Dover Athletic 0-2 Hastings United - Dover chairman promises a"change of structure" at Crabble

DOVER ATHLETIC 0-2 HASTINGS UNITED
Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Semi-Final
Tuesday 1^st May 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Crabble

Dover Athletic chairman Mr Jim Parmenter has promised a “change of structure” at the club after tonight’s play-off semi-final defeat at the hands of ten-man Hastings United.

Hastings striker Ade Olorunda captalised on two costly errors from Dover defender Craig Cloke and goalkeeper Glen Knight, to book their place in Saturday’s play-off final at Imperial Fields - despite playing for an hour with ten-men when Sam Adams was sent off.

Hastings will meet a Tooting & Mitcham United side that stretched their unbeaten run to 31 games, following their dramatic 2-1 win over Fleet Town tonight.

Brothers Joe and Paul “Charlie” Vines scored two last-gasp goals and are favourites to join champions Maidstone United in the Ryman Premier League next season.

And slack defending from Cloke allowed Olorunda to stun the expectant Crabble faithful after just ten minutes.

His hesitancy allowed the striker to race into the penalty area, and after rounding Knight, Olorunda rifled a left-footed shot into the roof of the net from six-yards.

But the Kent side were desperately unlucky not to equalise within two minutes when Byron Walker’s left-footed angled drive agonisingly bounced off the top of the near post.

Cloke tried to make amends from Jon Wallis’ free-kick after sixteen minutes, but his towering header was plucked from underneath his own crossbar by visiting goalkeeper Lee Worgan.

Knight made a comfortable low save to his right to prevent Ade Olorunda’s deflected shot beating him four minutes later.

Dover Athletic striker James Dryden twice went close within the space of a minute; his left-footed drilled free-kick from 35-yards was beaten away by Worgan and then his low shot, which was rolling towards goal, was cleared off the line.

But Hastings were reduced to ten-men on the half-hour mark when Adams received his second yellow card of the night for barging Wallis.

But Dover failed to make the extra man advantage count, as it was their visitors who created the better chances.

Lee Carey’s far-post free-kick was nodded wide by midfielder Tim Olorunda, who in the 52^nd minute dropped his shorts to moon at home fans after they dished out some comments.

A trade-mark long throw from Cloke was met by Craig Wilkins’ header but Worgan made a comfortable save after just 52 seconds into the second half.

And Worgan made a comfortable save on the hour mark from Dryden’s header after Tony Browne chipped the ball into the penalty area.

Following a run and a cross from substitute Bradley Spice, Walker’s left-footed shot wasn’t going to beat Worgan with twenty minutes remaining.

But highly-rated Hastings skipper Sean Ray was thwarted by a fine save from Knight three minutes later.

The sought after loyal central defender saw his header tipped over by the diving Dover goalkeeper.

Walker flashed a left-footed drive agonisingly past the foot of the far post, but was penalised for using his hands to control the ball.

And the former Chatham Town winger should have done better with time ticking away but he blazed his left-footed shot over from 22-yards, hitting the ground in frustration.

But Hastings’ sealed their passage into Saturday’s final with 44 minutes and 41 seconds on the clock, courtesy of Knight’s howler.

Substitute Danny Ellis captalised on the blunder before squaring the ball for Olorunda to rifle his second goal of the night into the top right hand corner to spark wild scenes of celebration both on and off the pitch.

“I was very disappointed with our performance,” Mr Parmenter told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after tonight’s costly defeat.

Mr Parmenter added: “We already decided that whatever happened their would be a change of structure at the club.

“There will be a change of structure. Whether Clive Walker is the manager or not, that's not yet been decided because we don’t feel that we’ve got a strong enough management team on the playing side.

“When Clive was sick and had the operation, we felt that period of the season has cost us promotion.

“We think we would have picked up more points had we not had that lack of continuity so we already decided we need a stronger team structure in place in terms of managing the playing side.

“Whether that team will include the current manager, is a matter of a board decision sometime this week.”

Craig Wilkins, whose scored nine goals this season, admitted his team-mates let the fans down.

“We just never played like we did in the last three or four weeks,” he admitted.

“It seems to be every time we have a big crowd certain players freeze and seem to get too desperate, too quick - we just didn’t play.”

Reflecting on their failed promotion bid, he added: “It started off well, just the middle period again - like last year really.

“We ended the season well like last year, it’s just that middle period that’s let us down in the end.”

But Wilkins, who can play at the heart of defence or in attack, hopes he can settle his own future soon.

He said: “I’m out of contract from now really. I’ll speak to Jim (Parmenter) next week, hopefully to sort something out.

“I want to stay here but it depends on if he wants to offer me anything - we’ll see.

“I’ve heard rumours of other teams (wanting to sign me) but you never know until they contact you.”

Praising the fans, he added: “We’re gutted for the supporters. They’ve given us so much support, loads of fans here tonight and put in good voice - we’re just sorry to let them down again.”

When asked if he’d like another crack of the whip next season, Whites boss Clive Walker replied: “I can’t answer that question at this moment in time.

“Two season’s now, play-off’s, and we’ve cocked up really. I suppose I felt frustrated more so than last year really.

“I thought first half we did allright, even though we were one down, but we had a couple of chances we really should be taking. Then it gets harder, people get desperate.

“Hastings made it difficult, they defended well to be fair to them. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit as well.”