MATCH REPORT | Dover Athletic (H)

Match report by Allan Mitchell

It was a frustrating afternoon at the Focus Community Arena as Dover Athletic came away with a ‘Smash and Grab’ victory when they scored a late winner shortly after being pegged back by a Kyran Wiltshire wonder strike that looked to have rescued a point for the Tudors.

The frustration was echoed by Lee Allinson in his post match interview after watching his side drop points at home for the second game running which just keeps them behind the teams battling at the top. Victories against Slough and Dover would had seen his side sitting on top of the table with the other teams in and around the play off places dropping points but with nothing to show from these games the Tudors remain in sixth place, still very much in contention but agonisingly behind where we could have been.

The home side made a bright start to this game and created several early openings, a great run and cross from Jack Lorentzen-Jones almost found debutant Renate Campbell at the back post, he managed to get his head to the ball but was under pressure from a defender and the ball went just wide.

Dover took the lead on ten minutes when a cross from the left cleared the Hemel defence and dropped  to George Nikaj who was waiting unmarked at the back post, he took a touch before curling a shot into the top corner that Michael Johnson got a hand to but was unable to prevent it going in.

The remainder of the first half was all Hemel but some committed defending and an excellent goalkeeping display kept them at bay.

Oliver Davis really must be wondering where as first goal is going to come from as he was first denied by a goal line clearance and shortly after he saw his well struck shot clawed away by Mitch Walker just when it looked to be heading into the top corner. 

George Williams then brought the best out of Walker with a shot from the edge of the box and Renate Campbell’s follow header was also saved by the Dover keeper.

Davis almost levelled the scores just before the interval but once again Walker managed to get a hand to the ball, tipping it over the bar.

Half time score: 0-1

Michael Johnson had to be replaced between the sticks at half time after suffering a slight calf strain, James Holden taking his place and the young keeper had little to do as the second half became something of a stalemate with Dover happy to protect what they had and Hemel struggling to break them down.

There was literally nothing to report on until the 82nd minute when Kyran Wiltshire received the ball fully 25 yards out, he looked up and sent it flying past Walker into the top corner to level scores completely out of blue.

You could feel the relief around the Focus and the Tudors ramped things up in the final minutes, looking for a winner but Dover also sensed they could still get all three points and they had the ball in the back of the net on 86 minutes but the referee had already blown for a foul on Holden.

Remaye Campbell could have won the game just a minute later when he evaded the Dover offside trap and found himself clear on goal but inevitably Walker came out to meet him and saved his shot with his legs.

That looked to be it and the points were going to be shared but a quick break down the right in injury time caught the Hemel backline out and they just didn’t deal with the cross that raced across the six yard box to Ryan Hanson who struck first time into the bottom corner to nick the points for Dover.

There was a late chance for Jack Bateson who got his header to a freekick but the Tudors nemesis Walker was there to make another save.

So another frustrating afternoon at the Focus but we remain in the Play Off spots and Lee said he was still confident his side will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Tudors Man of the Match: Oliver Davis

Attendance: 600