Report: Brill Will Scores Brace as United Defeat Dover

It just took five days for Maidenhead United to secure their second win of the season as a Will de Havilland brace earned the Magpies three points. 

 

Alan Devonshire made three changes to the side which beat Horsham, with Josh Umerah, Liam Dulson, and Josh Popoola returning to the starting XI. 

 

The Magpies started brightly, and it was perhaps no surprise that they opened the scoring at the Crabble. After eight minutes of continual pressure on the Dover uprights, United took the lead when their hosts failed to clear a corner. As the ball landed at his feet, the skipper smashed home Maidenhead’s first away goal of the season. 

 

Having scored half of the season’s goals within the previous 53 minutes of football, United were full of confidence with their early lead. Liam Dulson, following a good start, miscalculated a volley which went over the bar, while Josh Popoola saw his shot go wide after a good run to get himself in a scoring position. 

 

With a quarter of the game gone, Dover responded with their first chance of the game when Alfie Matthews struck towards Jordi van Stappershoef in what turned out to be an easy save. George Nikaj also threatened with a darting run, but saw his shot blocked with Harry Beadle unable to keep the rebound under control. 

 

The Magpies continued to press, and almost had two as a result of Josh Umerah’s free kick. His effort clipped the Dover wall, curling onto the crossbar – much to the relief of Mitchell Walker. 

 

Loud shouts of “handball!” echoed around the Crabble just before half-time. Matt Robinson fired towards goal, and was blocked by Jalen Jones. Despite the vocal appeals of the travelling Magpies, referee Tolu Sangowawa waved play on and the half drew to a close without any further notable action. 

 

 

Despite a sluggish first half for the hosts, Dover took only three minutes to equalise in the second. Nikaj charged down the right-hand side, before cutting inside to take the shot. His effort, this time, was not blocked, and beat van Stappershoef to remove the deficit. 

 

After a period of Dover pressure, United began to look more lively ten minutes later. A series of set pieces were well dealt by the Whites’ defence, who were yet again close to conceding when Popoola found Robinson in the box. His strike went straight towards Walker, allowing the ‘keeper to make the save. 

 

United affirmed their control as the half progressed, and it wasn’t long before they retook the lead. Remy Clerima, who’d had yet another good performance at the back, assisted his skipper with a floating cross which was headed home by de Havilland for his brace. 

 

Dover were down but not out, and a lofted free kick threatened another equaliser. Fortunately for the Magpies, the set piece missed all the bodies in the box and fizzled out for a goal kick. 

 

Excellent defending towards the end preserved the Magpies’ lead, with van Stappershoef making an important punch away from a Nikaj cross. A late block also denied Ruben Soares-Junior in the closing stages. 

 

 

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Jones, Cocracchio (Coker, 85’), Matthews, Nikaj, Shariff (Soares-Junior, 73’), Beadle (Wilkinson, 90’), Lukombo (Sesay, 67’), Mensah, Mampolo (Baptise, 85’) 

 

Magpies: van Stappershoef, Ragguette, de Havilland, Ferdinand, Mitchell-Lawson (Bartley, 83’), Robinson, Umerah, Dulson, Cochrane, Clerima, Popoola (Yearn, 87’) 

 

Attendance: 1,068