MATCH REPORT | Dover Athletic 1 - 2 Hemel Hempstead Town

Written by Allan Mitchell

It’s three wins on the trot for Lee Allinson’s Tudors and it was a well deserved but hard earned victory down at the Meggar Community Stadium on a very difficult surface that was only given the all clear in the morning after storm Goretti had blown through on Friday.

The Tudors made the perfect start after just two minutes when some good build up play set up new signing Oliver Davis, his first shot was blocked but the ball rebounded back to him, he instantly fired in another effort that Dover keeper, Mitchell Walker just got a hand to, tipping it onto the bar, the ball looped up and a Dover defender made a mess of his clearance hooking the ball back into the six yard box where Millar Mathews-Lewis took full advantage, with his back to the goal he fired in an audacious overhead kick which found itself nestling in the bottom corner in front of the Tudors fans who had just made their way up from the bottom end of the ground after the teams had changed ends.

New Boy David certainly looked the part and wasn’t afraid to take players on or shoot when he had the chance and he had another effort saved by Walker just a couple of minutes later as the home side struggled to come to terms with the Tudors bright start.

The home side settled down after the early onslaught and started to cause a few problems themselves, especially down the flanks where De-Carrey Shariff and George Nikaj really tested the pace of the Hemel full backs, who are no slouches themselves.

On 23 minutes Sharrif took advantage of a long ball down the left and he drove to the line before playing in a high cross to the back post where Nikaj rose unchallenged to head across the face of the goal to level the scores.

The game was now very much end to end which was testament to both sets of players on a very heavy surface but it was Dover who finished the half the stronger, forcing three corners that the Tudors did well to defend, making several important blocks as the pressure mounted but it was from the third of those corners that the visitors could have retaken the lead when Davis raced away after the ball was cleared to the halfway line, he had Mathews-Lewis in support but he took it on himself cutting inside before curling a shot just wide of the far post.

Half time score: 1-1

The second period followed the same pattern as the first with both sides creating chances. Another debutant Jack Lorentzen-Jones raced away down the right early in the half and drilled the ball across the face of the six yard box and Millar-Mathews Lewis arrived but the pace of the cross meant he just couldn’t get a touch with the goal at his mercy.

A mistake just inside the Hemel half allowed Sharrif a clear run at goal and as Jack Bateson came across to close him down he cut inside before curling a shot past Michael Johnson but fortunately for the Tudors it clipped the post and went wide.

Oliver Davis had another great effort saved before Hemel retook the lead in the 68th minute. Sub Trae Cook-Appiah, who had only been on for a couple of minutes won the ball in the centre of the park he held off a defender before laying it into the path of Mathews-Lewis who bore down on goal before tucking it past Walker.

As the clock ticked down Dover pushed the Tudors back but some excellent defending and blocks, notably by Charlie Rowan who wasn’t afraid to put his head in the way of some powerful efforts, kept them at bay.

Hemel still looked dangerous on the counter and Oliver Davis struck the woodwork again after good work by Mathews-Lewis set him up for a shot, the ball crashing off the face of the post with Walker well beaten.

After a nervy last ten minutes of Dover pressure the referee called time and Lee Allinson’s men returned to Hertfordshire with three excellent points.

The Tudors boss was obviously delighted with the win which moves them into fifth place and he picked out the two young debutants who both gave everything and will certainly improve the squad with their pace and ability.

Tudors Man of the Match: Millar Mathews-Lewis for his two goals but it was a close run thing with Oliver Davis who could easily have had a couple himself.

Attendance: 620