Dover Athletic 3-2 Cray Wanderers

Starting from where they left off in the Horsham rain on Saturday, Hessenthaler’s charges flew out of the blocks and were ahead in seven minutes courtesy of Liam Quinn’s header from Alan Pouton’s expertly flighted corner.

The lead was doubled on the half-hour when skipper Jon Wallis rammed home his third goal of the season from 20-yards, following a neat knock down from Frannie Collin on the edge of the box.

A double half-time substitution by Wands’ boss Ian Jenkins, finally saw the visitors show some fight and it was one of the substitutes, Danny Whelan who drilled home from the edge of the box after a corner had caused chaos.

But almost from kick-off, a horrendous defensive slip by Ryan Royston allowed Mark Lovell to get away down the inside left-channel before expertly drawing keeper Glen Knight before squaring to James Dryden to walk his third goal of the season into an empty net.

To their eternal credit, the Wands again responded, and finished up playing
3-4-3 as they chased the game.

There was almost the grandstand finish as with just two minutes to go, Ross Lover’s free-kick was headed into his own net by the luckless Quinn - almost a carbon copy of the goal the makeshift central defender had scored 81 minutes earlier.

Afterwards, Hessenthaler naturally delighted with the six points from their opening two games, said: “We’re still trying to find our feet in this league, but we have to be pleased with a result like that against one of the fancied sides.

“I’m looking to make it twelve points out of twelve by winning both games over the bank holiday weekend (home to Leatherhead on Saturday and at Whitstable Town on Monday).”

For Cray Wanderers boss Jenkins he rued his side’s first half display, saying: “We told them at half-time that we were better than that, and fair play to the boys, they upped the tempo and we deserved to get back into it.

“But we can’t defend like we did tonight if we’re going to reach the levels I want to reach this season.”

He added: “We’ve got a tough weekend but if we win at Croydon Athletic on Saturday, tonight will be forgotten.”

To hear reaction from this game, listen to BBC Radio Kent on 96.7FM or 104.2FM in their Tuesday morning sports desk bulletin.


Dover Athletic: Dean Ruddy, Matt Fish, James Rogers, Liam Quinn, Craig Cloke, John Keister, Jon Wallis, Alan Pouton, James Dryden (Byron Walker 81), Frannie Collin, Mark Lovell (Jack Tanner 78).
Subs: Tom Hickman, Ryan Andrews, Gavin Wright.

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Aaron Day, Colin Luckett, Dean Morris, Julian Curnow (Danny Whelan 46), Ryan Royston, Ross Lover, Jamie Kempster, David Hall (George Fenwick 46), Michael Power (Lewis Wood 82), Jamie Wood.
Subs: Tyrone Sterling, Alan Matthews

Attendance: 1021
Referee: Mr Paul Harris
Assistants: Mr Nolan Wilde & Mr Simon Finnigan