Dover’s superb form continued at the Gallagher Stadium as Andy Hessenthaler’s team did the double over their Kentish rivals & in doing so moved a couple of places up the table while Maidstone’s woes continued.
The first half saw Maidstone the better side albeit in a poor game. Dover started the quicker with two half chances in the first 9 minutes, in the 6th Jai Reason’s corner to the back post was met by Alfie Pavey but his header went just past the post then three minutes later Pavey in the area passed it to Inih Effiong who from 12 yards shot past the post.
In the 11th minute Jake Cassidy playing his last game on loan & going back to Hartlepool tried his luck from 25 yards but Mitch Walker saved it. The game went into a lull as both sides kept giving the ball away then in the 28th minute a long kick out by Ross Worner found Cassidy & from 20 yards saw his shot go over the bar.
In the 34th minute Dover had a great chance to take the lead when a long diagonal ball saw Mitch Brundle latch onto it & tried to lob Worner & it went just past the far post. Maidstone then had two half chances up to half time when firstly in the 41st minute a corner into the area saw Will De Havilland head just over the bar & then in the 44th minute Elliott Romain running from half way passed into the path of Cassidy whose shot from 20 yards was parried away by Walker.
The second half was a reverse of the first with Dover the better side. In the 57th minute a ball forward saw Effiong try to lob Worner & in the very next minute Bedsente Gomis 20 yards out saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Dover continued to enjoy more possession & Hessenthaler took a gamble with his substitutes by taking defensive players off & bringing on attackers, Jamie Allen, Ricky Modeste & Anthony Jeffrey.
These changes caused the Maidstone defence a lot of problems & because of this they did not create any scoring chances. In the 86th minute the majority of the crowd went silent when long throw into the area saw it flicked on by Effiong for Allen to nip in between the defenders & the keeper & shoot home from 10 yards. The 375 Dover fans raised the roof of the Genco Stand.
This completely stunned Maidstone & although the referee added on five minutes & Maidstone threw everything at Dover they did not create one chance.
The final whistle went & the visitors were in raptures as they continued their climb away from relegation while Maidstone are still in the relegation spots, so need to make a decision on the manager’s job soon otherwise they could be in freefall.
MAIDSTONE UNITED:
1. R.WORNER 3. G.McLENNON (45) 5. W.DE HAVILLAND 8. J.POWELL 9. E.ROMAIN 10 J.PAXMAN (77) 21. O.MULDOON 22. M.PHILLIPS 24. J.CASSIDY 28. A.TAJBAKHSH (89) 29. C.WASSMER
SUBS USED: 30. J.EDOBOR (45) 19. J.ROBINSON (77) 23. J.RICHARDS (89)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. J.STRIZOVIC 20. S.WALTON
BOOKINGS: 30. J.EDOBOR (72) 21. O.MULDOON (90+5)
DOVER ATHLETIC:
1. M.WALKER 5. K.LOKKO 8. M.BRUNDLE 12. I.EFFIONG 14. A.PAVEY (62) 18. N.NORTEY (68) 23. B.GOMIS 26. S.DOE 27. S.LEWIS 28. J.DEBAYO (75) 30. J.REASON
SUBS USED: 10. J.ALLEN (62) 21. R.MODESTE (68) 7. A.JEFFREY (75)
SUBS NOT USED: 4. M.DIARRA 31. L.WORGAN
BOOKINGS: 12. I.EFFIONG (81) 30. J.REASON (83)
REFEREE: Mr G.PARSONS
ASSISTANTS: Mr G.JERDEN & Mr C.GREEN
4th OFFICIAL: Mr O.JACKSON
ATTENDANCE: 3087 (375 DOVER).