Dover Athletic 2-2 Dartford - Debutants make dream starts as Kent derby ends all-square

Both Anton Innocent and Mark Green made dream starts for their new clubs, getting on the score sheet as these two sides, in the top five in the Ryman League Division One South table, locked horns.

And it was Green, 21, who signed for his home-town Dartford from Ryman Premier League side Tonbridge Angels this week, that opened the scoring as the visitors deservedly took the lead after 28 minutes.

But local hero Craig Cloke drove the hosts level on the stroke of half-time, sparking a revival before Innocent, 24, scored a stunning scissor kick volley that sent Crabble wild just five minutes into the second half.

But despite dominating the second half and keeping Dartford on the back-foot, they had to settle for a point as Brendon Cass scored his 24^th goal of the season with just thirteen minutes remaining to earn the share of the spoils.

Fourth placed Dartford went into this showdown just one place and two points above their rivals from east Kent.

And the Darts dominated early on as they created three chances inside the opening fifteen minutes.

A kick from former Folkestone Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell was flicked on by returning striker Jay May for Cass.

And Cass cut the ball back to right-winger Ryan Hayes, whose first time cross towards the far post was met by a header from Green, which dropped onto the roof of the net.

Dover Athletic goalkeeper Glen Knight had John Guest’s looping header covered as the former Folkestone Invicta central defender met Hayes’ free-kick from the left.

And Hayes’ left-footed drive from 22-yards flashed past the far post just a minute later.

But Dover Athletic created the game’s best chance after 21 minutes through former Sittingbourne striker Bradley Spice.

Skipper John Keister shrugged off Eddie McClements, and the defence splitting pass from the former Margate star sent Spice through on goal.

But Spice’s right-footed shot, across the goalkeeper, was blocked by Kessell and defender Richard Avery was on hand to clear the danger.

Knight was called into action when he blocked May’s shot following Hayes’ far-post corner and moments later Spice drove his shot agonisingly past the foot of the near upright.

Knight was relieved to hold onto Cass’ miss-kick from inside his penalty area after the striker pounced onto May’s knock down but the Darts deserved their 28^th minute lead through Green’s stunning opener.

Green, whose played for Gillingham, Margate, Welling United, Eastbourne Borough and Tonbridge Angels, latched onto Cass’ header and after looking up he struck a sweet right-footed shot, which he bent into the top right hand corner from 25-yards to send the noisy travelling fans wild.

But Dover Athletic, who went into this game having lost their last three league games, took the game by the scruff of the neck and started dominating proceedings.

A long-range shot from James Rogers floated past the far post before Shane Hamshare drove a shot straight down Kessell’s throat from 20-yards.

But Dover thoroughly deserved their equaliser on the stroke of half-time and full-credit must be given to Keister.

Keister received the ball on the edge of a Dartford penalty area full of bodies in front of him.

Many inexperienced players would have tried a pop-shot on goal but Keister looked up and played an intelligent pass to an unmarked Cloke on his right.

Central defender Cloke cut inside and drove his shot towards goal, taking a deflection off Steve Norman at the near post before leaving Guest and Kessell flat-footed behind him.

The equaliser sparked Dover Athletic into life and after a rousing half-time team-talk from their management team they deservedly took the lead after 50 minutes.

Keister’s floated a right-footed free-kick from the halfway line and the ball was knocked down and former Wimbledon and Erith & Belvedere striker Innocent unleashed a stunning right-footed ten-yard scissor kick volley which left Kessell rooted to the spot as the ball flew into the top left hand corner.

Innocent duly raced towards the celebrating River End faithful and was mobbed by ecstatic fans - only to be booked for his actions.

Dartford received some respite when, in the 55^th minute, Norman bent his left-footed free-kick around the right hand post from 22-yards.

Dover felt they should have been awarded two penalties in quick succession when Rogers and Spice were tackled by Norman and Tommy Osborne.

McClements, who was a lot quieter during the second half, sent over a cross towards the far post and after bringing the ball down with a cushioned header, May blasted over.

But Dartford grabbed a point with an equalising goal with thirteen minutes remaining.

Former Slade Green winger Hayes whipped in a trademark left-footed free-kick from the edge of the box on the right hand side.

Hayes’ low curing free-kick deceived Knight to find the back of the net and leading scorer Cass is claiming that he got a touch before the ball crossed the line.

POACHER:  Dartford striker Brendon Cass (grounded player in yellow) claimed that he got the final touch to Ryan Hayes' whipped in free-kick to grab his side a 77th minute equaliser at Crabble.

Photograph courtesy of Jack Carter and www.dartfordfc.co.uk.


Both sides went for that all-important winning goal but in the end had to settle for a point, which is good news for those other Kentish giants, Maidstone United.

The Stones’ 4-1 win at Croydon Athletic (Ryan Royston scoring his first ever hat-trick) puts them five points clear at the top and with a game in hand.

Dover Athletic manager Clive Walker told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards that he was pleased with the impressive second half performance from his side.

“I thought ten minutes before half-time we started to play, when we equalised and I thought second half we played allright, we played well,” he said.

“We came out second half and looked like we could score more goals, plus (we had) a couple of penalties turned down by the way.”

Walker revealed that he was going to make a couple of changes before his side bounced back late in the opening half.

He said: “I was going to change it (but) I thought ten minutes before half-time we picked ourselves up again.

“I was going to make a couple of changes but I though I’ll leave it for ten minutes and have a look at it again.”

Walker admitted that he was pleased with Innocent’s debut - and wants to see the 24-year-old striker shoot his side up to the Ryman Premier League.

“Great goal. Great technique,” he said. “He looked lively. He’s not played for anybody and all that so I was pleased for him really.

Walker did, however, praise the delivery from Hayes that led up to Darts salvaging a late point.

“Stupid free-kick given away but to be fair to them it was a decent free-kick he put in.

“But what annoyed me was the fact we had two blatant penalties turned down I thought when we was 2-1 up.”

Looking ahead to Leatherhead’s visit to Crabble on Tuesday night, Walker said: “You could do with three points can’t you? I mean, I suppose it’s better than being beat but I could still do with three points from that game.

“We’ve got eleven games left, still in with a chance, at this level anyway.”

“I’ve got a couple of players coming back now. Tommy Tyne, who was ill today and Matt Bourne who had a match suspension so I’ve got a couple of more coming back in and I’ll have a look at it.

“It’s trying to lift them up again, it’s not been easy sometimes”

Dartford manager Tony Burman admitted it was a “game of two halves”.

“I think we were the better side first half and they were probably the better side second half,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following their sixth draw of the season.

“Someone needed to win, yes but I think a draw is better for us than it’s probably is for Dover.

“We had a couple of chances that didn’t quite come off but Greenie’s put on in the back of the net with is right-foot and I just feel we went for the game first half.

“Second half we didn’t come out as well as we should have done and the lad up front has hit a great strike to be fair to him.

“Full credit to the lads, they’ve come back and managed to get a point from a free-kick late on but I’m happy with that.”

Talking about Dover’s second half dominance, Burman said: “I thought they put us under more pressure second half but we didn’t do things right.

“We fought hard and gave 100% and that’s all I can ask for.

Burman expressed his delight for Green, his very own goalscoring debutant.

“He’s had an excellent start,” he beamed. “I don’t think he’s played for a little while - he played last week obviously but I don’t think he’s played many games but he’s come in and done ok - he’s a fit lad and he’ll get fitter with us I think.”

Both sides face home fixtures on Tuesday night, Dover Athletic welcome Leatherhead to Crabble, whilst Tooting & Mitcham United visit Princes Park.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk shall bring you previews to these games later.