Kentish Football 
Thurrock 0-2 Dover Athletic - Hessenthaler targets Gills pair
SHIP Lane is never an easy place to come and play let alone win! So Dover Athletic to come through the Dartford Tunnell on a Tuesday night and produce a performance where Thurrock only really had one chance worthy of the name is a great credit to Andy Hessenthaler and his staff.
That said, the victory was achieved possibly at some cost as both scorer Adam Birchell and Shaun Welford both returned to Kent nursing injuries that could well keep them out of Saturday 's home game with Hampton and Richmond. Indeed so concerned was Hessenthaler after the game he had even had time to consider his options prior to talking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.
He said: "They're both doubts for Saturday and we'll see how they go over the next day or two.
“If we lose either or both I may have to talk to the Chairman, before giving Mark (Stimson) a call. If I have to I'd love to be able to bring in either the boy (Andy) Pugh or (Luis) Cumbers for a while - I'd like Pugh as he's played at Grays and they loved him over there, but we'll have to see."When asked about the win that not only ended the home sides unbeaten start to the season but also took his own side back to the top of Blue Square South, Hessenthaler paid credit to his chief scout Gary Whittell - "We're really pleased with getting the points tonight especially after the way we lost at Havant at the weekend.
“Thanks to Gary we knew what to expect tonight and his information more than helped the way we set things up - it is a tough place to come to especially on a Tuesday night, so I'm delighted that we've got the points.
“I said at the start of the season that we'd reassess things after 10 games and this was number nine. So whatever happens on Saturday I'm over the moon with the start we've made.“It’s been a step into the unknown for a lot of the players that we had last season who haven't played at this level before, and I'm certain that the signings that we've brought in (all of whom are experienced) have helped no end."
The Dover boss added, "And after Saturday, I was a little conscious that in all my time at the club we've never lost consecutive games - and that record at least remains in tact tonight!”And to be honest although the home side threatened, Dover keeper Lee Hook "only" was only extended once as the Pale Blue line in front of him (marshalled magnificently by Olly Schulz and Jake Leberl) didn't look like being breached even when Thurrock threw five me into forward positions for the closing minutes in a desperate attempt to gain something from the game!
Hessenthaler's side could have been in front as early as the third minute when James Rogers' cross from the left was turned onto his own post by Rob Swaine, and a relieved keeper Joe Woolley was able to fall on the rebound to deny Frannie Collin.
The large Dover contingent in the 534 crowd didn't have to wait for long for their heroes to take the lead - but at what cost.
Hook's long clearance bounced over the top of the home defence and Birchell was on hand to lob the ball over the stranded Woolley, but in doing so the former Barnet striker seemed to aggravate a hamstring injury that was to see him replaced by Jerahl Hughes - not that this change weakened Hessenthaler's side in any way, as Hughes shone, roasting home full back Phil Anderson time after time down Dover's right. Indeed the substitute would have double Dover's advantage on 27 minutes but for a fine Woolley block.
At the other end the impressive Leberl was on hand to make two fine blocks after a Fola Orilonishe cross wasn't properly cleared.
Not satisfied with that, Hook recovered brilliantly to block Paul Olima's follow up.
Then from the keeper’s long punt up field fell kindly for Collin who's snap shot was a coat of paint wide of the right post.With Schulz commanding at the back, the giant defender was denied a goal on the stroke of half time when his header from a left wing corner beat Woolley but thumped back of the post only for the rebound to jus loop over the diving Welford.
On the hour Schulz missed another golden opportunity as a free header from a corner flew over the bar, before a charging Nicky Southall run was only blocked just as the former Gillingham man was about to shoot.
Dover were so much on top at this stage, that the home side were really struggling, and Hughes, on 69 minutes crossed deep for James Rogers, who's header narrowly missed the angle of post and bar.
Then on 78 minutes another Hughes run found Collin in the box, and the striker made room for himself with an outrageous dummy before being denied by a fine Woolley block.Collin though wasn't to be denied as in stoppage time with the home side throwing five players up front, a delightful through ball found Dover's top scorer from last season, who coolly beat Woolley from the edge of the box as Dover returned to the summit of the league albeit only on goal difference from Woking.
The Dover boss did confirm that John Keister had returned to Margate and paid him this tribute; "He's gone back to Hartsdown Park, as we needed to free up some finances to maybe bring in another midfielder.
“He's been a big part of what we've achieved and deserves it!"
So as Hessenthaler himself has asked for his side to be judged after ten games, with this being number nine, I think that the start of the "trip into the unknown for a lot of our players" hasn't started too badly.
Thurrock: Joe Woolley, Ryan Andrews (David Knight 69), Phil Anderson (Junior Luke 77), Rob Swaine, Kenny Clark, Matt Paine, Matt Bodkin, Leon Lalite, David Bryant, Paul Olima (Leon McKenzie 52), Fola Orilonishe.
Subs: Reiss Gilbey Jamie Libby
Booked: Matt Paine 90
Dover Athletic: Lee Hook, Jon Wallis, Dean Hill, Jake Leberl, Olly Schulz, Nicky Southall, Sammy Moore, James Rogers, Shaun Welford (Tom Davis 68), Frannie Collin, Adam Birchell (Jerahl Hughes 23).
Subs: Lee Browning, Sam Gore, John Whitehouse.
Goals: Adam Birchell 10, Frannie Collin 90
Booked: Jon Wallis 12, Jake Leberl 75
Attendance 534
Referee: Mr Elliott Kaye
Assistants: Mr Mark Potkins (Woodbridge, Suffolk) & Mr John Mitchell (Ipswich, Suffolk)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd