Season: 2020-2021

King’s Lynn Town v Dover Athletic

Whites remain rooted in the bottom four of the National League following their loss at newly-promoted King’s Lynn Town on Saturday.

Rory McAuley headed in a corner just before half-time to open the scoring, with substitute Adam Marriott converting from the penalty spot to confirm a third consecutive defeat for Andy Hessenthaler’s men following debutant Ryan Hanson’s foul on Kairo Mitchell in the penalty area.

The away side’s misery had just been compounded further when Hanson, signed on loan from from League One Hull City the day before, was shown a straight red card having been deemed to be the last man when hauling down the burly striker in the box.

The loss keeps Dover 23rd on the National League ladder, two places and one point from safety.

However the visitors might have been thinking a first win away from home this campaign was on the cards had Steven Rigg headed Travis Gregory’s cross anywhere other than into the home stopper Archie  Mair’s midriff.

Athletic restricted their hosts to half-chances, with Sonny Carey blazing over Mitchell’s pass from just outside the area.

Mitchell then fashioned his own chance, turning past Sam Wood, only to fire narrowly over the crossbar.

Dover continued to frustrate their Norfolk opponents, but their gallant defending was undone two minutes before the break from a corner.

A cross from the left was powerfully met by McAuley, wearing a head bandage, with the ball floating out of away stopper Yusuf Mersin’s reach and into the top corner.

Sam Kelly fired off target after the restart and at the other end, Rigg saw his 20-yard shot tipped around the post by Mair.

Dover players were unable to convert Wood’s cross-cum-shot across the face of goal, with Rigg seeing his header from Jack Munns’ cross plucked out of the air by Mair.

Mersin had to then be alert to deny Marriott as the striker sprinted through one-on-one, but the striker was not to be denied his next goalscoring opportunity when Town were awarded a penalty late on following Hanson’s foul on Mitchell.

Marriott sent Mersin the wrong way from 12 yards to leave Whites with an unwanted record of having lost every match on the road in the league this season.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that started against Woking in midweek.  Mersin, Gregory, Akheem Rose, Bayli Spencer-Adams and Hanson started with Kurtis Cumberbatch, TJ Bramble, Tom Smith and Ade Azeez named as substitutes and Oscar Gobern serving a three-match ban following his sending off in the 5-1 defeat.

Dover next travel to Maidenhead United on Tuesday 1st December, kick off 7:45 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dover Athletic v Woking

Ten-man Dover were made to pay for defensive errors as they were well beaten by a ruthless Woking on Tuesday evening.

Despite going ahead early on, Whites were hit for five at Crabble for a second time this season, having also conceded the same amount to Aldershot last month.

The home side’s misery was compounded by Oscar Gobern’s sending off for a dangerous challenge shortly after the hour mark.

The loss, Athletic’s sixth of the season, leaves Andy Hessenthaler’s men second-from-bottom on the National League ladder, one point from safety.

The hosts got off to a dream starting when Ade Azeez knocked the ball on for Steve Rigg to slot home for his first goal of the season.

The home side then went close to doubling their lead, but Azeez’s header from Sam Wood’s cross flew over the intended target.

Whites were duly punished twice in quick succession.  Josh Davison nodded in Josh Casey’s pinpoint cross to level matters, before Kane Ferdinand converted Charlie Cooper’s fizzing set piece.

Ferdinand doubled his tally just after the half hour mark as he headed home Woking’s third – another delivery from Casey.

Rigg then had two chances to haul Whites back in the game, only finding the side netting from close range and then seeing visiting keeper Craig Ross grab onto his drive from just inside the area.

Home stopper Tom Smith made a great save to deny Ben Dempsey from adding a fourth just before the break and Athletic’s task of avoiding back-to-back home defeats was dealt a blow shortly after the hour mark.

Gobern was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Charlie Cooper when both players challenged for a 50-50 ball.

Woking sealed the three points as Davison broke on the counter attack and found Max Kretzchmar to slot home.

The Cards were not finished there and made it five late on from a corner as Cooper’s ball into the area was bundled in by Kretzchmar.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made two changes to the side defeated by Altrincham at the end of October.  Gobern and De Havilland replaced Bayli Spencer-Adams and Louis Collins, who were both named as substitutes.

Dover next travel to King’s Lynn Town in the National League on Saturday 22nd November, kick off 3 pm.

 

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Dover Athletic v Altrincham FC

Fisayo Adarabioyo’s early first half goal condemned Dover to another National League defeat.

Altrincham’s new striker tapped in as Whites suffered their fifth defeat of the season.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men created enough chances to get back into the game, but were unable to convert the opportunities.

The visitors took the lead inside the opening 15 minutes when Adarabioyo tapped in Dan Mooney’s pass following some hesitation between home keeper Tom Smith and defender Bayli Spencer-Adams.

Tuesday night’s goalscorer Ade Azeez then went close, acrobatically volleying Josh Passley’s cross wide.

Shortly after, Steve Rigg had two attempts to level for Whites.  Firstly, having skipped past his man in the box, saw his low effort bravely blocked by visiting stopper Tony Thompson, with the ball bouncing agonisingly over the crossbar.

He was denied again moments later as his header from Sam Woods’ corner was well saved by the goalkeeper.

Dover chances continued in the second half with Louis Collins’ header from a set piece deflecting narrowly wide.

With time running out, Azeez collected substitute Omar Mussa’s pintpoint cross, only to fire high and wide from inside the area at the crucial moment.

Whites continued to press, but were unable to find a way past a stubborn visiting defence, with Marvel Ekpiteta seeing his late diving header tipped away by Thompson.

Earlier in the day, Hessenthaler named an unchanged team from the team who won 3-2 against Eastleigh on Tuesday.

Dover next travel to Wealdstone on Saturday 14th November, kick off 3 pm.

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Dover Athletic v Eastleigh FC

A late winner from Ade Azeez stopped Whites’ run of defeats as Dover won their first game since the opening day.

Athletic went behind early on through Tyrone Barnett, but were 2-1 up at the break thanks to goals from Sam Wood and Louis Collins.

Dan Smith levelled for the Spitfires in the second half, however Azeez was able to poke home a counter attack late on as Whites took all three points.

Barnett had his side off to the perfect start as the visitors went ahead inside the first 10 minutes when the experienced forward poked home from a cross from Sam Smart.

Eastleigh continued to attack and almost doubled their lead when Abdulai Baggie latched onto a flick[-on, only to fire off target at the crucial moment.

That chance proved costly as moments later Whites were level through Wood

The defender rose highest the meet Jack Munn’s swirling cross to the back post to score his second of the season..

Andy Hessenthaler’s men then took the lead on the half hour mark through Collins third goal in two matches, with the diminutive striker firing Azeez’ cutback into the corner of the net.

Kurtis Cumberbatch then almost put Whites further ahead on the stroke of half time, but his effort from outside the area flew just wide.

The post then came to Dover’s rescue shortly after the restart after Cav Miley’s looping head hit the inside of the upright.

Eastleigh continued to push in the second half and were level on the hour mark after a scramble in the box found its way to Smith to slot the ball home, moments after Athletic had cleared an effort off the goalline.

But the away side were caught cold as Whites retook the lead with 10 minutes of normal time left.  Substitute Ahkeem Rose sprinted onto fellow sub and debutant Omar Mussa’s through ball and found Azeez to fire home the winner into the far bottom corner.

Earlier in the day, Hessenthaler made three changes from the penalty shootout defeat to Yeovil in the FA Cup, with Wood, Steve Rigg and Azeez replacing Marshall Wratten, Bilel Hinchiri and Rose.

Dover next host Altrincham in the National League on Saturday 31st October, Kick Off 3pm.

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Yeovil Town v Dover Athletic

Dover’s suffered FA Cup heartbreak after losing on penalties at a wet Huish Park on Saturday.

With both sides successfully converting a total of 13 times from 12 yards, Marshall Wratten saw his spot kick saved by home keeper Adam Smith in sudden death.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side had twice fought back to level the scores during an end-to-end affair.  Rhys Murphy scored an early brace, but Louis Collins’ quick-fire double had Whites back on terms at the break.

Joe Quigley headed the Glovers back ahead just after the restart, however TJ Bramble prodded in Whites’ third of the match shortly after the hour mark to take the game to penalties.

The shootout defeat saw Dover fail to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in three seasons, though it looked like their exit from this season’s competition was to be confirmed much earlier thanks to Murphy’s early double.

The striker rifled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner and soon after Josh Staunton had headed against the post, Murphy grabbed another, stabbing in a corner from close range to leave Whites staring at a fifth consecutive loss.

The visitors rallied, with Josh Passley’s rampaging run and pass finding Collins to finish neatly at the far post.

Hessenthaler’s men then struck again with half-time looming as Collins grabbed his second of the match, poaching on Marvel Ekpiteta’s looping header across the goalmouth.

