A cold late autumn afternoon took Athletic U14’s to the Isle of Sheppey for the return leg of a game Dover won back at the beginning of October. Athletic started the dominant force with two early goals, the first from Wes Chadwick who ran confidently onto a through ball from Max Spurr and slotted the ball home followed by a second goal from Ethan Warman assisted by Max Spurr. This was a jubilant relief for the Athletic defence that has been haunted throughout the season by conceding early goals. Athletic created several more chances in the first half but Sheppey were utilising their single route for opportunity to their front man, but little troubled the solid defence. With only a single substitute on the bench, Dover had to replace an injury and were thus reduced to 11 men for the remainder of the game with five minutes left until half time. A solid Dover defence were caught on the back foot from one of Sheppey’s down-the-throat plays after winning the ball without challenge on the edge of their own box. Athletic’s last defender got to the ball a little too late and was committed to the tackle only for it to be tapped past and the striker run through on goal. Dan Smith sprinted 5 yards out the box to meet it but the skill of the striker took it past him and slotted confidently into an open net. As Athletic have done many times this season, conceding a goal has made them more determined to reply quickly and that they did with a through ball for Lewis Saunders to cheekily chip the goalkeeper who got a glove to it but could only watch the ball roll into the net. Athletic had regained the two goal advantage and would surely go on to win the game.
The second half was expecting to see Sheppey return with a desire to score, but if they were the Athletic team were able to contain the play and control the ball. Chances were created with Athletic adding a fourth goal to the score line through Max Spurr midway through the second half. Notable performances from Sam Hanson (including a flying swan header) kept Sheppey’s chances to a few and from Max Spurr hassling the ball up top and centre of the park, almost taking on two roles himself. The game ended 4-1 to Dover having now completed two wins over Sheppey.
