Dover Athletic vs Sutton

[Rambo]

One of my very few away games this season, sadly, but what a game to be present at.........if it hadn't been for Mitch Walker in goal for Dover, it almost certainly would have been 3 nor 4 nil at half time, the 2nd half, once Harry been dismissed ( would like to see the video before deciding if it was "dangerous" ), it became a battle of the Alamo, which every person wearing an Amber shirt rallied to......it would have been an injustice had Dover legally got the ball in the back ofour net to secure a point ! Tremendous performance from all, so no way would I pick one player out to be 'our' man of the match !

[skillspaybills]

Saying it here and now I firmly believe Tommy Wright will grace the Premier League someday (barring injury etc). Bold statement but I believe this lad is the goods.

I just watched his goals compilation and he scores every type of goal going. People say "It's only the Conference" but it's how he takes his goals. I forget at times how young he is.

He's a gem the kid.

[Amber Aleman]

Another 1-0 win at the home of one of our promotion rivals (see also Tranmere, Bromley). You could describe this as a gritty away performance, and there was certainly some grit involved, but I thought that we were clearly the better side over the 90 minutes and (as Rambo suggested) had we won by a bigger margin that wouldn't have been an injustice. Even after the (harsh?) dismissal of Harry B with about 30 minutes remaining I thought we more than matched Dover.

To put things in perspective, that was our ninth away win in the league this season. During the whole of last season we managed only two.

[trev]

...and the fact that our away record is currently even better than our home record is yet another nail in the coffin of those feeble claims that 3G confers an unfair advantage.

[georgieboy]

Fantastic result.
Well done boys

[Carl]

Without the benefit of TV replays or coverage of the game I thought:
1) Harry’s sending off was harsh;
2) Simon Walton was magnificent and our Man of the Match today;
3) Jaime Butler was great between the sticks and challenged Simon for MoM; and
4) the ten men were magnificent in resisting Dover for nearly thirty five minutes.
#DareToDream
#DareToBelieve
#15CupFinals

[trev]

We're the only side in the National League to have won our last three fixtures, so the promotion dream is very much alive...

[norman1]

Dos has had a very difficult week (Twitter comments) but the TEAM'S response was 100%.

Just what he needed and we enjoyed that performance as well!

I can't see Barrow game going ahead so we will enjoy a thriller against Wrexham next Saturday....can't wait.

[Kebab Belly Bob]

I thought both Jamie Butler and Mitch Walker were the stand out performers on the day and that is saying something given some of the other performances.
Loved the game as a whole with masses of entertainment on a rapidly deteriorating pitch. Credit to both sides on this one. The way the game was panning out I believe 11 v 11 would have resulted in a 2 or 3 goal win. Massive respect to all our lionhearts yesterday. As much as I was deflated after the Trophy exit I can safely say that performance put a smile back. Onward and upward. Sadly missing my first game of the season on Tuesday but I will be there in spirit and glued to the iPad for news.
I would just like to remind Dos that he is in the hall for fame for a reason - LEGEND.

Kbb

[Stewart]

Some interesting comments from Chris Kinnear.

link

[norman1]

Some highlights of Bromley v Maidstone as Deano gets sent off www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/fixture_and_result/bromley-2-2-maidstone-united/

[timall]

Feb 11, 2018 13:42:28 GMT Stewart said:

Some interesting comments from Chris Kinnear.

link

"...there's a couple of ex Premier League players in there..." Really?

[jr]

Eastmond wasn't playing CK.

Certainly Deano did us a favour denying Bromley 3 points.

[markf]

Another three points on the grass (or in this case mud) and well deserved too.

The first half was a great advertisement for the NL with both sides looking to attack and testing their respective 'keepers. Jamie B made a couple of fine saves, one in the first minute, of what was a confident return by him while at the other end Mitch Walker was outstanding. His saves from TW's deflected effort, Simon W's superb drive and then TT's back header that I think may have looped up off a defender were superb.

Once again TW was involved in what was to be the only goal. His wonderful vision to pick out KC set up the chance that Kieron took as his effort crept in off the far post.

Second half U's continued to be the better team and Walker probably made his best save when getting down low to LJ's header.

Then came the HB moment. The red came out pretty quick and on review of the TV evidence it was correct. Harry pushed the ball too far and then slid in for it was late and caught their fella. It wasn't bad as it looked but it was a red.

Meanwhile the weather that had got worse as the match went on had turned our defending third into a very tricky proposition with players struggling to keep their feet. Not that it should have bothered Dover. Kinnear's one dimensional tactic came into total prominence after HB's exit and while some of the balls they played into the box were of quality, the home side's inability or lack of the wit to make the spare man count was evident.

A bit like the Cambridge cup tie earlier when the situation was reversed, the ten men were superb in their defence of a one goal lead and with Jamie B as the last line making two very good stops, they saw the match out. For the first hour U's were the better side with some great attacking play and that last half hour the better side because of brilliant, collective defending.

A great win against rival play-off contenders. As for Kinnear and his comments, you have to wonder what planet he is on? PL players? Nicky B played in the Championship and Craig Eastmond, who played in Europe for Arsenal was suspended. Where are the others then? "The heavier side won". Tommy W, I suspect, ain't as heavy as Parry and he ran rings around the fella while KC is hardly a loping giant nor too Harry B. Absolute crap but then his description of the 2-2 draw at GGL in his programme notes including a condescending note when it was they who were fortunate to get a last gasp equaliser.

Is it any wonder some of the Dover fans don't like him much when he spouts drivel like that?

As for the ref, I had hardly noticed him before the red card and as he got that right, I would have to say that was probably one of the best performances we have seen from the man-in-the-middle this season. I would say he missed a sliding tackle on Tommy W late on that had him wincing but that was it.

So now we await to see if Barrow have got their act together and can stop us travelling Tuesday only to have to abort again. Do us a favour; look at the pitch, look at the weather forecast, use a bit of local savvy and make the right call.

[markf]

Should add that Kieron's goal yesterday was his first in the NL since the 2-2 draw with Dover in October.