomas’ clever header put the striker clear.

It was Dagenham who threatened next with Arnold making two smart saves in as many minutes to keep out two shots from Corey Whitely.

And it was the impressive Whitely who was at the centre of his sides second goal six minutes before half-time.

He won a penalty after tangling with Orlu and Hawkins’ breathed a sigh of relief after his shot went in off the post to register his eighth goal of the season.

And it was Hawkins who went close to adding to his tally just after half-time when his header went just over.

Dover responded with Jim Stevenson and Ricky Miller seeing shots saved before Thomas went close to reducing the deficit just after the hour mark.

His header was cleared off the line by Fejiri Okenabirhie, not that the winger knew much about it, the ball crashing into him before being cleared.

Ricky Modeste then saw his shot turned away by Dagenham goalkeeper Elliot Justham before Arnold denied Maguire-Drew from close range.

Ira Jackson jnr came on to make his debut, replacing Modeste, while Moses Emmanuel came on for Lafayette but the changes could not prevent Whites losing their second away game of the season.

Whites are on the road again on Saturday, travelling to 16th placed York City.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”155″ gal_title=”Dagenham & Redbridge v DAFC 13/09/2016″]

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Dover Athletic FC v Forest Green Rovers

Magnificent Miller stuns Forest Green

Hat-trick sees Whites end Rovers’ winning run

RICKY Miller scored a stunning hat-trick as Dover ended Forest Green Rovers’ six-game winning run in a pulsating encounter at Crabble on Saturday.

The livewire striker opened his account by cancelling out Liam Noble’s early opener for the visitors.

Miller then put Dover ahead from the penalty spot just after half-time before Rovers hit-back almost immediately through Rhys Murphy.

Dover regained the lead through a superb finish from Miller’s strike partner, Ross Lafayette, only for Rovers to equalise courtesy of substitute Christian Doidge.

But there was to be no denying Miller a deserved treble and he ensured it was sealed in style, curling home from just outside the penalty area with three minutes to go.

Miller, a summer target for Forest Green, has now scored six goals in seven appearances so far this campaign.

The win, Dover’s second consecutive after the 1-0 success at Southport seven days earlier, left boss Chris Kinnear full of praise for his players.

Kinnear said: “I will go as far as saying that they (Forest Green) are the best side we’ve seen in this league since we got into it.

“They are an excellent side and in excellent form, but that doesn’t mean you are going to lie down and let them beat you.

“My lads showed great character today – every time they (Forest Green) came back at us the lads got up and went again.

“The players could not have shown any more desire to do well against a quality side and they got rewarded for that tremendous effort.

“Everyone had a real go – we deserved to win.”

While Kinnear was celebrating, the same cannot be said of his Forest Green counterpart Mark Cooper.

“It was a game we should have not lost – if you score three goals away from home, you don’t get beaten.

“We didn’t play well at all and we missed far too many chances, guilt edge chances. It was a bad day at the office but we have to go again.”

Cooper’s side, who started the day in top spot, started the game with plenty of intent.
And it wasn’t long before Dover goalkeeper, Steve Arnold, was picking the ball out of the net against his former team.

Not that Arnold, who arrived at Crabble from the New Lawn in summer, had much chance to prevent Noble putting his side ahead in the seventh minute.

Noble, sporting a ‘lucky’ green Mohican, which will now be cut off as the winning run is over, saw his free-kick deflected off Aswad Thomas in the Dover wall and wrong-foot Arnold.

It then needed a brilliant save by Arnold moments later to deny Forest Green doubling their lead when he dived low to keep out Fabian Robert’s shot.

But Dover were back on level terms in the 12th minute.

Sammy Moore sent left-back Thomas clear and his cross was turned home by Miller.

Forest Green keeper Sam Russell needed to be at his best to prevent Dover taking the lead eight minutes from half-time.

Dale Bennett scythed down that man Miller on the edge of the box and Russell produced a world-class save to keep out Lafayette’s free-kick.

The action went back down the other end and Forest Green missed a glorious chance to hit the front when Noble’s free-kick found an unmarked Aaran Racine but he failed to make contact.

That led to a furious inquisition in the Dover defence between captain Jamie Grimes and Jack Parkinson.

There was still time for Darren Carter’s shot to be saved by Arnold on stroke of half-time.

And it wasn’t long before the drama started in the second half.

A surging Thomas was bought down by Noble and Miller sent Russell the wrong way from the penalty spot.

But Dover’s celebrations were short-lived – 40 seconds to be precise.

Rhys Murphy headed Rovers back on level terms after he got on the end of Carter’s cross to score his fifth goal of the season.

Arnold appeared to have produced a stunning save to keep out the close-range header but the linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line.

Miller went close to completing his treble after beating the on-rushing Russell only to be denied by a stunning last-gasp tackle by the impressive Clough.

Noble and Carter both hit the woodwork before Lafayette beat Russell from 25 yards to put Dover ahead.

They held the lead until five minutes from time when Doidge latched on to Noble’s pass to beat Arnold.

But there was to be one more twist to the game – Miller saw to that.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”154″ gal_title=”DAFC v Forest Green Rovers 10/09/2016″]

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Southport v Dover Athletic FC

BISHOP DEPARTS AS DOVER CHECKMATE SOUTHPORT

MODESTE STRIKES EARLY TO WIN MATCH FOR WHITES

WHITES were back to winning ways after Ricky Modeste’s early header secured victory over a battling Southport side on a bitterly cold and wet day on Merseyside.

There were two changes for Dover as Chris Kinnear Jnr and Moses Emmanuel made way for Ricky Miller and Sammy Moore. The latter had an instant impact, delivering an inch-perfect cross for Modeste to head over a stranded Ryan Crump after only three minutes.

The early goal seemed to give the visitors a lift and they continued to create chances. Miller’s curling shot was smartly saved by Crump, who then gifted the same player an open goal after fumbling a Modeste deep cross. Miller slammed the ball home, but no goal was given as Jamie Grimes was adjudged to have fouled the youngster on loan from Swindon.

Jim Stevenson was next to try his luck but skewed his volley wide when well placed following good work from Sam Magri and Moore.

Southport worked their way back into the match midway through the first half. James Caton fired a 25-yard effort over the bar and then a careless ball from Miller released Andrai Jones but aimed a tame effort straight down the throat of Steve Arnold in Dover’s goal.

The home side thought they had restored parity on 38 minutes as Louis Almond’s cross cannoned in off John Cofie, but the linesman ruled out the strike for offside.

Miller continued to trouble the Southport defence and had three great chances to extend Whites lead before half time. His first was a low effort stopped by the legs of Crump after an accurately threaded ball from Magri. Miller then went on a mazy run and fired just wide of the post before his best chance came as he beat Crump to a long ball, but could not get past the covering Neil Ashton on the line who was able to clear the ball away to safety.

The Sandgrounders came out fighting from the off in the second half and were almost level within minutes of the restart. An Almond corner was headed goalwards by Josh Thompson and Jon Royle diverted the ball just wide of the right-hand post. Minutes later Caton latched onto a long crossfield pass and though he got the better of Magri, was unable to beat the big frame of Arnold at his near post.

Dover had a glorious chance to put the game to bed with a third of the game to go. Substitute Emmanuel found an onrushing Modeste, who was able to flick the ball past Royle to leave himself one on one with Crump, however, his curled effort crept just past the wrong side of the post.

With time running out, Southport pressed harder for an equaliser. McCarthy almost connected to a fizzing cross from Almond and then Cofie found himself clear on goal but fired wide after checking back to shoot on his stronger right foot.

There was one last chance for the hosts as Gary Jones blasted wide from outside the area following a clever corner routine, but as they had all match, Dover defending stoutly until the referee signalled for the end of the game.

