Report

Dover extended their pre-season unbeaten run to five matches with a win against National League opposition.

Oscar Gobern headed the hosts in front before the break with subs Kurtis Cumberbatch and Steven Rigg adding further goals in the second half.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side fashioned two early chances.  Ricky Modeste sent a fizzing effort narrowly over and Gobern’s dipping effort just cleared the crossbar.

Inin Effiong was sent tumbling in the box by Chris Lewington, but the referee ruled in favour of Maidstone’s keeper.

And another official denied Dover’s top scorer last season.

Effiong slid in Jack Munns pass, but the striker’s celebrations were quickly cut short by the linesman’s flag.

Stones first chance fell to Ayuk five minutes before the break, but the playmaker blazed Iffy Allen’s pass high into the sky.

Hakan Hayrettin’s men were punished for that miss as Dover went ahead on 44 minutes when Oscar Gobern powerfully headed in Bobby-Joe Taylor’s corner.

There was still time for another Athletic chance as Effiong was off-target from a trialist’s run and pass.

Whites next travel to Welling United on Saturday 20th July for their sixth friendly of the campaign.

Effiong was nearly on target after the restart, but smashed the ball just past the stanchion with sub goalkeeper Jake Cole to beat.

Munns went even closer to doubling the hosts lead, striking the foot of the post from the angle.

Steven Rigg couldn’t quite connect to fellow sub Marshall Wratten’s devilish delivery to the far post.

Dover made it two goals with no reply on 71 minutes when sub L’Ghoul pounced on some defensive hesitation from Maidstone to slip in Cumberbatch to cooly slot into the bottom corner on his home debut.

Sub Josh Passley then strode forward from right-back, only to see Cole turn his wicked shot past the post.

But the home side were not quite finished as Rigg curled delightfully past Cole moments before the final whistle.

Whites next travel to Welling United on Saturday 20th July for their sixth friendly of pre-season.

Dover:  Worgan (Mersin 46), Trialist (Passley 60),  Doe, Lokko (c) (Bedford 46), Taylor (Wratten 60), Trialist (Trialist 76), Woods (Trialist 60), Gobern (Cumberbatch 60), Modeste (L’Ghoul 46), Munns (Trialist 60), Effiong (Rigg 60)..

Maidstone:  Lewington (Cole 46), Hoyte, Chesmain, Allen, Penell, Elokobi, Mensah (McClure 53), Corne (Kamdjo 46), Edwards (Khan 53), Ayuk, Amaluzor (Kyei 46).

Subs not used:  Olutade, Divine, Akanbi, Wishart.

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”314″ gal_title=”DAFC v Maidstone United 16/07/2019″]

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION