WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 DOVER ATHLETIC 3
Pre-season friendly
Tuesday August 3 2021 19.45
National League Dover Athletic ran out winners in front of a crowd of 377 in the last home friendly. Former Whitstable player and manager Nicky Southall was back in the dugout at the Belmont in his role of Dover coach.
The early exchanges saw Dover on the front foot as they were given too much time and space to play their football. They opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute when a Khale Da Costa corner on the left was headed past Dan Eason by Danny Collinge who arrived late at the far post. He might have repeated the feat a few minutes later, but this time was off target. A low Da Costa free kick 25 yards out was saved by Eason, as Dover continued to threaten. The home team gradually began to settle, enjoying a bit more possession, and a good run by Jake Mackenzie caused a few problems for the previously untroubled Dover defence. A Harry Stannard corner was lifted over the bar by Aaron Millbank on 20 minutes. The visitors still looked the more likely to add to their score and a free kick was headed over by Jake Goodman, then some miscommunication in the home defence led to the ball being driven across the unprotected goal, but just wide. Dover scored their second in the 31st minute when Travis Gregory won a scrap for the ball with two Whitstable players before firing a shot into the bottom left corner from just outside the box. Tom Carlton won the ball in midfield and fed Millbank, but a defender managed to put the ball out for a corner as the Whitstable striker closed in on goal. Millbank did pull a goal back for Whitstable in the 38th minute after Carlton had again won possession and passed to Liam Gillies who played in Millbank to slide the ball past Adam Parkes. Whitstable were having a better spell and the hard-working Millbank created an opening for Stannard, but his shot was blocked, then Liam Gillies tried his luck from distance, but struck the trees behind the goal. The last action of the half saw Eason safely gather a deflected Da Costa effort and Dover led 2-1 at the interval.
Manager Andy Hessenthaler made some half time substitutions and his team created a few early chances following the restart. Eason made several saves and there were a couple of off target attempts, as both managers made further changes. The Dover no. 19 made room for himself in the box before unleashing a shot that Eason did well to push away for a corner. Substitute Ricky Miller made it 3-1 in the 65th minute, beating the wall and Eason as he sent a free kick into the left corner from 22 yards. Following more substitutions, Da Costa was denied again by Eason and Miller tried a lob from a long way out, but failed to trouble the Whitstable goalkeeper. Lloyd Blackman would have been pleased with his team’s fitness and endeavour and they created some good chances in the closing stages. A swift run by Jay Hards down the right created a shooting opportunity for a trialist, but his shot was saved, then a promising build up gave Ollie Gray a sight of goal, but he shot over the top. Finally, the ball was crossed from the left to Reece Gillies who did well to create some space for himself, but once again the ball flew just over the bar. Dover finished deserved 3-1 winners, but it was a useful workout for both teams.
Whitstable visit Chipstead on Saturday to play their final pre-season game.
Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Will Thomas (Ollie Gray 66), Jack Miles, Tom Mills, Danny Walder (Jay Hards 76), Liam Gillies (Trialist A 83), Aaron Millbank (Reece Gillies 76), Tom Carlton (Ryan Flack 66), Harry Stannard (Trialist B 57).
Unused sub: Ben Harding
Goal: Aaron Millbank 38
Dover Athletic
Adam Parkes, Seth Twumasi, Sam Wood, Jake Goodman, Danny Collinge, TJ Bramble, Khale Da Costa, Henry Woods, Travis Gregory, Ben Williamson, Aaron Cosgrave.
Subs included: Josh Bexon, Ricky Miller, Ryan Hanson, Harrison Byford, Alex Green, Tom Green, trialists.
Goals: Danny Collinge 4, Travis Gregory 31, Ricky Miller 65.
Attendance: 377
Referee: Nick Dunn
Assistants: Kane Dempster & Jack Mottram