The win was Dover’s first over Southport in five league attempts and it cost home manager Andy Bishop his job after just 18 games in charge.

Whites move two places up to 10th ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash with table-topping Forest Green at Crabble.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”152″ gal_title=”Southport v DAFC 03/09/2016″]

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Dover Athletic FC v Aldershot Town

Whites are Shot down

Lafayette goal cannot prevent second straight loss

ALDERSHOT Town won their first game on the road this season and their first ever game at Crabble courtesy of former Dover midfielder Liam Bellamy on Monday.

Bellamy, who left Whites for the Hampshire side in the summer, condemned Whites to their second consecutive loss after heading home the winner.

Shamir Fenelon put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute before Bellamy doubled the advantage three minutes before half-time.

Ross Lafayette, who spent three months on loan with the Shots from Eastleigh last season, scored a stunning free-kick to reduce the deficit with the final kick of the opening half.

But Whites couldn’t find an equaliser after the break and slumped to their second home loss of the season.

The defeat also saw boss Chris Kinnear’s team drop six places to 12th ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southport.

Kinnear made no changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Torquay on Saturday and it was Dover who should have opened the scoring in the ninth minute.

Former Aldershot midfielder Jim Stevenson fired over from 10 yards following Lafayette’s clever chest down from Aswad Thomas’ cross.

Bellamy tried his luck from distance but his shot whistled over Steve Arnold’s goal before Shots broke the deadlock.

Jack Parkinson was caught out by a long, high ball from the back and winger Fenelon raced onto to it before firing past Arnold.

Arnold saved from Gallagher before Matt McClure curled just wide as the Shots put Whites under the pump.

And the pressure paid off when Bellamy headed beyond Arnold to score his third of the season. Aldershot were running the show before Lafayette pulled one back in stunning fashion, curling home a free-kick that left keeper Jake Cole with no chance.

It was his fourth goal in five matches since his arrival from Eastleigh.

Kinnear made a change at half-time, replacing Moses Emmanuel with striker Ricky Miller.

Miller, who scored within five minutes of coming on Saturday, wasted little time in testing Cole with a shot.

Seconds later, Cole then needed to be at his best to keep out Parkinson’s header before the keeper denied Lafayette from close range with Miller screaming for his team-mate to pass it.

Aldershot went close to getting a third in the 66th minute when McClure’s header beat Arnold and crashed into the underside of the bar.

Dover did get the ball in the net two minutes later but Stevenson’s follow-up after another Miller shot had been parried by Cole was ruled offside.

Cole kept a Miller header out with a flying save before Ricky Modeste headed Miller’s pinpoint cross wide.

But there was to be no coming back for Dover, just like at Torquay.

ALDERSHOT TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”151″ gal_title=”DAFC v Aldershot 29/08/2016″]

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Torquay United v Dover Athletic FC

Gulls swoop to beat Whites

Miller’s stunner in vain

NOT even a sublime Ricky Miller goal could prevent Dover’s three-game National League winning run from coming to an abrupt end in Devon on Saturday.

Substitute Miller’s cracking free-kick cancelled out Jamie Reid’s opener before Dan Sparkes secured the Gulls the three points.

The hosts moved out of the bottom four with the win, one which also ended a three-game losing streak.

It was also Torquay’s first win against boss Chris Kinnear’s side in three games after Whites won both clashes last season.

Kinnear admitted it had been a bad day at the office, one that ended with his side slipping from fourth to sixth ahead of Monday’s clash with seventh-placed Aldershot at Crabble (3 pm).

He said: “We were not on our game today, but we should have got something out of it. It’s very disappointing.

“We looked sluggish and they were up for it. But so should we be.

“At 1-1 you would take a draw on a bad day but bad defending by us cost us a point.”

Dover started with plenty of intent and had a penalty claim waved away minutes into the contest after goalkeeper Brendan Moore appeared to bundle over striker Ross Lafayette.

