Dover Athletic 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Ryman League Division One
Saturday 20th August 2005

Report by Kevin Harris

Whites finally kicked off their Ryman League Division One campaign with a victory against Dulwich at Crabble on Saturday, but the margin of victory could and should have been greater. As it was, they had to hang on to the lead as a second half revival by the visitors ensured a nervy final twenty minutes.

When the team was announced prior to kick off it was not a surprise, as the starting line-up has been consistent for the friendlies, and this seemed to benefit the team as they immediately got into their stride and scored after only three minutes.

A deep cross to the back post was headed back into the area by Wilkins, and Tyne swivelled in the six-yard box to turn the ball home. The Dover End erupted, but a few minutes later they must have thought they were in dreamland. This time, Tyne found Braithwaite down the left, and Wilkins rose above his marker at the far post to head past keeper Paul Seuke.

The visitors didn't seem to know what had hit them, but with a two-goal lead Whites did back off a little and let Dulwich back into the game, though they were unable to create any chances in the first half to trouble Paul Hyde. The lead could easily have been added to, especially when Wilkins almost rounded the keeper when through one-on-one, but Seuke got a hand to the ball to thwart him. The wing-back system looked to work well too when Braithwaite's ball from the left was controlled by Browne in the area, but his volley sailed over.

A Wilkins header forced a superb save out of Seuke at the start of the second period, before there was controversy down the other end. Dulwich thought they had scored through Paul Scott when they felt the ball had crossed the line, but the referee decided Hyde had stopped it and play continued.

Tyne should have sealed the game when put through on goal with all the time in the world, but fired his shot straight at the keeper, and it could have proved vital as with 67 minutes gone the visitors got a goal back.

As the Whites defence stepped up, Richard Brady was played through down the channel, and he crossed for Miguel De Souza to fire an easy chance home.

The win could again have been confirmed when Wilkins set Hogg up, but the keeper pulled off a good save to deny him, and a nervy ending ensued. The visitors made three changes to try to snatch a point, but Whites hung on for an important opening day victory.

They will be a little disappointed to end up hanging onto a game that they controlled for the first hour, though it is important to remember that Dulwich are one of the favourites, and so it is a very welcome three points. And if Whites play like they did for the first hour every week then they have a good chance of securing an immediate return to the Ryman Premier.

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

Subs (Not Used): Dale Skelton, Shane Hamshare, James Rogers, Laurence Ball, Darren Smith.

Booking: Daniel Braithwaite (34mins).

Dulwich Hamlet: Paul Seuke, Nicolas Pluman, Peter Woods, Alex O’Brien (C), Jamie Coyle, Corey Campbell, Paul Scott (Reggie Savage, 84mins), Richard Brady (Adam Young, 81mins), Miguel De Souza, Kenny Beaney (Charlie Side, 89mins), Phil Williams.

Subs (Not Used): Gavin Hayes, Jason Turley.

Booking: Richard Brady (63mins)

Referee: Lee Venamore
Assistants: Paul Andrews and Kenneth Rowles

Attendance: 704

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