Dartford 0-2 Dover Athletic - Moore strikes quality into Kentish Pride

The passion-filled crowd of 1,781 left Princes Park Stadium having watched a Ryman Premier League showdown that was up there with the best.

After claiming the Kentish bragging rights, Dover Athletic remain at the top of the table with their 100% record in tact after two games, but Dartford drop one place to rock bottom.

Both club’s had clinched promotion as champions from division one north (Dartford) and South (Dover Athletic) and put on a match that would not have been out of place higher up the football pyramid.

The half-time introduction of substitute Jerahl Hughes sparked the visitors into life and goals from Jon Wallis and Moore ensured the points headed east.

The Darts made two changes to the side that were defeated 3-0 at Hendon on the opening day of the season.

Richard Ketchell made way for Steve Norman at left-back, whilst winger Ryan Hayes replaced midfield general Alex O’Brien, who was relegated to the bench.

Dover Athletic, meanwhile, made just one change to the side that thumped Harrow Borough with four second half goals at Crabble, with Shaun Welford coming in for striker Nathan Bailey, currently nursing an ankle injury.

But it was Dover Athletic that made their early intentions known, playing some slick football on an excellent playing surface.

Wallis and Lee Browning both flashed shots wide inside the opening couple of minutes, but it was Dartford that could have broken the deadlock first.

Midfielder Nick Barnes’ thirty-yard drive brought a smart low save from visiting goalkeeper John Whitehouse.

Dover Athletic could have done better with headed chances, from Welford and Ollie Schulz before Whitehouse's long clearance sent Frannie Collin through on goal but the striker sent his right-footed lob over.

Dartford’s best chances, however, arrived with 23 minutes on the clock, against the run of play.

Former Brentwood Town pair Danny Dafter and Lee Noble almost unlocked the padlock.

The highly-rated Noble latched onto a delightful through ball and with the home faithful urging him on, he was denied by a fine block from Whitehouse.

A poor looping punch from Whitehouse then presented Barnes with an excellent chance to open his account for the new season, but the midfielder headed his chance over from six-yards, when it seemed easier to score.

Whitehouse was called into action again, seven minutes before half-time.

A long ball from Dartford right-back Jamie Coyle was latched onto by Noble, who sprinted through on goal but the former Chatham Town goalkeeper was on hand to block and former Tonbridge Angels star, Ray Powell saw his follow-up shot blocked.

Despite the quality on show, both sides had to be content with a goal-less first half.

Dover Athletic made a tactical switch at half time with the highly-talented Jerahl Hughes making way for Browning.

And after skipper John Keister powered a header over following an early Wallis corner, it was the Dover Athletic fans that were celebrating the first goal on 51 minutes.

Moore had initially sprayed the ball to the right-hand side of the penalty area for Matt Fish, who slid the ball into Hughes’ path.

Hughes’ square pass carved open the chance for Wallis, who was given time and space to drill a left-footed 25-yarder past the diving Tony Kessell and into the bottom right-hand corner.

Dartford almost equalised when Coyle’s header across the face of goal was hacked clear by Dover defender Ollie Schulz inside the six-yard box.

Then Moore squandered an excellent chance to double the lead, blazing over from six-yards out.

On the hour-mark, Dartford’s playmaker Noble rode a challenge before sliding the ball to winger Hayes, and after cutting inside, his left-footed drive from 22-yards, flew into Whitehouse’s body.

With his side fighting back, Kessell was called into action five minutes later, diving low to his right to thwart Moore.

Hayes almost turned villain in the last thirteen minutes as he lost possession to Wallis inside the Dartford half and the Dover skipper slid the ball to Hughes, who agonisingly dragged his right-footed drive past the far post.

With victory over their fierce rivals in sight, Keister played an intelligent through ball for Moore but his left-footed angled drive rolled agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

But Moore, a player who should be playing much higher than this, sealed the win in style with three minutes remaining.

Captalising on a mistake from Dartford skipper Adam Flanagan, this gave Hughes the ideal opportunity to show his talents as he ran at the home side’s defence.

A perfect lay-off set up Moore and the former Ipswich Town and Brentford star midfielder unleashed an unstoppable right-footed shot, on the angle, on the left-hand side, from 30-yards, which curled into the top right-hand corner.

A quality goal, from a quality player, at the end of a quality game.

Dartford’s big target man, substitute Rob Haworth even had time to glance Hayes’ free-kick wide, but Moore’s stunning strike was what the fans were talking about when this excellent game came to an end.

