Dover Athletic 2 Cray Wanderers 1

Ryman League Division One

Tuesday 20^th September 2005

On an evening with an electric atmosphere at Crabble, Whites maintained their 100% record against one of their nearest challengers, Cray Wanderers. They controlled the game, and deservedly went two goals ahead after 70 minutes, but a moment of individual brilliance brought Cray back into the game, and they could have snatched an undeserved point with a couple of chances near the end.

Walker chose to field the side that had started the season, utilising his preferred 3-5-2 formation. As the side had had Saturday off due to the odd number of teams in the league, all the niggling injuries had cleared up in time for this important encounter.

Whites started the game well and were immediately imposing themselves upon their opponents. Hogg went close with a header, and then Tyne headed a Browne cross against the bar, as they searched for an early goal.

The best chance came midway through the half however, as Craig Wilkins uncharacteristically missed. It was a superb passing move from the Whites, who broke quickly following a Cray corner, and Spiller played the ball into Wilkins' path. But unfortunately, with only the keeper to beat, he slid the ball just wide.

Braithwaite hit the bar with a looping header and Cloke saw his free kick well saved by keeper Dean Mann as Whites tried in vain to get that elusive goal, but the chances were just not going in.

Cray had hardly threatened in the first period, but for a couple of dangerous crosses that went straight across the box, so after good play by Hogg, the final chance of the half fell to Wilkins, but his half volley was struck too centrally and the keeper saved with relative ease.

At the start of the second period, Browne almost got on the end of a Braithwaite cross, before the vital first goal came. Spiller was fouled near the touchline, but he picked himself up to get his head on Hogg's floated free kick, to send the River End into raptures.

But rather than sit back, Whites continued to create good chances to increase their lead. Hogg's corner seemed too deep, but Cloke headed it back across the goal and it just evaded the post, and then from another corner Cloke saw his header cleared off the line.

Thankfully though, after 70 minutes the lead was extended. Spiller's corner found Wilkins who rose above his markers to head home. Matata was immediately brought on to seemingly punish a tiring defence, but within two minutes Cray scored a superb goal.

Leigh Bremner, who Whites reportedly tried to sign at the tail end of last season, cut in from the left touchline, took it round two defenders and curled the ball into the top corner of the net. It had been some 604 minutes since the Whites defence had conceded, and it had to be something special to break that run.

Cray saw their chance to rescue an unlikely point, and threw everything at the Whites. And they could have snatched a draw when they hit the post during a goalmouth scramble, and then shot into the side netting during injury time, but Whites hung on for another valuable three points.

This was a strong performance by the Whites, who got the victory that they deserved for their dominance. It looked comfortable once the second goal had gone in, but Cray certainly caused a few nervous minutes for Dovorians towards the end. We now have to hope that we can continue this excellent form into the FA Cup at Chelmsford on Saturday. It was a superb crowd of over a thousand too, and let’s hope we can start to get this level of support regularly again.

Dover Athletic: Paul Hyde 7, Tony Browne 7, Daniel Braithwaite 7, Dean Readings 8, Craig Cloke 8, Nick Humphrey 7, Danny Chapman 7, Lee Spiller (C) 8 (Dale Skelton, 82mins), Craig Wilkins 8, Tommy Tyne 7, Anthony Hogg 8 (Walid Matata 7, 71mins).

Subs (Not Used): James Rogers, Shane Hamshare, Darren Smith.

Booking: Nick Humphrey (38mins)

Cray Wanderers: Dean Mann, Drew Watkins, Danny Harris, David Gray, Terry Khan, James Taylor, Ross Lover (John Main, 77mins), Dean Morris (Gary Ward, 88mins), Michael Power, Leigh Bremner, Jamie Wood.

Subs (Not Used): David Hall, Matt Woolf, Ian Jenkins.

Bookings: Leigh Bremnar (12mins), Dean Morris (41mins)

Referee: Martin Yerby

Assistants: Philip Knight and Martin Staveley.