There was still time for Tom Smith, making his debut for Dover following a loan move from Premier League side Arsenal last week, to turn Gabriel Rogers shot around the post.

Smith was at it again after the restart by saving Quigley’s strike, but Dover’s stopper was powerless to stop the burly striker heading in Dan Leadbitter’s cross.

Yeovil continued to attack and Lawson D’Ath was left frustrated as Smith tipped his goalbound shot away for a corner.

Smith’s namesake at the other end was then called into action, blocking from Collins at the far post.

Collins then turned creator for Bramble, heading across the box for the midfielder to slide in Whites’ latest leveller.  

Tom Smith acrobatically saved Staunton’s header and Kurtis Cumberbatch nearly completed a remarkable comeback for Whites, sending a free header straight at Adam Smith.

Rogers almost won it from the glovers, only to be denied by Smith once again.

But it was Adam rather than Tom who stole the headlines in the shootout, saving the crucial penalty to send the Somerset side through to the next round of the cup.

Earlier, Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that started the 2-0 defeat at Torquay last week.  Bilel Hinchiri, Collins, Wratten and Smith replaced Ade Azeez, Steven Rigg, Yusuf Mersin and Sam Wood who were named as substitutes.  Ekpiteta also returned in place of the injured Will De Havilland.

Whites next host Eastleigh in the National League on Tuesday 27th October, kick off 7:45 pm.

 

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Torquay United v Dover Athletic

A first-half brace from Karl Cameron condemned Dover to a fourth consecutive league defeat.

The Gulls captain was on hand to nod in from visiting stopper Yusuf Mersin’s parry and then headed in a corner on the stroke of half-time.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men fought to find a way back into the match after break, but were unable to find way through a solid United defence.  

The loss leaves Whites second from bottom on the National League ladder with three points, however the result may well have been different had Athletic converted a guilt-edged chance five minutes prior to Torquay’s opener.

Steven Rigg tricked his way to the byline and presented TJ Bramble with the goal at his mercy, however the midfielder was unable to convert after getting his feet mixed up.  

Athletic had gone close to opening the scoring early in the game when Jack Munns sent a dipping volley the wrong side of the post,

Bayli Spencer-Adams, making his debut for Dover after signing on loan from Watford the previous day, then saw his shot well blocked by the home defence.

Bramble jumped to head Cameron’s bouncing header off the line, but the Dover defence was powerless to stop Torquay’s captain from opening the scoring in the first half.  

A corner was well parried by Mersin, only to kindly fall for Cameron, an invitation the centre-back was only too happy to accept as he headed the ball into an empty net, despite Bramble’s attempt to stop the ball from crossing the goal line.

Turkish stopper Mersin then tipped Aaron Nemane’s stinging drive onto the base of the post.

Dover’s mission to stop a run of three straight defeats was dealt a further blow on the stroke of half-time when Cameron headed a set piece into the bottom corner.

And that task was nearly made harder just seconds later, but for Mersin fisting over Adam Randell’s free-kick.

The Turkish goalkeeper continued to repel the Torquay attack, diving onto Danny Wright’s volley after the restart.

The Kent side almost reduced the arrears late on, as home stopper Lucas Covolan tipped Munns’ accurate effort behind for a corner and then grabbed onto Rigg’s header.

Torquay almost sealed the win in injury time, only for a mixture of the woodwork and Mersin to somehow prevent substitute Asa Hall from scoring.

Earlier, Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that started the 5-0 home loss to Aldershot on Tuesday night.  Mersin, Spencer-Adams, Kurtis Cumberbatch, Bramble and Josh Passley came in for Josh Bexon, Will Moses, Ade Azeez, Travis Gregory and Marvel Ekpiteta with the latter three all not involved due to injury.

Dover next travel to Yeovil Town in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying on Saturday 24th October 2020.

 

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Dover Athletic v Aldershot Town

Whites were comprehensively beaten by Aldershot on Tuesday evening at Crabble.

Harrison Panayiotou opened the scoring with Josh Rees and Mo Bettamer netting a brace apiece.

The visitors started the game with intent and almost took the lead twice in the first ten minutes when Craig Tanner saw his first effort go wide before the same player  was denied by home stopper Josh Bexon

Whites remained on the backfoot and were indebted to Steve Rigg for heading a dangerous shot off the line.

