RESULT | DOVER ATHLETIC 0 WHITEHAWK 2
The Hawks secured their third away win away of the season with a deserved victory against one time league leaders Dover Athletic. Shaun Saunders recalled Joseph Osaghae in goal and Will Seager at left back after Tuesday night’s draw with Hendon. The Kent side were without injured Mitch Walker in goal but included familiar faces in Joe Tennent, after his loan spell with the Hawks ended last weekend, plus Luca Cocoracchio, who was pushed forward into a new role in midfield.
Hawks got off to a great start inside the first ten minutes. There was confusion in the home defence as Harrison Pont’s clearance rebounded off Rob O’Toole to Harry Bridle, who slotted the ball past Jordan Gillmore for his seventh goal in six games.
Dover’s bench were frustrated from early in the match and after stopping the game for a warning, a yellow card was shown to assistant manager Mike Sandmann after just fifteen minutes by referee George Lynch. The home side were having plenty of possession but the ball spent a lot of time in the air, either from punts forward or long throw ins from Tamas Amgbaduba. Osaghae made a superb save to tip over a Ruben Soares-Junior header after 21 minutes but the Hawks still looked dangerous on the break, especially when Bridle was denied one on one by Gillmore.
The half ended with a series of great saves by Gillmore to keep the deficit down to one. On 39 minutes he tipped over a Manny Mensah header after a left wing cross from Imran Kayani. From the resulting corner he saved superbly from an O’Toole pile driver. He then saved well from a Geofrey Okwonko header following a right wing corner.
Dover played more football on the ground in the second half and looked a much better side in their approach play, without making clear cut chances. The biggest threat to the Hawks was disruption by injuries. Andrew Briggs had gone off before half-time to be replaced by Charlie Lambert. Manny Mensah departed with concussion just four minutes into the second half and his replacement Josh Nandhra went off limping after 71 minutes to make way for Billie Clark.
Despite the switches in personnel, Osaghae and his defence held firm and with 17 minutes of normal time left Harry Bridle shot wide after a rare Hawks break up field.
It took until the 89th minute for Dover to get a clear sight of Osaghae’s goal, but the keeper denied Francis Mampolo from close range after a through ball from Cocoracchio.
Billie Clark settled any Hawks nerves four minutes into the eight added on at the end of the game. Sent away by Luke Cook he beat the last defender and despite Gillmore saving his first shot, followed up to score and celebrate behind the goal with the Hawks 15-strong travelling support, as victory was secured.
Hawks: Osaghae, Wright, Seager, Briggs (Lambert 41′), Okonkwo, Watson, Mensah (Nandhra 49′, Clark 71′), O’Toole, Bridle (Cook 87′), Walker, Kayani (Asike 91′)
Dover: Gillmore, Sesay, Mensah, Pont (Mampolo 66′), T Amgbaduba (Lucan 83′), Tennent (E Amgbaduba 82′), Cocoracchio, Baptiste, Nikaj (Charles-Cook 83′), Soares-Junior, Wilkinson
