Season: 2019-2020

Maidenhead United v Dover Athletic

Nassim L’Ghoul’s late stunner handed Athletic all three points at York Road in wet conditions on Tuesday evening.

The substitute lashed home Bobby-Joe Taylor’s ball as Andy Hessenthaler’s made it a maximum six points from two away games.

Danny Whitehall’s free-kick had cancelled out Kurtis Cumberbatch’s early long range strike.

Jai Reason earlier saw his early twenty-yarder roll into the arms of home keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.

Josh Smile then took aim for the hosts from a similar distance, sending the ball out of York Road and onto the adjacent houses.

Cumberbatch made no mistake when he let fly from 25 yards just minutes later.

Inih Effiong’s free-kick was deflected to the midfielder, who with one touch to control the ball, smashed his first competitive goal for Dover into the bottom corner.

In a first half of long-range efforts, Freddie Grant sent a screaming 30-yard shot wide of the mark.

Effiong then turned his marker and sent the ball narrowly over the crossbar as the visitors were unable to double their lead ahead of the half-time break.

Following the restart, Will De Havilland’s dived to head Jai Reason’s free-kick goalwards, only for Ashby-Hammond claw the ball away from the goalline.

Dover’s defence were powerless to stop the Magpie’s equaliser on the hour mark.

Whitehall curled a set-piece into the top corner from just outside the area.

Smile nearly completed the turnaround, flashing the ball just past Worgan’s post.

It was Whites’ turn to attack and Steven Rigg flicked Michael Woods’ header into the area a whisker over the crossbar.

At the other end Jake Cassidy’s angled drive took a wicked deflection, however to Worgan’s relief, flew wide of the mark.

That relief turned to celebration as Dover went ahead once again.

Taylor’s cross-field pass found sub L’Ghoul, who cut inside and fired in his first goal for Whites.

Whitehall nearly scored his second free-kick of the match, seeing Worgan beat away his goalbound strike.

The away side held on to maintain fifth spot on the league table.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made one change to the side that started at Hartlepool on Saturday with Taylor replacing the injured Josh Passley.

Athletic next host FC Halifax Town live on BT Sport on Saturday 28th September, kick off 5:20 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”348″ gal_title=”Maidenhead United v DAFC 24/09/19″]

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Hartlepool United v Dover Athletic

Goals from Inih Effiong and Steven Rigg handed Dover victory in hostile conditions against nine-man Hartlepool at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men were subjected to racial abuse by a small section of the home support after Effiong had fired the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.

Rigg sealed the win shortly after Ryan Donaldson and Nicky Featherstone were both red-carded for dissent.

And home manager Craig Hignett was also given his marching orders after his side were denied four separate penalty shouts.

The first shot of the match came from the hosts as their talisman Liam Noble sent a 25-yard set-piece sailing over the bar.

Aaron Simpson was on target with an effort from similar distance for Dover, but home keeper Ben Killip kept with ball out with a sprawling save.

Ricky Modeste then went close for Athletic, heading Jai Reason’s swirling corner off target.

The visitors did go ahead when Effiong netted from the penalty spot having himself been fouled in the area, however, there was trouble shortly after Dover’s striker had sent the ball into the top corner.

As visiting players celebrated, racist comments appeared to have been shouted from within the home support, causing outrage among both sets of players and resulting in at least one home fan being ejected from the stadium.

Play resumed 11 minutes later and following the restart Killip saved well from Effiong’s close-range effort, with the ball rebounding back off Dover’s striker and away from goal.

Visiting keeper Lee Worgan was called into action to divert Nicke Kabamba’s shot wide after the forward went clear on goal.

And the home team went even closer with their next attack.

Gime Toure waltzed past three defenders, only to dink his effort over Worgan and against the inside of the post with sub Bobby-Joe Taylor on hand to send the ball away to safety.

Peter Kioso then fired in a dangerous cross that was beaten by Worgan towards Luke James.  The substitute’s attempt was off target until Kabamba diverted the ball goalwards, however, Scott Doe was on hand to block the ball on the line.

But that was not the end of the drama as Doe’s clearance landed at Michael Raynes’ feet, but Doe threw himself in the way of the defender’s strike and though Rayne had a second attempt at scoring, it was Worgan’s turn to perform heroics as Dover’s goalkeeper somehow blocked the centre-back’s shot from point-blank range.

