Dover created history today by getting through to the first round proper of the FA Cup for the third year running.

They had a scare against a gallant Eastbourne side, also could history repeat itself as Dover beat Eastbourne at this stage last year & look what happened to them a glamour tie against Crystal Palace.

The performance was not as fluid as they would have wanted & Eastbourne raised their game. The prize money will come in handy after the events of this week of the missing money.

Eastbourne had the first chance of the game in the 2^nd minute when Nathaniel Pinney received the ball on the edge of the area turned & went across the area before seeing his curling effort go just past the post, but in the next minute Dover took the lead when Sam Magri on the right crossed to the back post where Jack Parkinson rose & saw his downward header clawed of the line by Lewis Carey only for Stefan Payne to nonchantly back heel it in from 3 yards.

Three minutes later Sean Raggett going forward from halfway tried his luck from 25 yards but Carey easily saved it.

In the 16^th minute it was nearly two when a Nick Deverdics free kick from the right corner flag was floated in avoiding everyone except Craig Stone playing against his old team who headed it off the line.

After these scares Eastbourne finally got into the game & in the 19^th minute were unlucky not to equalise when a cross to the back post saw Nathan Collier’s shot come back of the post straight to Elliott Romain whose shot from 8 yards went straight into Mitch Walker’s midriff.

Six minutes later a ball into the edge of the area was half cleared to Pinney who’s first time shot went wide of the post & a minute later Romain 25 yards out ran past Aswad Thomas into the area but his shot from 12 yards went across the goal & ended up as a goal kick.

The last chance of the half came in the 31^st minute when Magri on the left wing cut inside & let fly but it went wide.

The half time whistle went & both managers would have some work to do, Chris Kinnear to get his team to raise the tempo whilst Tommy Wriddlington would want more of the same but a bit more ruthlessness.

The second half started with Dover having the first chance when Toby Ajala on the left crossed into the area but was cleared but only to Parkinson whose goal bound shot was headed over the bar for a corner.

Two minutes later & Eastbourne had their first chance when the ball was played across the edge of the area & Kane Haysman saw his curling effort go wide.

In the 59^th minute Jack Evans 40 yards out chipped the ball to Darren Lok in the area but not realising he had time headed it& Walker saved easily. Dover should have sealed the game in the 66^th minute when Richard Orlu found himself on the right wing & his lovely low cross into the area found Deverdics 8 yards out but his volley went over the bar. Another chance came in the 71^st minute when Deverdics chip forward found Payne in the area & his acrobatic effort was easily saved by Carey.

Four minutes later Payne found himself on his own in the area but his shot went across the goal for a goal kick. In the 77^th minute Eastbourne got the equaliser they deserved when Gavin McCallum only on for three minutes cut inside from the right & shot home from 25 yards game on.

Time was running out for both sides & in the 89^th minute Eastbourne could or maybe should have won the game when Pinney on the edge of the area twisted & turned & then passing into the path of Lok but from 8 yards out he shot wide when everyone in the ground expected a goal.

Dover got the winner in the second minute of added on time when firstly the ball in the area saw Tom Murphy fall down under pressure from the defender & a penalty was denied by the Referee but a corner given & from the resulting corner to the near post was flicked on & Raggett on the far post rose & headed in via the crossbar.

The Dover supporters went mad with excitement as did the players whilst the Eastbourne players, manager & supporters were gutted as their team had given a good performance & fully deserved a draw on the day but that’s football or should it be said that is what happens in the FA Cup.

 

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH:

1. CAREY 2. C.STONE  3. S.BEALE  4. J.EVANS  5. I.SIMPEMBA 6. K.KHINDA-JOHN  7. E.ROMAIN 8. N.COLLIER 9. N.PINNEY  10. D.LOK  11. K.HAYSMAN (72)

SUBS USED:  16. G.McCALLUM (72)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. M.BAPTISTA  14. L.WATSON  15. R.WORRALL  17. J.STREET  18. R.TATE  GK. L.ROGERS

BOOKINGS: NONE

 

DOVER ATHLETIC;

1. WALKER 2. S.MAGRI  5. S.RAGGETT  6. R.ORLU  15. J.GRIMES  21. A.THOMAS  17. N.DEVERDICS 18. J.PARKINSON 12. T.AJALA (68)  23. S.PAYNE  9  R.MILLER (81)

SUBS USED: 7. R.MODESTE (68)  10. T.MURPHY (81)

SUBS NOT USED: 11. N.DIALLO  14. D.OFARI-ACHEMPONG  16. T.STIRLING 30. A.RAFFERTY 4. C.KINNEAR JNR

BOOKINGS: 17. N.DEVERDICS (47)  6. R.ORLU (51)  9. R.MILLER (63)

 

REFEREE:  Mr C.POWELL

ASSISTANTS: Mr B.COBB & Mr A.FOSTER

4^TH OFFICIAL: Miss P.WYATT

ATTENDANCE: 821