Torquay responded with Nathan Blissett firing wide before West Bromwich Albion loanee Joe Ward saw his long-range effort easily gathered by Dover keeper Steve Arnold.

Blissett then watched as his lob beat Arnold and the woodwork before Dover missed a great chance to open the scoring.

Moore came and missed Ricky Modeste’s free-kick but Aswad Thomas headed over with the goal at his mercy.

Modeste volleyed Thomas’ left-wing cross over before Lathaniel Rowe-Turner’s powerful run ended with the left-back firing just wide just before half-time.

The deadlock was broken less than a minute after the restart when Exeter loanee Reid fired past Arnold.

They went close to doubling their advantage when Courtney Richards’ shot whistled just wide.

Dover responded with Moses Emmanuel going close after the winger pounced on some sloppy work by Aman Verma.

Arnold kept Dover in it with two fine saves to deny Sparkes.

First, he won the one-on-one before producing a spectacular effort to push Sparkes’ powerful header over his bar.

Miller came on seconds after that stunning save – he wasted little time in announcing his arrival.

Five minutes after coming on, Miller won a free-kick just outside the area and took the kick himself, leaving Moore with no chance.

But Dover’s celebrations did not last long with Torquay regaining the lead straight from the restart.

The towering Blissett’s headed flick sent Sparkes away, he beat last-man Jack Parkinson before slipping the ball past Arnold.

Dover were down again – but far from out of it.

Miller saw his shot deflected just wide, Jim Stevenson tested Moore, before that man Miller went close with a volley.

It was all Dover now and they went agonisingly close to salvaging a draw with virtually the last kick of the game.

And it was substitute and former Torquay striker Tyrone Marsh, who was booed every time he touched the ball, who almost provided the perfect response to silence his one-time fans.

His shot beat Moore before hitting the inside of the post and bouncing away, much to the relief of the home faithful.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”150″ gal_title=”Torquay United v DAFC 27/08/2016″]

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Dover Athletic FC v Barrow

Dover brush aside Barrow at Crabble

treble delight for Whites and Lafayette

DOVER moved up six places to fourth as Ross Lafayette continued his perfect start to life at Crabble after scoring for the third consecutive game since arriving from Eastleigh.

The bustling frontman scored the second goal as Whites beat the Cumbrian side to secure a third consecutive National League win.

Moses Emmanuel and Sam Magri scored the other goals, although Aswad Thomas may have a say in Emmanuel’s scrappy first-half opener.

Dover, fresh from Tuesday’s 4-2 win at Eastleigh, started with plenty of intent, but it was Barrow who went close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute.

Jordan Williams had Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold scrambling across his goal as his 20-yard effort whistled just past the post.

Confusion then reigned after Dover opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark.

Aswad Thomas’ shot from just inside the box was rolling towards goal before Emmanuel appeared to apply the final touch from close range.

Thomas reeled away in celebration, thinking he’d scored and his team-mates rushed to join him before the goal was credited to Emmanuel over the tannoy.

Emmanuel then appeared to shake his head towards Thomas, indicating he had not scored, what was his second goal of the season.

But there was to be no confusion about the second goal.

Lafayette doubled Dover’s lead 11 minutes into the second half after he raced on to Jack Parkinson’s long ball before slipping it past goalkeeper Joel Dixon.

The goal takes Lafayette to the top of the Dover goal-scoring charts, two behind the league’s leading marksman, Lincoln’s Jonny Marietta.

Dover continued to press for a third and right-back Magri delivered one in style seven minutes from time.

The former Portsmouth man headed home a pin-point cross from the impressive Thomas to register his first goal for Whites, in what is his second season with the club.

Ross Hannah, who surprisingly started off the bench, reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Arnold had bundled him over just seconds from the end.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”149″ gal_title=”DAFC v Barrow 20/08/2016″]

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Eastleigh FC v Dover Athletic FC

WHITES WIN AWAY AT EASTLEIGH

STRIKER Ross Lafayette returned to haunt his former club Eastleigh as Dover claimed all three points with a stunning 4-2 win in Hampshire.

