This was not a day for Sevenoaks Town to be short of players as they took on a Dover Athletic side who are the undefeated leaders of the Under ’18’ South League.

Having said that it was admirable of Sevenoaks to play the game despite only being able to field 9 players, all of whom who battled hard throughout despite being well beaten by their visitors. On a cold chilly day the home side got off to the worst possible start conceding a goal after only 3 minutes when a speculative 25 yard shot from Ben Cassingena slipped through the fingers of home keeper Chris Olds into the net. A minute later it was two when Alfie Bryant’s left wing cross was well controlled by Cassingena, who then turned and smashed the ball home high to the right of Olds. On 10 minutes the visitors went close to increasing their lead when Owen Stewart launched a free kick from the half way line into the Town box where Dover Captain Alfy Galvin headed just wide. Dover’s Ethan Challinor then hit a powerful long range shot that Olds held moving to his right.

Dover then made it three on 14 minutes with another superbly taken goal as Liam Middleton fed the ball into Bryant on the left edge of the area and he glided into the area before curling the ball home high to the left of Olds into the top corner of the net. On 23 minutes it was nearly four as Middleton made space well on the edge of the box before hitting a delightful lob that flew over Olds but hit the bar and bounced down and out to safety. On the half hour Mark Middleton made a strong forward run into the Town box but his powerful shot was saved by Olds high to his left. Shortly afterwards Jack Gealer’s deft pass put Bryant in on goal but Olds was quickly off his line and managed to block his attempted close range lobbed shot. Dover then hit the bar when Stewart launched a free kick into the box from the half way line that saw the ball skim off the head of Town defender Morgan Logsden and fly over Olds but rattle the bar before going over. Middleton then tested Olds with a shot on the turn that the Town keeper held before the visitors made it four on the stroke of half time. Harry Andrews did well down the left before firing over a low cross that was neatly turned home by Bryant.

The second half continued where the first left off with Dover on the offensive against the depleted home side. Cody Allcock had a long range shot saved by Olds moving high to his right before Kyle Miller had a low drive saved by the busy Town keeper.

On 52 minutes Dover had a great chance to increase their lead when an Andrews corner from the right flew through to Gealer but his close range side foot volley flew straight at Olds. Minutes later they missed another opportunity when Middleton’s left wing corner found Charlie Corrigan at the far post but he sent his free header over. However this was a brief respite for the home side as on 62 minutes Dover made it five when an Andrews right wing cross found Middleton whose close range shot was blocked by Olds but Liam Jones was on hand to sweep the loose ball into the net.

Two minutes later it was six when Cody Allcock scored with a neat close range volley from Bryant’s pinpoint left wing cross. Town then reduced the arrears a minute later as Jermaine Gore’s ball into the box found Lee Peacock and he showed great strength to hold off his marker before neatly slotting home from close range. It was nearly two minutes later when an Alfie Spears left wing cross was acrobatically volleyed over by Peacock on the turn. However normal service was resumed a minute later as Dover got their seventh when Cassingena made a strong run down the left before squaring the ball for Middleton who rifled the ball home low to the right of Olds. Town’s captain Louis Dixon, who never stopped running throughout, then tested the underemployed Dover keeper Owen Harman with a swerving 25 yard shot that he saved well moving high to his right. The home side were then awarded a penalty when Stewart brought down Peacock in the box. This was taken by Dixon who fired home low to the right of the diving Owen Harman. Jones then hit a powerful 30 yard shot that Olds saved well high to his left before the visitors scored again when Cassengena completed his hat trick as he smashed a long range effort home high to the right of the diving Olds. Minutes later Dover scored again when Stewart’s excellent curling free kick from the edge of the box beat a diving Olds low to his right. Town then went close to a third consolation goal on 87 minutes when a Spears left wing corner found Logsden but his header flew over. Dover then made it double figures on 88 minutes when Cassengena’s right wing cross was clinically dispatched by Jones low to the right of Olds to also complete his hat trick. The last action of the game saw Gealer turn well on the edge of the box but fire narrowly wide. Although this was a heavy defeat for Sevenoaks they kept going to the end and all their players should be commended for the efforts against an excellent Dover side.

**Managers Comments**
We went into today’s game looking to be tested, it was unfortunate a team like Sevenoaks could only field 9 men, but having said that this presented it own problems for us to solve, going forwards we were always going to be superior, I would pit us against any team in the country at this age group and back us to be dangerous in possession on the attack. However, in reality it meant Sevenoaks spent 90% of the game defending with as many numbers as they possibly could, this gave us lots of time on the ball, we did play some fantastic phases throughout the game, however, we have to also be disappointed having conceded two goals both defensive errors. But I can’t be too hard on the lads as it very difficult to maintain concentration when goals are free flowing given lots of time on the ball when this would never happen a strongly competitive fixture.

We need to focus upon discipline, just because we are winning by significant margins doesn’t mean we can switch off elsewhere on the pitch.

In any case it’s another win on a fantastic surface with a good crowd, which is also great to see, however this is usual for our supporters home or away.

We go into the Christmas break Top of the league, through to the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup looking to resume even stronger than we started.

Chris Lynch
Head of Youth Development/U18’s Manager
Dover Athletic FC