Dover Athletic v Gateshead

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Date Time League Season Attendance Dover Star Player Home Scorers Away Scorers
21st April 2018 3:00 pm National League 2017-2018 1,424 Giancarlo Gallifuoco Gallifuoco (36), Bird (68 pen), Azeez (89) Vassell (20), Johnson (84 pen)

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ADE Azeez’ late winner kept alive Dover’s playoff hopes in a thrilling Community Day game at Crabble on Saturday.

The substitute followed up on Anthony Jeffrey’s shot after visiting goalie Dan Hanford spilt the pacy winger’s low shot.

A Giancarlo Gallifouco header and Ryan Bird’s spot-kick cancelled out Theo Vassell’s impressive opener, but Danny Johnson’s penalty seemed to have secured a point for the visitors.

However, Azeez slotted in two minutes from time to raise Chris Kinnear’s men into the top seven.

The home side started brightly and Bird headed wide from Mitch Brundle’s cross early on.

And Gateshead almost scored their first goal at Crabble this century as debutant Macauley Langstaff prodded wide from Scott Barrow’s cross.

Mitch Pinnock was left wondering how he did not get any contact on Jeffrey’s flashed ball across the box and soon after, Femi Ilesanmi was next to test the Gateshead backline.

The defender burst forward and drilled just wide of Hanford’s far post.

And Dover play-off chances were left hanging by a thread on 21 minutes.

Vassell, in space 30 yards from goal, found the top corner via the post much to home stopper Mitch Walker’s surprise.

Pinnock almost replied instantly for Athletic, firing narrowly wide from outside the area.

And Manny Parry also tried his best to level, heading Brundle’s corner straight into Hanford’s arms.

At the other end, Paddy McLaughlin missed a glorious chance to double the visitor’s lead, volleying Barrow’s ball off target with the target gaping.

But it was Gallifuoco to the rescue with a crucial equaliser seven minutes before the break.

The Australian rose highest to bullet a header past a statuesque Hanford from Brundle’s set piece

Boss Kinnear then almost saw his side go ahead moment’s later with Jeffrey and Bird both seeing their shots blocked.

After the break, Vassell almost doubled his tally for the afternoon, curling wide of the top corner.

And another player nearly doubled his goals scored in the match minutes before the hour mark.

Gallifuoco headed Bird’s cross goalwards, but he could not keep his effort on target.

But Bird’s 16th National League goal of the season had Dover ahead for the first time in the game.

Jeffrey teased a foul in the area and Dover’s striker sent Hanford the wrong way from the spot.

But it was another penalty that nearly ended Dover’s playoff hopes.

Brundle clattered Richard Peniket in the box after the substitute latched onto a flick-on, leaving Johnson to slot in the resultant penalty.

However, Azeez struck late in the day to hand Dover a vital win and keep alive his side’s promotion hopes.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that lost to Tranmere on Tuesday night.  Nortei Nortey and Bird replaced Liam Bellamy and Azeez, who started as substitutes.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”256″ gal_title=”DAFC v Gateshead 21/04/18″]

 

 

Dover Athletic

1Mitch Walker Goalkeeper
4Giancarlo Gallifuoco Defender 36'
5Manny Parry Defender
6Connor Essam 29 Defender
26Kevin Lokko Defender
3Femi Ilesanmi Defender
8Private: Mitch Brundle Midfielder, (c) 36'
90+3'
18Nortei Nortey Midfielder
25Anthony Jeffrey Forward 68', 89'
11Mitchell Pinnock 2 Forward 58'
17Ryan Bird 30 Forward 68 pen '
2Josh Passley 11 Defender Pinnock 72'
23Kadell Daniel Forward
28Liam Bellamy Midfielder
29Keanu Marsh-Brown 6 Midfielder Essam 88'
30Ade Azeez 17 Forward Bird 79'
89'
  3 3 3 2

First Team Manager: Chris Kinnear

Gateshead

21Dan Hanford Goalkeeper
2Theo Vassell Defender 20'
5Neill Byrne Defender, (c)
4Fraser Kerr Defender
3Scott Barrow Defender
23Jonathan Mellish 7 Defender
16Russell Penn Midfielder
13Paddy McLaughlin Midfielder
20Macaulay Langstaff 11 Midfielder
9Danny Johnson Forward 84 pen'
10Jordan Burrow 8 Forward
1James Montgomery Goalkeeper
7Wesley York 23 Midfielder Mellish 72'
81'
8Richard Peniket 10 Forward Burrow 63'
84'
11Jordan Preston 20 Forward Langstaff 63'
82'
17Kieran Green Midfielder
  3 2 1 2

First Team Manager: Steve Watson

Substitutions
3
3
Goals
3
2
Assists
3
1
Yellow Cards
2
2
Red Cards
0
0

Officials

RefereeReferee's AssistantsFourth Official
Gary ParsonsMike Desborough
Oliver Jackson
Peter Cruise

Ground

Crabble Athletic Ground
40 Crabble Rd, Dover, Kent CT17 0QJ, UK