Dover Athletic 2-0 Aldershot Town - Adam Birchall sends Dover Athletic into FA Cup Third Round

 Kick-off was delayed for sixteen minutes to allow 4,123 fans to cram into Crabble - and the stadium was rocking at the final whistle as Birchall proved to everybody that he should not be playing at Blue Square Bet South level, with two goals.

This was the day for all dressed in white and black to stand up and be counted - both on and off the pitch - and to a man Dover Athletic did themselves proud on the club’s greatest ever day.

Three thousand home fans crammed into three sides of Crabble and gave their heroes excellent support throughout and they were rewarded when Maidstone based Birchall showed his talents with a 25-yard screamer early in the second half and a cool as you like late penalty to send Dover Athletic through to the Third Round for the very first time.

The stewards failed miserably to keep jubilant Dover supporters off the pitch at the final whistle, as referee Mr Brendan Malone somehow found just over five agonising minutes of stoppage time at the end of this marvellous day. 

Forty-one places separated the two sides and although Aldershot clinched the corner count by 15-5, they could not cope with Birchall and couldn’t get through a resilient Dover back four of the returning Tom Wynter, the outstanding Olly Schulz, Rob Gillman, Matt Fish and goalkeeper Ross Flitney.

The River End sung their hearts out for the heroes at least an hour before kick-off and Aldershot’s following unwrapped a giant flag with the words “keep the dream alive” in blue lettering on a red background as the players emerged from the players tunnel in freezing temperatures.

Dover Athletic were the side that almost drew first blood, inside the opening two minutes, when Jon Wallis’ corner from the right was met at the near post by striker Ben Hunt, but Aldershot keeper Jamie Young caught the ball at his near post.

Schulz who won his own personal battle with Aldershot’s giant forward line gave home fans the sign of things to come when he had a goal ruled out in the eighth minute.

Full-time outfit Aldershot can work on set-pieces all day long and they were well drilled as they all raced out of  the penalty area by the time Harry Baker floated a free-kick into the box for the former Ramsgate striker to plant a header past Young - but three-thousand cheers turned to agony once they saw the raised offside flag.

Dover Athletic matched their professional opponents during the first half and Luke I’Anson’s left-footed shot rolled into Young’s arms, before Aldershot stepped up a gear.

Luke Guttridge, who was enjoying the freedom of the middle of the park during the first half, whipped in a free-kick and Wade Small planted a header into the River End.

Aldershot skipper, Marvin Morgan, a giant striker, unleashed a low shot on the run through the heart of Dover’s defence, which rolled into Flitney’s arms.

Birchall, who was seen on numerous occasions during the first half picking the ball up nearer the half-way line, unleashed a right-footed drive from just outside the penalty area in the 22nd minute, which flew straight at Young to give the part-timers confidence.

Aldershot squandered an excellent chance to stun Dover when a rare mistake from Gillman let in Wade Small but the winger swept his shot past the left-hand post.

Aldershot’s best goalscoring chance arrived on the half-an-hour mark when Little slipped the ball through to Morgan who cut along the by-line before rolling the ball back to Little who cracked a rasping right-footed drive from 20-yards, which stung Flitney’s fingers high above his head.

The home club covered the pitch to ensure the frosty conditions didn’t put the game at risk - but a sheet of ice ensured Aldershot didn’t go a goal behind before the break.

Wallis released Birchall down the left and the striker cut the ball back to Barry Cogan (remember him coming off the bench for Millwall during the last 16 minutes against Manchester United in the FA Cup Final six years ago) slipped onto his backside at the crucial moment as he was about to connect and send the ball flying into the back of the Aldershot net.

Dover Athletic were pleased to go in at the break on level terms. It had the ingredients of a giant-killing!

But Aldershot were left to rue two early missed second-half chances.

Anthony Straker (well marshalled by Wynter) cut the ball back to Ben Herd and the full-back whipped in a first time cross for Small to stick out a leg to flick the ball wide.

Then a penetrating run from Little down the middle saw the ball laid off to Small, who floated in a cross towards the unmarked Straker, who slammed his shot past the near post.

