Bad weather has caused a number of postponed fixtures recently so it was good to return to Sunday morning football with a 13 goal thriller at the Bettshanger ground.
Faversham were much the sharper team at the start throwing players forward at every opportunity and running the Dover defence ragged proving that the best form of defence is actually to go all out attack.
Dover were struggling and Faversham opened the scoring after just 7 minutes and continued to dominate play. Dover’s Wade Hughes sparked a moments response and replied from a quick counter attack only for Faversham to score another almost immediately.
Dover was forced into an early formation change and a shuffle of players in an attempt to subdue the Faversham attacks.
We took a gamble and rather than add more defenders we decided to push more players forward hoping this would restrict Faversham from committing players to attack. This made for a very open game of football but had an almost instant effect and literally a minute after the change Wade Hughes again found the back of the net with a powerful effort from another counter attack.
25 minutes in and Dover slowly started to take control. Jamie Kennedy put the home side ahead for the first time with a well placed finish and Luca Ambriz added Dover’s forth before the break with a rebounded effort which he calmly slotted home.
The second half was again end to end with both sides forcing good saves from the keepers however Dover were again forced to make changes following the red card dismissal of centre back Danny Goddard.
10 man Dover were again under threat but fought incredibly hard and it was Dover’s Alfie Wilkins who eventually hit the target scoring yet another chip shot from outside the box. Wilkins added another minutes later following a wonderful pass from Kennedy to release Wilkins for a one v one which he slotted home in the corner of the net and 15 minutes after scoring his first Wilkins completed his hat rick with a composed finish following some great build up play.
Having been a man down for most of the second half Dover began to tire and Faversham exploited the extra man with some great strikes as they started to fight back. With just 2 goals separating the teams going into the last 5 minutes and Faversham in the ascendancy it was a very nervy end however Dover were relieved when left back Eddie Jordan intercepted a Faversham pass and released Qimmarie Thompson on the wing who ran some 50 yards before side footing home passed the Faversham keeper.
The game finished 8-5 to Dover but proved a great spectacle for the supporters who applauded both sets of players at the end.
A wide open game, full of goals and a sigh of relief to hear the final whistle.
Well played Faversham, and well battled Dover to not only overcome the man advantage but to adapt to the changes we made throughout. You showed great team work today.
Next week we host Canterbury.
