Dover Athletic 1 Ware 0
Ryman League Cup First Round
Tuesday 6th September 2005

Although Whites played basically a reserve side against their Ryman League Division Two opponents, they strolled to a comfortable victory to progress to the next round of the League Cup. Ware's keeper made a series of fine saves to keep his side in it, but Michael Smissen scored just before the hour mark to ensure victory.

The starting line-up included only one first team regular in Nick Humphrey, who was probably included to keep him match fit due to his suspension for the FA Cup game on Saturday. Walid Matata and Anthony Hogg were on the bench however, and they both had run outs towards the end.

Ware started brightly, seemingly keen to make an immediate impression, and Louie Evans hit one curling shot wide and forced a save out of Darren Smith with a volley from 18-yards.

But Whites then began to put pressure on the visitors, with Rogers making a good run but then unleashing a weak shot. Following this, a Laurence Ball cross was flicked on by Wright to Nick Bagley at the far post, but Ware keeper Adam Marsh made a great block to deny the former Fulham man.

Whites even got the ball in the back of the net midway through the half through Chris Wright, but the referee adjudged that Bagley had fouled the keeper in the build up. The game was still predominantly taking place in the Ware half, with Smissen capitalising on a defensive mistake, but his volley was again saved by the busy keeper.

The visitors caused a stir when they could easily have taken a surprise lead towards the end of the half, as Joe Stevens was played in down the inside left channel, but Smith produced a fine save to deny him.

As the half came to an end, Wright volleyed wide and Skelton couldn't adjust him feet quickly enough to capitalise on an open goal. Dale almost made up for it with a driven free kick from the edge of the area with the final chance of the half, but again the keeper made a superb one-handed save to tip it round the post.

Smissen and Bagley both had half-chances at the beginning of the second period, before the breakthrough finally came. Wright collected a throw in by Ball down by the right corner flag, and his cross was cleared into the path of Smissen who pounced to fire home.

This seemed to settle the side down and they began to relax and pass the ball around comfortably. The lead could have been doubled even, when the excellent Kevin Lott shot from 20-yards, but the keeper again made a good save to deny him.

Matata was brought on with twenty minutes to go to scare the Ware defence, and he could have had a couple of goals within four minutes of coming on. Firstly his shot was blocked at the far post, and then he headed a cross wide as he was unable to redirect the ball goalwards.

Ware threatened a couple of times in the final ten minutes, but both times substitute Jimmy Martin blazed over when well placed. Skelton shot over in injury time but the score remained at one-nil, a good evening for the Whites.

The reserves played admirably here to show that they are easily capable of replacing first team members if necessary, and we now move onto a tie at home to Wembley in the next round.

Dover Athletic: Darren Smith 7, Dave Clifford 7, Laurence Ball 7, Kevin Lott 9, Sam Vallance 7, Nick Humphrey 8, Nick Bagley 8 (Walid Matata 7, 71mins), Dale Skelton 8, Michael Smissen 8, Chris Wright 8 (Anthony Hogg, 85mins), James Rogers 7.

Subs (Not Used): Lee Scott, Jack Tanner, Jordan Pettman.

Ware: Adam Marsh, Ross Holmes (Jimmy Martin, 28mins), Sam Rose, Matt Allen, Ilyas Cil, Andy Crawford, Jason Coughlan, Chris Ellerbeck, Darryl Hanson, Louie Evans, Joe Stevens (Alastair Waldron, 76mins).

Subs (Not Used): Henry Haastrup, Terry Bliss.

Booking: Louie Evans (47mins)

Referee: Ian Cooper
Assistants: Paul Kelly and Christopher Clarke

Attendance: 301