Maidenhead United 0-0 Dover Athletic - I'm happy with a point, says Hessenthaler

Still dressed in his training kit, Hessenthaler told www.kentishfootball.co.uk, “Given everything that we’ve been through today, I’m highly delighted to be taking a point home.

“Considering the problems that we’ve had at the back this week, I thought that Nicky Southall showed what a true professional he is and that Dean Hill alongside him was magnificent.

“We created some decent chances in the first half and I suppose I’m a bit disappointed that we became predictable after half-time - but my godness it was hot out there!

“I know it was the same for both sides but they didn’t have to endure a long coach trip before hand.”

It was a testament to the strength of this Dover squad that despite missing Jake Leberl (calf), Craig Cloke (cruciate) and the suspended Olly Schulz that the defence held their hosts to shots from distance.

As Hessenthaler admitted Southall looked a different class, despite, as he admitted later, never having started a game in the centre of defence in the whole of his illustrious career.

Southall said: “I’ve played there once at Norwich when Ash (Barry Ashby) was injured when we were playing there for the Gills but I can’t remember starting a game there.

“Maidenhead were a big side but between me and Dean we did OK.  If I’m honest, I actually enjoyed it!”

Whilst Southall excelled at the back, it was undoubted that Dover missed the creativity at times that the former Gills player can offer with his distribution.

Because of their defensive problems, Jon Wallis was forced to play at full-back for most of the game and whilst Tom Davis and Sammy Moore worked tirelessly throughout the energy zapping 90 minutes, there were at times where Dover were crying out for the through ball that wasn’t there.

Given there lack of preparation time, it was perhaps unsurprising that the home side created the first chance on six minutes when the giant Alex Wall glanced a header narrowly wide of the left post that had keeper Lee Hook scrambling across his goal.

Dover eventually got into their side and Shaun Welford and Adam Birchall combined on the edge of the box, only for Davis to slice horribly wide.

Moments later, Wallis saw a tremendous 25-yard drive brilliantly tipped over by the flying Maidenhead goalkeeper Chris Tardif as Dover got into their stride.

On the half-hour, another Dover attack led to both Welford and James Rogers having shots charged down on the edge of the box as the ball ricochet pin-ball like around the box.

The home side’s best chance arrived six minutes from half-time when following a Steve Barnes free-kick, skipper Mark Nisbet saw a looping header beat Hook but grazed the top of the Dover crossbar.

Moments later, the Dover keeper could have been embarrassed after missing a long cross from the left, but fortunately for the Kent side Wall could not direct his header goal wards and the chance was gone.

On the stroke of half time, Birchall was denied by a very brave Tardif save - an exquisite through ball from debutant Davis found the Dover number eight who found the Maidenhead keeper at his feet just as he was about to shoot.

The momentum continued with Dover as the second half began and on another day Hessenthaler’s side could have scored three in the opening ten minutes of the half.

From a Wallis corner, Welford beat the flailing Tardif to the ball but couldn’t keep his header down.  Moments later, from a huge Hook clearance, Welford’s flick was almost turned into his own net by Nisbet - the Maidenhead skipper was indebted to his keeper who produced a very smart save away to his left.

And then on 55 minutes, another Wallis drive went just too high as far as Dover were concerned.

The introduction of Stafforde Palmer a minute later seemed to give the home side more presence up front and as Dover began to run out of ideas going forward, the Maidenhead substitute could have scored twice in a space of 90 seconds.

On 79 minutes he got away from the Dover defence and sent a low shot which Hook did very well to get down to and push aside, whilst 60 seconds later, as the flag stayed down, Palmer escaped from the defence before drilling a 20-yard volley high and wide - the look on the striker’s face told all in the ground that he should have done better.

As time elapsed home full-back Jamal Fyfield received a second yellow card after crudely bringing down Dover substitute Jerahl Hughes, but there was insufficient time for Hessenthaler’s side to take full advantage.

Not that the Dover boss was too unhappy, “We played a good side today and given our problems I’m more than happy to be going back to Crabble with a point.

“We’ll start again on Tuesday night against Bishop’s Stortford that we can continue to make Crabble the fortress that it has been in recent years.

“We only lost once at home last season and long may that continue.”

Smiling, the Dover boss added, “I just hope we can get home in time!”

Maidenhead United:  Chris Tardif, Jack Bradshaw, Jamal Fyfield, Dan Brown, Nevin Saroya, Mark Nisbet, Bobby Behadzi, Kieron St Aimie (Dean Mason 37), Reis Stanislaus, Alex Wall (Stafforde Palmer 56), Steve Barnes (Sam Collins 66).
Subs: Lewis Ochoa, Adam Carpenter.

Booked: Stafforde Palmer 65, Jamal Fyfield 77

Sent off: Jamal Fyfield 90

Dover Athletic: Lee Hook, Jon Wallis, James Rogers, Dean Hill, Nicky Southall, Sammy Moore, Tom Davis, Adam Birchall (Dan Walder 76), Shaun Welford, Frannie Collin, Lee Browning (Jerahl Hughes 66).
Subs: John Keister, Sam Gore, John Whitehouse.

Booked: Dean Hill 27

Attendance: 407
Referee: Mr Colin Lymer (Mayford, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Ian Douglas (Thatcham, Berkshire) & Mr Roger Smith (Chippenham, Wiltshire)