MATCH REPORT: MAIDENHEAD 2 – 0 DOVER

Two goals in the opening 20 minutes condemned Dover to defeat as they kicked off their National League campaign at Maidenhead.

Josh Kelly opened the scoring for the home side, before Sam Barratt doubled their lead a few minutes later.

Despite both sides having bright starts, it was the hosts who took the lead 15 minutes in after Barratt’s cross found the head of Kelly at the back post who headed it past Josh Bexon in the Dover net.

Shortly after, Barratt doubled the Magpies’ lead when he was able to get onto the end of a ball over the top of the defence to put the ball past Bexon.

The home side continued to look dangerous and almost got a third in the first half but Barratt couldn’t get on the end of Jack Senga’s cross.

Reda Johnson almost got Whites back into the game on the stroke of half time when a Ricky Miller free kick found its way to the defender, however James Holden in the Maidenhead goal did well to make the save and smother the ball.

Minutes into the second half, Gillingham loanee Henry Woods looked to half Whites’ deficit, however his shot went just wide.

Ex-Magpie Jake Goodman then thought he had got Dover back into the game just before the hour mark, however Holden made a great save to deny the defenders header from a corner.

Miller almost got Whites back into the game with 10 minutes to go, but he couldn’t keep the ball on target as his shot went wide.

Dover continued to come forward as they looked to get back in the game, and they almost did get one back with a minute to go and, but Holden did well again to deny Goodman.

Dover XI – Bexon, Wood, Johnson, Goodman, Collinge, Hanson(Gregory 45′), Woods, Bramble, Miller, Williamson(Arthur 65′), Cosgrave

Subs not used – Parkes, Caton, Da Costa