Effiong then hit the bar with a half-volley at the other end Donaldson was shown a red card after his side were denied a penalty after Kabamba went down in the area from Simpson’s challenge.

And Athletic made the extra man count by doubling their lead.

Effiong rolled the ball across goal for Rigg to tap in his first goal for Dover and Pool were reduced to nine men before the restart with substitute Featherstone given his marching orders, also for dissent.

Dover held on for their fifth away win in six matches and moved three places up to fifth on the National League ladder.

Earlier boss Hessenthaler made two changes to the side that started against Chorley last week.  Kurtis Cumberbatch returned from suspension, with Rigg also coming in for the injured duo of Jack Munns and Oscar Gobern.

Whites next travel to Maidenhead United on Tuesday 24th September, kick-off 7:45 pm.

(Photo Credit:  Mark Fletcher – Shutter press)

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HARTLEPOOL UNITED

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Dover Athletic v Chorley FC

A second-half tap-in from Chris Holroyd denied Athletic a home win on Saturday.

The striker was on hand to finish off after home keeper Lee Worgan tipped Josh O’Keefe’s shot onto the post.

Ricky Modeste had given Andy Hessenthaler’s men the lead in the first half with an angled finish.

Earlier, Josh O’Keefe and Courtney Meppen-Walters headed both headed crosses over for the visitors.

However, it was the hosts who went ahead with their first attack of the match.

Effiong played in Modeste, back from international duty with Grenada, to slot past away keeper Billy Crellin.

Chris Holroyd then fired wide for the Magpies in a half of few chances for either side.

Following the restart, Jai Reason tried a glamorous chip from the edge of the area, only for Crellin plucked the ball out of the air.

Modeste then set up Effiong for what seemed would be a carbon copy of the opening goal, however, Athletic’s top scorer was unable to keep his effort on target.

Effiong tried again, this time curling a 20-yard free-kick wide of the mark.

Dover’s striker might have thought it was going to be his day when Crellin blocked his volley after Effiong raced onto Modeste’s header.

And Whites were made to rue those missed chances when the away side levelled midway through the second half.

Worgan pushed O’Keefe’s low drive onto the post, but Chris Holroyd was on hand to tap in the rebound and despite goalkeeper Worgan’s desperate pleas for offside to the linesman, the goal stood.

Josh Passley went for goal with time running out, only to see his long-range strike deflect into the arms of Crellin.

Chorley almost left with all three points when Will De Havilland cleared sub Adam Blakeman’s goalbound effort off the line in injury time as Athletic held on to remain seventh in the league table, seven points behind current leaders Woking.

Earlier boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started away to Boreham Wood on Saturday.  Modeste, Simpson and Doe replacing Pavey, Bilel Hinchiri and the injured Kevin Lokko.

Whites next travel to Hartlepool United on Saturday 21st September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

CHORLEY REACTION

 

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”346″ gal_title=”DAFC v Chorley 14/09/19″]

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Boreham Wood v Dover Athletic

Dover’s perfect record away from home was ended on Saturday with defeat at Meadow Park on Saturday.

A double from Kabongo Tshibanga and a deflected finish from Tyrone Marsh handed the hosts a first home win of 2019.

Inih Effiong had earlier halved the deficit, firing in after his initial penalty was saved.

Marsh fired wide of the mark early on, but it wasn’t long before the home side were ahead.

Tshimanga fired in at the near post following good work out wide from Sorba Thomas.

Tshimanga continued to cause problems and saw his run and low shot well saved by away stopper Lee Worgan.

The lead was almost doubled when Thsimanga latched onto Kevin Lokko’s error to then play in strike partner Marsh, but before forward Marsh could strike the ball, Athletic’s captain was back to make a crucial interception.

Josh Passley struck the base of the post and Tshimanga was made no mistake with his second goal of the game.

The striker netted his sixth of the season, firing into the bottom corner after home keeper David Gregory’s free-kick was flicked on.

And Whites were back in the game when Inih Effiong was fouled in the area by Gregory having nearly taken the ball around the keeper.

Gregory almost made amends, diving low to save Effiong’s spot-kick, but the ball was pushed into the forward’s path to halve the deficit.

