MATCH REPORT | DARTFORD 0 DOVER ATHLETIC 2
Dartford’s hopes of a swift return to the National League South were ended by a strong Dover Athletic side, who won in front of a bumper crowd of 3,805 at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park.
With the weather offering a combination of cold and windy conditions on this Bank Holiday Monday, the hosts started brightly. But apart from an early corner, nothing concrete materialised in the final third as the wind added additional speed to the ball when it was in flight.
Having soaked up the early pressure, Dover soon began to venture forward and looked the more likely to break the deadlock in what was a rather cagey first forty-five.
Luke Baptiste’s excellent run was ended in its tracks by a late George Whitefield challenge. While the Dartford defender was given a yellow card, Alfie Matthews sent the resulting free-kick straight into the grateful arms of Jacob Marsden (17).
At the other end, Olly Box and Callum Jones combined well to steal the ball away from Jacob Mensah, only for Fuad Sesay put in a brilliant block to prevent Jones’ strike from troubling goalkeeper Mitch Walker (25).
Despite that little flurry of activity, the remainder of the half would see both sides cancel each other out as both defences stood strong.
As the air temperature remained low, things began hotting up out on the pitch during the opening exchanges of the second-half, as tackles began to fly in. But, it was The Whites who started the brighter of the two sides.
And as Dover overloaded the Dartford box in the 56th minute, Josh Hill’s superb challenge was followed by a late one by someone else which saw referee, Mr Luke Scott, award the visitors a penalty…
The lively Ruben Soares-Junior stepped up to edge Jake Leberl’s side ahead (57). The hosts responded immediately and won a corner, but once again the Dover defence remained solid.
Ady Pennock moved to swap Michael Olarewaju with Luther Williams (61), before swapping Samir Carruthers and Samuel Okoye with Eddie Dsane and Jeremiah Pinder (74). The Dartford boss would throw on Louis Dunne for George Whitefield late on (87), as the hosts looked for a way back into the contest.
As we return to the action, we find Mr Scott book Joe Tennent for time wasting (63), before Jacob Marsden’s rush of blood saw him booked for fouling Sesay (66).
Ruben Soares-Junior came close to doubling Dover’s advantage with a curling effort from the edge of the box (74), before Mitch Walker pulled off a wonderful save to prevent Olly Box’s drive from flying in (83). The goalkeeper wasn’t done though, as he rushed out to make a brilliant save from the resulting corner (84), as the Darts looked to level the score.
Mr Scott then denied the Darts a blatant penalty after Box had been clearly fouled inside the Dover area (86)… before awarding a free-kick at the other end within seconds. And Alfie Matthews was the player to react quickest to the set-piece, as he sent a thumping header beyond Jacob Marsden to seal the win and promotion for his team (87).
The Darts tried to respond, but there just wasn’t enough time and the visitors managed the remainder of the game.
So it’ll be another season in the Isthmian Premier League for Ady Pennock’s Darts. However, every single player can be proud of themselves. It has been a brilliant season, even more so when you consider how the campaign started. Denzelle Olopade became the eleventh player to be given the Man of The Match award, which tells you how good this Dartford team has been this season.
Everyone will take a well-deserved rest now, before we return for pre-season and start building for another chance to challenge at the top. Thank you for all your support. UP THE DARTS!
DARTFORD: Jacob Marsden, Sam Odaudu, Michael Olarewaju, George Whitefield, Josh Hill (c), Samuel Okoye, Hayden Bullas, Denzelle Olopade, Samir Carruthers, Olly Box, Callum Jones.
SUBSTITUTES: Luther Williams, Tyler Christian-Law, Eddie Dsane, Louis Dunne, Jeremiah Pinder.
DOVER ATHLETIC: Mitch Walker (c), Roman Charles-Cook, Fuad Sesay, Joe Tennent, Luca Cocoracchio, Luke Baptiste, Alfie Matthews, George Nikaj, Ruben Soares-Junior, Jacob Mensah, Ryan Hanson.
SUBSTITUTES: Jeremiah Gyebi, Eniye Amgbaduba, Tamas Amgbaduba, Francis Mampolo, Conrad Lucan.
Chris Palmer
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