The Kent side then grew in confidence - Wallis was unleashed off his lead to boss the middle of the park - and step forward Birchall to grab all the headlines.

Birchall’s second chance came from a back-header, which sailed into Young’s arms, following Wallis’ free-kick that the impressive central midfielder won himself.

It was going to be third time lucky - no luck about this goal though - as Birchall left Young rooted to the spot as Dover Athletic’s brilliant fans lifted the roof off the River End,  in the 54th minute with a goal of pure quality.

The talented, quick striker picked the ball up and burst forward and unleashed a stunning right-footed drive from 25-yards, which flashed across Young and nestled into the bottom left-hand corner of the net for his 20th goal of the season.

Cue bedlam around Crabble and three thousand home fans going absolutely crazy and they all counted  down the clock for the rest of the game as they expected an Aldershot reaction.

Desperate Aldershot manager Kevin Dillon threw on more pace - but they were looked to be small fry as Dover dominated the second half as the River End did their best to suck the ball into the net.

Aldershot substitute Jermaine McGlashan was released down the right and his low centre saw Gillman throw his body on the line as he trod on the ball, slipped over and made sure he protected his goal.

Within the final fifteen minutes, Dover had chances to increase their lead, as Birchall’s shot on the run deflected past the near post and after a move involving Wallis and Birchall, Cogan’s right-footed drive sailed over.

The brilliant Schulz rose like a salmon at the near post as Guttridge whipped in Aldershot’s twelve corner of the game - Dover were nine minutes away from a famous victory that would eclipse their brilliant 2-0 win at foes Gillingham in the First Round.

Dover substitute Joe Tabiri picked up the ball and shaped to shoot before he laid the ball off to Birchall who set up Cogan and his angled drive was saved low down by Young.

Aldershot almost snatched an equaliser when substitute Wesley Ngo Baheng cracked an angled drive which was saved comfortably by Flitney, who excelled to prevent McGlashan from cruelly levelling from close range when he was left unmarked at the far post.

Winger Baker was released down the right by Tabiri and his driven cross struck an outstretched hand of Strakerand the linesman signalled for a penalty.

Up stepped Birchall and with his lethal right-foot sent Young the wrong way from the spot to spark wild celebrations.

“Brace yourself ladies and gentlemen,” bellowed the public address system as the board for five additional minutes illuminated the freezing cold air to the sound of boos around three sides of Crabble - but Aldershot were down and out and Cogan sent a last-gasp drive into the jubilant River End, who will no doubt will be boosting the coffers of pubs and clubs in Dover tonight.

The scenes at the final whistle were just brilliant.  It sums up the magic of the FA Cup.  Fans streamed onto the pitch to pick out their heroes and lifted Birchall up in the air.  

Congratulations Dover Athletic.  Thanks for such a special day.  We’re all fully proud of you all!

Reaction to follow separately.

Dover Athletic: Ross Flitney, Matt Fish, Tom Wynter, Jon Wallis (Sam Long 89), Olly Schulz, Rob Gillman, Harry Baker, Luke I’Anson, Ben Hunt (Joe Tabiri 82), Adam Birchall, Barry Cogan.
Subs: Bobby Aisien, Nicky Nicolau, Sam Cutler,  Lee Hook, Sean Raggett.

Goals: Adam Birchall 54, 89 (pen)

Aldershot Town: Jamie Young, Ben Herd, Jamie Vincent (Jermaine McGlashan 65), Luke Gattridge, Darren Jones, Glen Little (Wesley Ngo Baheng 56), Marvin Morgan (Danny Hylton 81), Anthony Straker, Manny Panther, Clayton Fortune, Wade Small.
Subs: Ben Harding, Aaron Morris, Jack Randall, Jordan Clement.

Booked: Anthony Straker 50, Ben Herd 87, Danny Hylton 89

Attendance: 4,123
Referee: Mr Brendan Malone (Wiltshire)
Assistants: Mr Steve Rubery (Essex) & Mr Michael Bull (Essex)
Fourth Official: Mr Ian Crouch  (New Eltham, London)