Thsimanga will only wonder how he didn’t go into half-time with a hat trick, latching onto Femi Ilesanmi’s pass, only for Worgan to get enough of a touch to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Marsh then stabbed Kieran Murtagh’s cross just past the wrong side of the post and Murtagh himself flashed a free-kick wide of the mark from 25-yards shortly after the restart.

Alfie Pavey went to tap home Passley’s ball into the area from Jai Reasons clever ball, only to see Gregory grab the ball off of his toes.

Worgan then dived onto Marsh’s shot from outside the area and was a spectator as Will De Havilland sliced wide of his own net from a counter-attack.

But Wood had their two-goal advantage when Marsh’s deflected shot looped in over a helpless Worgan.

Jamal Fyfield then ballooned over after being well set up by Marsh and at the other end, Nassim L’Ghoul blazed wide.

Worgan denied Tshimanga the match ball, palming behind the striker’s angled drive.

And Pavey almost grabbed a consolation, heading Lokko’s long throw into Gregory’s arms.

However, Dover slipped to their first away loss of the season, slipping a place to seventh on the National League table.

Boss Hessenthaler made two changes to the side that drew with Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.  Hinchiri and Pavey came in for Nassim L’Ghoul and the injured Steven Rigg.

Whites next host Chorley on Saturday 7th September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

BOREHAM WOOD REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”344″ gal_title=”Boreham Wood v DAFC 07/09/19″]

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Dover Athletic v Ebbsfleet United

Will De Havilland’s second-half header ensured the points were shared in Tuesday night’s Kent derby at Crabble.

The defender beat home stopper Jordan Holmes to the ball as Andy Hessenthaler’s men ended a run of two consecutive home defeats.

Ayo Obileye had given United the lead early on for a struggling Fleet side that frustrated their hosts for much of the game.

The draw sees Whites drop one place to sixth on the league ladder.

Nassim L’Ghoul let fly from fully 25-yards early on, only to see his long-range shot whizz past the wrong side of the post.

Lee Worgan then had to be quick to stop Josh Umerah running through, but the keeper was powerless to stop Obileye opening the scoring.

The midfielder smashed a knockdown into the bottom corner and Ebbsfleet were not finished there with Myles Weston drilling low into Worgan’s arms.

Tyler Corder then beat Worgan to Frankie Sutherland’s set-piece but nodded off target.

And Inih Effiong wasted the perfect opportunity to level for the hosts.

After Aswad Thomas felled Steven Rigg in the area, Dover’s top scorer blasted his spot-kick high and wide of the mark.

James Ball fired straight at Worgan as Garry Hill’s men continued the frustrate the home team.

Effiong looked to make up for his missed penalty after the restart, forcing away stopper Holmes to parry his angled strike.

Michael Woods then saw a deflected effort dip just over the bar and Rigg was unable to trouble Fleet’s goalie having latched onto L’Ghoul’s clever flick.

But Australian Holmes was caught in no man’s land as De Havilland nodded in Jai Reason’s swirling free-kick to level the scores.

Holmes made up for his error, using a strong fist to keep out Effiong’s fizzing shot.

And Athletic’s forward then curled too high from Pavey’s flick as the home team searched for a winner.

Obileye could only direct his header straight at Worgan and at the other end Holmes had to tip away Reason’s deflected shot.

United then almost won the match when Ball’s volley was well stopped by Worgan.

And Woods thought he had taken the three points in injury time, only for Holmes to somehow beat the ball into the air with substitute Jamie Grimes able to head the rebound away for a corner.

That save proved crucial as Ebbsfleet held on for a point.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler kept with the same side that won at Harrogate on Saturday.  Alfie Pavey replaced Marshall Wratten on the bench.

Whites next travel to Boreham Wood on Saturday 7th September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

EBBSFLEET UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”342″ gal_title=”DAFC v Ebbsfleet United 03/09/19″]

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Harrogate Town v Dover Athletic

A second-half brace from Inih Effiong maintained Dover’s perfect record on the road this season.

The striker headed home Michael Woods’ cross and then curled home with a minute remaining to move him two goals clear at the top of Athletic’s goalscoring charts with five goals.

The victory, Dover’s sixth consecutive away win dating back to April, lifts Andy Hessenthaler’s men up to fifth on the National League ladder.

Earlier, the first shot on target came from the home side as Scott Brown volleyed straight at visiting keeper Lee Worgan.