“I think he’s the type of player capable of that,” admitted Dover Athletic’s player manager Andy Hessenthaler, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I think he’s got the ability from where he’s come from, the league club’s he’s been at, Ipswich and that.

“You see him in training, he’s very confident what he does and I think sometimes when he tries that, he just shows you the confidence levels he’s got and it was a great finish.”

Hessenthaler paid tribute to both sets of players’ and supporters for ensuring this clash lived up to its billing.

“What a spectacle for the Ryman League,” he said proudly. “I think not just about the players but about the fans.

“I thought the fans were absolutely first class tonight, both sets of fans.

“There were a lot of neutrals here as well to watch the game so all in all it was a good night. A good night for us, obviously we won the game, but I think a good spectacle for Ryman League football.”

Dover Athletic’s assistant manager Darren Hare, meanwhile, admitted Moore’s wonder goal came at the right time.

“We needed it, we needed it,” Hare told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “At 1-0 up we were under a little bit of pressure and obviously our second goal was the goal really that won us the points in the end.

“I was impressed with Dartford, especially first half. They took the game to us, caused us one or two problems, perhaps could have gone in a couple of goals to the good.

“But we changed our shape slightly at half-time, got a little bit more width with Jerahl Hughes coming on. I thought he changed the game a little bit for us.

“I thought we started alright first 15-20 minutes (of the first half) but me and the gaffer weren’t too pleased, I would say, at half-time. I have to say that.

“I don’t think we were winning enough second balls, I don’t think we were putting them under enough pressure.

“But I thought second half we reacted extremely well to that and got a lot of tackles in and put them under pressure and didn’t give them time to play, which made them a little bit more direct and then it was perhaps a little bit easier for us to deal with.”

Despite their second successive defeat that leaves his side rooted to the foot of the table, Dartford boss Tony Burman, knowing his side will not stay there for long, takes the positives from tonight’s match.

But he felt Moore’s goal could have been avoidable.

“The lad shouldn’t have had the ball really because it was a bad mistake from one of our players,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“Flan (Adam Flanagan), he should have cleared it, but he’s got caught on the ball and their guy’s taken advantage of it.

“It’s a great finish but no way should he got the ball.”

Burman, however, insists the Princes Park faithful should not panic.

He said: “Disappointed, but a lot more positives came out of tonight than Saturday. I felt the players' done well, they worked hard and I haven’t got a problem, other than we’ve lost.

“That’s how things are at the moment. You can’t say we didn’t play well, I thought we played very well and I think the scoreline’s flattered them a little bit to be fair.

“But there you go, we’ve lost the game and we move on.”

Burman also paid tribute to the supporters that flooded through the turnstiles to watch this epic match.

“At this sort of level it’s fantastic to have that amount of people come to a game on a Tuesday night,” he said.

“They’ve been entertained, alright we’ve lost today but I’m sure that will change and we’ll have some wins.

“I felt if we got 1,500 it would be excellent and to get over that is fantastic. Fair play to everyone that’s come tonight, Dover supporters who have travelled a long way up and for our supporters who have come to support the side.”

Despite their two club’s rivalries, both managers shared the banter over a well-deserved drink afterwards.

Burman added: “They’re an intelligent side and Andy’s got them playing good football, which is good, with experienced players who are with a little bit of youth and it’s a nice way that they play and good luck to them.”

Dartford: Tony Kessell, Jamie Coyle, Richard Ketchell (Rob Haworth 80), Adam Flanagan, John Guest, Ray Powell (Steve Butterworth 70), Ryan Hayes, Nick Barnes, Brendon Cass, Danny Dafter, Lee Noble.
Subs: Tommy Osborne, Alex O’Brien, James White.

Dover Athletic: John Whitehouse, Matt Fish, James Rogers, Dean Hill, Ollie Schulz, John Keister, Jon Wallis, Sammy Moore, Shaun Welford, Frannie Collin (Andy Hessenthaler 74), Lee Browning (Jerahl Hughes 45).
Subs: Laurence Ball, Sam Gore, Sam Jones.

Goals: Jon Wallis 51, Sammy Moore 87

Booked: John Keister 15, Ollie Schulz 53, James Rogers 90, Andy Hessenthaler 90

Attendance: 1,781
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup)
Assistants: Mr Ben Wright (Walworth, London SE17) & Mr Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham)

Dave Shirley was filming the match - highlights will be available tomorrow - www.dafctv.co.uk