Lafayette, who joined Whites from Eastleigh last week, scored the second goal as boss Chris Kinnear’s men won for the second consecutive National League game following Saturday’s triumph against North Ferriby United.

It was also the second successive game Dover beaten the big-spending Spitfires at home after last October’s 5-2 thumping.

After a goalless first half, Dover opened the scoring with an embarrassing own goal from on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Ryan Huddart seven minutes after the restart after he somehow palmed a cross from Chris Kinnear Jnr into his own net.

Lafayette’s header doubled the advantage eight minutes later to stun the home faithful at the Silverlake Stadium.
It was his second goal since moving to Crabble following his strike on Saturday.
Lafayette then had a goal disallowed for offside before Moses Emmanuel fired wide and Huddart denied Jim Stevenson.

Eastleigh pulled one back through ex-Portsmouth man Ryan Bird with nine minutes to go and five minutes later they were level after Andy Drury slotted home from close range.

But Dover were not about to be denied and restored their two-goal advantage through Jim Stevenson and substitute Ricky Miller.
Miller started from the bench following his one-game suspension for his red card against Boreham Wood.

Dover host Barrow at Crabble on Saturday (3 pm)

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”148″ gal_title=”Eastleigh v DAFC 16/08/2016″]

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Dover Athletic FC v North Ferriby United

WHITES WIN AT HOME

DOVER registered their first win of the season after beating National League newcomers North Ferriby United at Crabble on Saturday.

And it could have been by a much larger winning margin had it not been for an inspired performance by visiting goalkeeper Rory Watson.

Watson, on a season-long loan from Premier League Hull City, was under fire for most of the game and he responded brilliantly.

The 20-year-old made 16 saves to prevent his side from ending up on the wrong end of a second consecutive heavy loss after the 6-1 defeat at Lincoln on Tuesday.

While Watson played the leading role for the Yorkshire side, Ross Lafayette was doing likewise for Dover.

celebrated his first start for Dover in stunning fashion.

The former Eastleigh frontman celebrated his first start for Dover in stunning fashion, scoring once and making the other for Moses Emmanuel.

Lafayette, replacing the suspended Ricky Miller, curled home a spectacular second from 18 yards for boss Chris Kinnear’s side late in the second half.

And it was his run and cross which ended with Emmanuel putting Dover ahead from close range in the 34th minute.

Watson’s stunning performance between the posts was not lost on an impressed Kinnear.

He said: “I thought he was absolutely unbelievable – you could see he’s got a massive future ahead of him going on that sort of performance.

“We scored two but we could have won by many, many more, but the good thing is that we are creating chances and you would have problems if you are not.

“Saying that, we are more than pleased with the result and now we’ve got to keep the momentum going.”

Dover, hurting from Tuesday 4-1 loss at home to Boreham Wood, started with plenty of intent.

Watson saved from Jack Parkinson, Sam Magri, Ricky Modeste and Emmanuel before he was finally beaten.

Emmanuel rifled home Lafayette’s cross to open his account for the season.

The visitors almost produced an instant reply and it needed a magnificent fingertip save from Steve Arnold to keep out Danny Clarke’s long-range effort.

Dover kept asking the questions after half-time and the pressure was rewarded with Lafayette’s stunner.

Watson prevented Dover from going further ahead with quality saves from Emmanuel and substitute Tyrone Marsh right at the death.

Earlier, Kinnear made two changes to his starting line-up from Tuesday night.

Tyrone Sterling made his first appearance of the season in the defensive line in place of Richard Orlu while Lafayette came in for Miller following his sending off against Boreham Wood.

Whites head to Eastleigh on Tuesday.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”147″ gal_title=”DAFC v North Ferriby United 13/08/2016″]

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