Moments later home stopper James Belshaw dived to keep out Woods’ low drive, with Jack Munns blasting narrowly wide just seconds after.

Worgan was then called into action in spectacular fashion, tipping away Jack Muldoon’s stunning 25-yard volley on the turn.

Josh Passley went for goal for the visitors after cutting onto his left-foot but curled just over.

Jai Reason also went for glory, this time from an angle, only send his first-time volley narrowly above the crossbar.

Whites went close to opening the scoring two minutes into the second-half through Effiong.

Great interplay saw the forward slipped in, but the striker slid the ball onto the outside of the post and into the surrounding advertising boards.

Belshaw then parried L’Ghoul’s hopeful shot from distance with Effiong blasting the rebound into the side netting from the tightest of angles.

Another long-distance effort, this time from Reason, was almost deflected into the goal by Effiong.

Worgan then denied Harrogate what seemed a certain goal on the hour mark.

After Brown had tricked his way past three Dover players in the box, Athletic’s stopper was out of his goal quickly to deny the Gate midfielder.

That save proved crucial as Whites went ahead with their next attack.

Woods fired in a cross for Effiong to direct a header out of Belshaw’s reach and into the top corner to send the Dover travelling support behind the away goal into wild celebrations.

And the big striker curled in his second with a minute remaining to seal the three points in North Yorkshire.

Earlier boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started against Woking on Bank Holiday Monday.

Attackers Effiong and Rigg replaced the injured duo Alfie Pavey and Ricky Modeste, while Reason replaced the suspended Kurtis Cumberbatch.

Whites next host Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday 3rd September.  Kick-off 7:45 pm.

Photo Credit:  Harrogate Town FC

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HARROGATE TOWN REACTION

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Dover Athletic v Woking

A late winner from Toby Edser denied 10-man Dover a point against top-of-the-table Woking at Crabble on Bank Holiday Monday.

The midfielder curled in with just two minutes of normal time remaining as Andy Hessenthaler’s men suffered back-to-back home defeats.

With Kurtis Cumberbatch given his marching orders for two successive yellow cards, Whites stunned the eleven men by taking the lead through Ricky Modeste, only to be pegged back by Jake Hyde’s header before the break.

Earlier, Dave Tarpey latched onto Hyde’s Flick to sprint clear of the Dover defence, but home keeper Lee Worgan was able to get the merest touch to divert the ball away for a corner.

In soaring temperatures, Athletic’s task was made tougher when Cumberbatch received two yellow cards in quick succession, following a rash tackle on Tarpey and then an altercation with Shaun Donnellan.

That didn’t stop the 10-men taking the lead midway through the first half.

Michael Woods slipped in Nassim L’Ghoul and the Frenchman’s slid the ball across the face of goal for Modeste to tap in.

Manny Parry flashed a header wide for the visitors but the away side levelled thanks to a striker in form.

Hyde made it four goals in his last three games when he powerfully headed in Tarpey’s cross.

Hyde was almost at it again moments later as he went one-on-one with Worgan, however, Will De Havilland came to the home team’s rescue with an excellent last-ditch challenge.

Hyde almost gave his side the lead on the stroke of half-time.  The striker’s initial shot was well blocked by Kevin Lokko and the rebound was fired straight at Worgan.

Following the restart, Tyreke Johnson’s cross was nodded goalwards by Hyde, only to be plucked out of the air by the alert Worgan.

Johnson blasted into the side netting from the edge of the box and Woods could only slam his cross into the grateful arms of visiting keeper Craig Ross after being set free by substitute Jai Reason.

Reason then went for goal himself, skewing fellow sub Inih Effiong’s pass off target.

However, the visitors grabbed the winner with time running out when Edser curled in a delightful shot past Worgan’s despairing dive.

Ibrahim Meite almost sealed the win, but couldn’t beat Worgan at the crucial moment.  However, it was no matter as Alan Dowson’s Cards retained their spot at the top of the National League.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that started the 2-1 win at Sutton on Saturday. Gobern, Munns, Pavey and L’Ghoul came in for Jai Reason, Steven Rigg, Aaron Simpson and Inih Effiong.

Whites next travel to Harrogate Town on Saturday 31st August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

WOKING REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”340″ gal_title=”DAFC v Woking 26/08/19″]

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