Kent Cup 1st Round
A rescheduled match after last week’s poor weather took us up to London to face Coney Hall youth in the Kent Cup. Pre-match instructions were all about keeping the ball on the deck and playing through the midfield to support the front players………………this all looked good until we stepped onto a pitch that was far from perfect. Dover started well, pressing high and regularly winning the ball in advanced areas and creating good chances. Dover dominated possession and keeper Joe Valler on his debut had more to do with his feet building up play, than actual saves.
The breakthrough came after 10 minutes, George Cudworth hit a direct free kick from 40 yards which sailed over their keeper into the top corner, a great strike for his first of the season. Coney Hall kept going though and won a free kick down the right, a good ball in between keeper and defence left Coney Hall striker with a free header 5 yards out to equalise against the run of play. Dover’s heads stayed high though and regained the lead just before half time through a calm finish from last year’s top scorer Lewis Saunders.
2-1 up at the break, Dover were asked to play more of the same regardless of the bumps and sand all over a poor pitch. 8 minutes into the 2nd half a corner routine from the left saw a great ball in from Ethan Warman met by a solid header from Saunders to make it 3-1. Game now over, it was how many Dover could get. Soon after, another corner routine this time from the right saw Max Spurr climb higher than anyone and head in Dover’s 4th. Dover missed a host of chances to increase the score and the game got a bit heated near the end with boys losing tempers on both sides, but the referee done well to calm things without any cards. The scoring was completed in the last few minutes with Kyle Manton finishing left footed from close range.
Dover left happy with the performance and result. Also to pick up no injuries or cards in a feisty match on a poor playing surface, Kennington at home in the league Sunday and awaiting the Cup 2nd round draw.
