Dover Athletic 1-0 Horsham YMCA - Our worst performance of the season, admits Hessenthaler

DOVER ATHLETIC 1-0 HORSHAM YMCA
Ryman League Division One South
Monday 4^th February 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from SeaFrance Crabble Stadium

FRANNIE COLLIN’S 19^th goal of the season ensured Dover Athletic scraped past Horsham YMCA - to move four points clear of challengers Tooting & Mitcham United at the top of the Ryman League Division One South table.

But it was a frustrating night for the excellent Monday night crowd of 914, having to wait until ONE SECOND into stoppage time at the end of the second half for the decisive breakthrough.

As second-from-bottom side Horsham YMCA thought they had done enough to grab a point, the former Chatham Town and Gillingham striker Collin had other ideas.

Jon Wallis’ corner was met by a downward header by Craig Cloke at the far-post, which struck an arm of a visiting player on the goal-line but Collin was on hand to stab the ball into the net from four-yards.

The pressure is now back on Tooting & Mitcham United, who know they must collect maximum points at Burgess Hill Town tomorrow night to keep the pressure up on the Kent side.

Horsham YMCA’s goalkeeper Chris Winterton, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, denied Collin inside the opening nine minutes.

A cross from the right from Matt Fish, who was seeing plenty of the ball, was flicked on by Lee Browning, but Winterton was on hand to parry Collin’s shot before pouncing on the ball before it crossed the line.

But the west Sussex side called Dover Athletic’s goalkeeper John Whitehouse into action when Andy Ottley captalised on a mistake by defender Gareme Andrews.

And the stadium was stunned into silence when James Grant stroked a shot past the far post - put off by a sliding tackle from Fish - following Ottley’s low centre from the right.

Collin was thwarted by another smart save by Winterton after 25 minutes, who saved the low right-footed shot from the edge of the box, after Wallis’ cut-back.

Next to be denied was Alan Pouton, whose right-footed curling shot from 30-yards brought a flying save by the impressive Winterton.

Dover then forced two successive corners, with Cloke meeting Wallis’ in-swinging corner with a towering header, which flew over the post, from just four-yards out.

Former Sittingbourne striker Lee Browning squandered an excellent chance to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, blazing a right-footed shot high over the bar, following a cut-back from the by-line by James Rogers.

Dover Athletic created a hat-trick of chances inside the opening five minutes of the second half, but were left frustrated as they couldn’t breach a stubborn defensive minded side, who, at times did venture forward.

Cloke had a couple of chances - one with his left-foot and the other with his head - and Browning swept the ball into Winterton’s arms, all inside the opening five minutes of the second half.

With all three of their substitutes now on the pitch and playing with a 4-3-3 formation, Dover’s next chance arrived in the 73^rd minute when substitute Shaun Welford saw his glancing header drop agonisingly over the bar.

Greg Palmer’s shot flashed past the left-post for Horsham YMCA, following a move involving Matt Simpson and substitute Ben Fillery.

Winterton rushed off his line as Welford raced towards goal but the former Ramsgate striker floated a cross towards Collin inside the penalty area and the right-footed shot was beaten out by the goalkeeper.

But the breakthrough finally came, ONE SECOND into stoppage time, but Whites player-manager Andy Hessenthaler, when speaking to Mike Green of BBC Radio Kent, wasn’t happy with his side’s performance.

He said: “We were diabolical. I didn’t see that (performance) coming. Our performances in the last four games have been better than that. It’s probably our worst display of the season.”

When it was pointed out that against Dulwich Hamlet at the weekend and again tonight his side have scored in the last five minutes, giving them the four points that they lead the division by, Hessenthaler concluded: “I suppose I’ve got to be grateful for the way we’ve kept going.

“You have to feel for them. I’ve been in that position many times in my career and know what their feeling tonight.

“We’ve now got to concentrate on getting things right again for Saturday.”

Dover Athletic: John Whitehouse, Matt Fish, James Rogers, Graeme Andrews (Shaun Welford 56) Craig Cloke, John Keister, Jon Wallis, Alan Pouton (Andy Hessenthaler 62), Lee Browning (Jimmy Dryden 56), Frannie Collin, Laurence Ball.
Subs: Matt Bourne, Byron Walker.

Goal: Frannie Collin 90

Horsham YMCA: Chris Winterton, Dean Carden, Alex Keaney, Martyn Flack, Glen Woodburn, Tom White, Richard Greenfield (Adam Jupp 81), Matt Simpson, Greg Palmer, Andy Ottley, James Grant (Ben Fillery 66).
Subs: Aaron Tewsley, John Tewsley.

Booked: Tom White 55

Attendance: 914
Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Rochester)
Assistants: Mr Timothy Hatt (Redhill, Surrey) & Mr Graham Kendall (Reigate, Surrey)

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