Travis Gregory’s looping shot almost caught out Shots goalkeeper Mitch Walker, but the former Dover goalkeeper was able to get back onto his line to turn the ball over for a corner.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men conceded after the half hour mark when Panayiotou tapped in from close range after Bexon parried a corner into his path.

A few minutes later, The Shots doubled their lead from a counter attack, which ended with Bettamer cutting inside and firing in from 25-yards.

Aldershot scored a third on the stroke of half-time when a poor pass set Rees free to poke home Tanner’s cross.

Rees slotted past Bexon to double his tally for the evening and Bettamer’s late deflected effort compounded a miserable night for Athletic.

Earlier in the evening, manager Hessenthaler made one change from the defeat at Stockport, with Akheem Rose replacing Bilel Hinchiri.

Dover next travel to Torquay United in the National League, kick off 3 pm.

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Stockport County v Dover Athletic

A John Rooney double condemned Whites to a second consecutive league defeat.

Last season’s National League Player of the Year, who joined Stockport in the summer from Barrow, slammed home a second half penalty, before slotting in his second and County’s third late on.

Substitute Alex Reid had earlier doubled the home side’s lead as Athletic were unable to build on a first half clean sheet.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men, including centre-back and academy youngster Will Moses making his National League debut, defended resolutely throughout the opening 45 minutes and nearly stunned the home side when Steve Rigg slid and narrowly missed Ade Azeez’ vicious cross into the Hatters’ area.

It took the hosts until just before the break to have their first meaningful effort on goal as Connor Jennings mis-kicked twice within the space of a couple of minutes.

The home side made their breakthrough when another Dover debutant, goalkeeper Josh Bexon, upended Reid in the area, with Rooney making no mistake from 12 yards as he sent Athletic’s stopper the wrong way.

Reid volleyed over from the edge of the box, but the attacker was more precise with his next opportunity.

The striker converted Richie Bennett’s pass, and despite protestations from Dover for a foul on Will De Havilland in the build up, the goal stood, leaving Hessenthaler’s side with the challenge of scoring at least two goals.

That task proved insurmountable for Whites and though Rigg went close with a close-range header, it was Stockport who put the game beyond doubt at the end when Rooney fired Sam Minihan’s lay-off into the bottom corner.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started the 4-1 against Bromley on Tuesday night, with Bexon, Moses and Bilel Hinchiri replacing Yusuf Mersin, TJ Bramble and the injured Harry Ransom.

Dover are back in league action on Tuesday 13th October when they host Aldershot Town, kick off 7:45 pm.

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Bromley v Dover Athletic

Dover’s first away league match of the National League campaign ended in a humbling 4-1 loss at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night, however the final score might well have been very different when Sam Wood reduced the arrears.

With his side behind to goals from Michal Cheek and Jack Holland either side of the break, Whites’ captain Wood, playing against the side he featured for last season, slotted in Travis Gregory’s driven pass across the box, with Steven Rigg and Ahkeem Rose both missing chances to level.

Unable to capitalise on their dominance, Athletic were punished when Bromley extended their lead via Ben Williamson’s smart finish with 17 minutes remaining.

A second consecutive defeat at Hayes Lane for Andy Hessenthaler’s men was confirmed in injury time when Cheek pounced on away stopper Yusuf Mersin’s mis-kick.

Harry Ransom’s injury was the first of a double blow for Dover as just after the defender had pulled up, Ade Azeez’s intended pass to the Millwall loanee was intercepted by Harry Forster.

The youngster, on loan from Watford, took full advantage of the space ahead of him, passing the ball across the box for Cheek to slide in the opener.

Mersin dived low to turn Williamson’s bottom-corner bound shot around the post and the same player was unable to keep a far post header on target.

Azeez’ spectacular back-heeled volley flew narrowly over the bar after the break, however the Raven’s scored a second despite initial heroics from Mersin.

The Turkish keeper saved Billy Bingham’s fierce free-kick and despite stopping Holland’s initial rebound, Mersin was unable to prevent Bromley’s captain from bundling the ball over the line.

Rigg saw an effort fly agonisingly wide and a well-worked corner routine from Jack Munns and Wood ended with Rose blazing high over the cross bar.

Dover through caution to the wind and introduced striker Louis Collins, making his National League debut, however were punished by two late goals.

Williamson sprinted onto a flicked-header and slotted the ball past Mersin to extend the home side’s two-goal lead, with Cheek pouncing to wrap up the points in the injury time.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made one change to the side that started against Notts County, with Gregory replacing the injured Josh Passley.

Whites next travel to Stockport County on Saturday 10th October, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

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