With the first team manager Chris Lynch called away on emergency work duties it fell to assistant manager Paul Meade and Alex Brunetti-leach club psychologist, to prepare the team for the visit of Lordswood FC.

After last weeks match where Dover had to come back from behind to claim the points a more disciplined start was required for this fixture.

This was indeed exactly what Dover displayed for the first 20mins. Settling into a positive attacking shape . With Ethan Challinor constantly finding Joe Hunnisett on the right wing with ease. He in return providing several crosses of good quality into the Lordswood area but the strikers unable to capitalise.

Although under no real immediate threat Dover started to allow the opposition to many chances to shoot and two great saves by Owen Harman kept the score at 0-0.

The deadlock was broken on 28mins and went the way of Lordswood. An in swinging corner under the cross bar caught out Dovers keeper, who struggled to deal with which ended up in the back of the net.

This then drove Lordswood on and 9mins later a scuffed shot bobbled goal bound after Dovers defence delayed to long 0-2. This remained the score at halftime.

Although deflated by the score line Dovers management team where not to despondent and informed the players that this is still a game they can go on to win .

Dover came out for the second half ,after a change of personnel, with purpose and desire and where rewarded 5 mins after the restart when Liam Middleton found the bottom corner 1-2.

This was now Dovers turn to be motivated for an equaliser as a stunned Lordswood started to defend their lead . This played into Dovers hands and on 67 mins Alfy Galvin found himself in the Lordswood penalty area, who failed to clear at the first attempt and a low drive made it 2-2.

Lordswood where shellshocked and could not respond to Dovers constant waves of attack . Both out wide and direct.
It really was now a matter of time before this intense pressure paid off.

A great through ball on 76 mins found Ben Cassingena who displayed a fantastic first touch and finish to make it now 3-2.

Lordswood suddenly started to attack now in search of the equaliser but it was Dover who where always going to try harder for their fourth. They thought they had when on 82 mins the best move of the match between Bryant and Cassingena saw the former finish with a low powerful shot only to be ruled offside .

A few final attacks by Lordswood never threatened the Dover goal and a good three points gained at the final whistle.

Man of Match
Ethan Challinor

Coaches comments

Although we started brightly we can not afford to continue with simple mistakes. This is consecutive weeks we have gifted the opposition goals. A more clinical team could have scored 4 in the first half from which we would not have recovered.

However again can not praise enough every single players commitment and workrate in showing brilliant character to come back from 0-2 down.

This is the the mark of champions. Still top of the league and undefeated.