Today’s fixture saw Dover Athletic host Canterbury City in the KitToFit Challenge Cup.

Dover, having two weeks prior found themselves on the wrong end of a 0-3 defeat to Canterbury, knew they had a score to settle. Vice Captain and first choice right back James Stanbrook was missing from the starting line up due to a late knee injury, his replacement being left back Klye Miller.

From the first whistle Dover stood up to accept this challenge, with the defensive units proving too disciplined and in complete control, limiting Canterbury to a couple of scrappy counter attacks penetrating the final third. Dover took the lead on 20 minutes through a magnificent strike just outside the box from Liam Jones, the ball was hit with precision and power into the top right hand corner. Fantastic goal.
Canterbury looked to pick themselves but it was too late to cause any real concern, in a first half of which Dover had predominately dominated.

Second half Canterbury City came out of the blocks fighting, they begun to string some well worked passes together but were again limited to shooting from distance. Canterbury hit the cross bar with a well struck shoot on 60 minutes, However, Dover’s no.1 Stefan Lawrence was equal to it had it have been any lower. Dover played a high tempo, high pressure offensive, which resulted in several opportunities but lacked the final product in front of goal to kill the game off. In the last five minutes Canterbury threw everyone forward and did come close had it not have been for a magnificent finger tip save by Lawrence to tip a good shot over the bar.

Charlie Corrigan was given his debut for Dover, in the center of midfield who impressed with some fine challenges and forward play. Kyle Miller also had a very good game, battling for every ball and winning an impressive amount of defensive headers.

Man of the match today was without doubt Liam Jones, he was in terrific form, his attitude and commitment was evident and amplified by a string of quality tackles winning the ball high up the pitch as well as defensively, his general distribution was of a high standard and of course he scored the all important winner. This goes to show, if you turn up with the right mentality and are determined to work hard for your team, you will be rewarded.

Chris Lynch – Manager Dover Athletic U18’s.