Dover triumph in our final Final

It was time for our final Final, and it was very much the biggest of them all. Dartford versus Dover Athletic, a place in National League South the prize, both sides desperate to return to Step Two after only one season with us. Was it something we said?

Prior to this season the Darts hadn’t been our way since winning our title in 2010, and had reached the heady heights of eighth place in the National League since their departure. In truth, we were surprised to see them back, but they’ve had a fine campaign. Boss Ady Pennock had to virtually reconstruct his side in the summer, but once they gelled they were virtually unstoppable; indeed only two weeks ago they topped the table, but so tight were the margins that a simple draw on Easter Monday saw them drop to third and effectively condemned them to a Play Off battle. 

Dover won our title the season prior to the Darts last triumph, and until the last few years had been contentedly supping at the top Non League table. The last few seasons had been rather challenging for our visitors, but this season had seen them lead the way under boss Jake Leberl for much of the campaign, only for a dip in form to let the leading trio- and eventually Cray Valley PM- overtake them. The last few weeks, however, had seen them rediscover their early season dominance, and they travelled confident of yet another win on the road- they had been better on their travels that at Crabble.

The sides had been in the same division for the last three seasons and it was quite clear that the Darts had had the best of their encounters, winning five of the six. When the sides last met, as recently as Good Friday, Dartford triumphed three-one, but Athletic fans would point to an aggregate advantage in favour of their side, as Athletic won five-one at Crabble in September.

The match was a sell out almost as quickly as tickets went on sale, and supporters were waiting outside for admittance when the turnstiles opened at 1PM. They nearly all seemed to have heeded the weather forecast and were warmly wrapped up; just as well as if last week was summer this week had returned to spring. A wind was whistling around Princes Park, mixed with occasional rain- warm it was not. 

There was plenty to keep them warm in Wednesday’s Semi-Finals, both sides coming from behind to triumph in extra time. The Darts had hosted Cray Valley PM, gone two down, and somehow managed to level with the last kick of normal time before triumphing four- three after an extra thirty minutes. Athletic had travelled to Billericay, gone behind five minutes into extra time, but hit back to score a one hundred and nineteenth minute winner. Hopefully both sides had recovered from their exertions, and we’d have a similarly enthralling contest. 

By two o’clock the Dartford drummer was beating his rhythm, and the visiting fans were welcoming their side onto the pitch for a warm up. The noise intensified at both ends as we approached kick off, and the crescendo was deafening as the sides emerged for kick off.

After the customary huddles and handshakes, Dartford, in their traditional black and white, got us underway. Dover were in yellow and green. 

Within thirty seconds the hosts had a corner, and George Whitfield got his head to it, but the ball sailed over the bar. A minute later they were awarded a free kick to the left of the box, and then a cross from Sam Odaudu was scrambled clear. A shot from Denzelle Olopade was too tame to trouble Mitch Walker, but we’d played fewer than four minutes and Dartford were already creating danger.

On ten minutes a header back to Darts keeper Jacob Marsden almost sold him short, Ruben Soares-Junior nearly beating the keeper to the ball- but the match was being played almost exclusively in the Dover half, and four minutes later an effort from Samir Carruthers was the closest yet, landing on top of the net.
 

And then, a Dover break. Luke Baptiste was bearing down on goal when Whitefield brought him down, and with the visiting players and their fans screaming for a red card, a yellow card was produced. It must be said that the Darts defender was a little lucky. Free kick specialist Alfie Matthews effort was less special than usual, directly into the keepers arms.

We reached the half way point in the first half with Dartford well on top, but Athletic looking dangerous on the break. Good interplay between Darts Olly Box and Callum Jones led to another shot, from the latter, which was blocked- and then Olopade shot wide. Box had the next attempt, but it was easy for Walker. Box had been superb all season, and once again he looked the most likely to engineer a breakthrough.

The host came closest yet on thirty seven minutes. A corner from Carruthers was headed goalwards and then headed off the line, the rebound scrambled clear. Five minutes later, another effort from Carruthers- and another shot over the bar. 
 

The half came to an end without a goal. The hosts had been dominant, but had nothing to show for it. 
 

Half time: Dartford 0 Dover Athletic 0
 

The second half found both sides attacking the ends containing their fans, and in the first few minutes it was the visitors who did most of that attacking, their best chance coming when a cross from Baptiste was crying out for a finish, but managed to miss every onrushing forward. 

And then, penalty! A shot from Soares-Junior was saved, but in the melee that followed there was a foul on George Nikaj, and the referee had no hesitation. Up stepped Soares-Junior, and he made no mistake.

Goal: Dartford 0 Dover Athletic 1, Ruben Soares-Junior, 57 minutes 

Dartford poured forward, and one corner was followed by another, then a deep cross punched clear- but a foul on the keeper followed and relieved the pressure. At the other end Matthews shot well wide.

The hosts tried to respond, but there had been no way through as we moved into the last twenty minutes. Athletic were standing strong at the back and quick to break when they got the chance. The travelling fans were jubilant, the home fans suddenly quiet and tense. The chances were still coming to the visitors, Nikaj shooting straight at the keeper, Soares-Junior curling an effort over the bar.

As we moved into the last ten minutes it was Dover who were doing most of the attacking. Matthews tried his luck from a free kick thirty yards out, which went wide, and then a Darts break saw Box sting the hands of Walker and earn a corner. Dartford kept up the pressure, and Walker had to charge out and parry an effort from Hayden Bullas. Box went down in the…box and hoped for a penalty, not given, then at the other end a Dover break was stopped by a charging Marsden, who was booked for his trouble.

The free kick led to a second Dover goal. The ball was cleared only a few yards, and straight onto the head of Matthews, who guided his effort inside the post.

Goal: Dartford 0 Dover Athletic 2, Alfie Matthews, 87 minutes

The travelling fans began to sing “we are going up,” and surely they were. We moved into added time with the visitors trying to- and failing- to hold the ball in the corner. The hosts tried, but they knew. We all knew. And soon the celebrations were able to start in earnest. 

Full time: Dartford 0 Dover Athletic 2

Both sides had been a credit to our league and had a fine season. It’s a sad end to the campaign for Dartford, but on their second half showing Dover deserved their prize. Now, in the nicest possible way, don’t come back!