Dover Athletic 3-0 Kingstonian - We must take advantage of our games in hand, says Wallis

DOVER ATHLETIC 3-0 KINGSTONIAN
Ryman League Division One South
Monday 21^st January 2008
Mike Green reports from SeaFrance Crabble Stadium

DOVER ATHLETIC moved joint-top of the Ryman One South table courtesy of as comfortable a 3-0 victory as you could wish to see.

A change of formation; the return of influential midfielder Alan Pouton and skipper Jon Wallis and a re-shuffled front line saw Andy Hessenthaler’s side dominate on a cold night at Crabble.

The only real surprise was that it took the home side 35 minutes to breakthrough.

Frannie Collin played a delightful ball down the inside right channel for wing-back Matt Fish to outpace the Kingstonian left full-back and centre for Lee Browning to sweep the ball home.

It was 2-0 just seven minutes later when John Keister hoisted the ball into the Kingstonian penalty area, keeper Luke Garrard did well to fist away from Browning but as it dropped, left wing-back James Rogers reacted first to score from twenty yards.

It was almost three straight from kick-off as K’s lost possession to midfielder Craig Cloke, who attempted to lob Gerrard from forty yards, missing only by inches.

After the break Dover’s dominance grew and but for Gerrard the visitors’ would have been on the end of a hiding.

On 51 minutes, Fish’s driven centre was deflected and somehow the keeper kept out and Jon Wallis saw his effort blocked and Cloke was denied a certain goal by a fine block from Simon Huckle.

Within a minute though Dover had their reward, and what a reward it was!

Wallis’ ball found Collin whose first touch took the ball into the path of Fish, who gloriously scored from 25-yards - his first goal for the club.

Cloke then saw a diving header flash wide; Collin was denied by Gerrard’s fine block. Cloke again brought the best out of the keeper with a 25-yard drive and substitute Jimmy Dryden had a header brilliantly tipped aside by the keeper late on.

All in all whilst the Kingstonian keeper Garrard was man-of-the-match his opposite number Dean Ruddy had arguably one of his quietest nights of the season.

So Dover Athletic return to winning ways after Saturday’s defeat at Chatham Town and skipper Wallis emphasised the importance of the three points afterwards, saying: “The gaffer sat us down and changed the formation.

“We knew after the game at their place they would try to get bodies into the midfield but the gaffer felt by playing Fish and Rogers wide we would create the room - and of course they scored.”

Wallis added: “It was vital for us to get three points tonight. We’ve got to use these games in hand to help us go on another long run.”

On this form you can’t argue with the skipper. If Dover can establish a lead at the top of the table by winning their games in hand you must say that they have to get some trophy polish soon for the Crabble sideboard.

Dover Athletic: Dean Ruddy, Matt Fish (Dan Tanner 86), James Rogers, Matt Bourne, Craig Cloke, John Keister, Jon Wallis, Alan Pouton, Lee Browning (James Dryden 82), Frannie Collin (Shaun Welford 82), Lawrence Ball.
Subs: Ryan Andrews, Byron Walker.

Goals:  Lee Browning 39, James Rogers 42, Matt Fish 56

Attendance: 907