Dover Athletic completed a remarkable nine days and hat-trick of away wins as they returned to the National League at the first time of asking as Jake Leberl’s side in the end comfortably beat Ady Pennock’s Dartford in front of just under 4,000 at Princes Park.
After a first half that was largely spoiled by the wind, Dover got their noses in front though Rueban Soares Junior’s penalty given after Geroge Nikaj was fouled trying to reach the rebound from Luke Baptiste’s shot that had been well blocked by keeper Jacob Marsden.
When Alfie Marshall glanced a header from a free-kick beyond Marsden with ten minutes left, the visitors were effectively promoted, as try as they might Dartford just couldn’t find a way past Dover keeper Mitch Walker and his defenders.
Dartford started brightly with Sami Carruthers at the heart of most of the good things the home side produced. It was Carruthers’s angled lob/cross that had Walker back pedalling with the keeper relieved to see the ball land on the roof of the net.
Nikaj went down on the very edge of the home box but referee Scott – who largely had an excellent game in the middle – wasnt interested in Dover protests for a penalty as the free-kick came to nothing whilst at the other end, Carruthers and the hard working Callum Jones combined to set up Olly Box, but the ball just wouldn’t drop for the Dartford man and the chance was gone.
Nikaj then bailed his side out at the back heading Josh Hill’s effort off of the line from a free-kick and the half ended with Hayden Bullas curling an effort just too high after Carruthers had won possession in midfield.
Box had the second period’s first chance but wanted far too many touches after receiving Denzelle Olopade’s pass, and then just before the hour, Dover took the innitiative that they were not to lose. Marsden did superbly well to Baptiste, but as the ball ran free, Nikaj had his legs taken from under him and from the spot, Soares “Panenka-ed” Marsden and Dover were ahead.
To be fair it did spark the Darts’ best spell of the game as at the end of the passing move of the match, Bullas was played in but just couldn’t keep his feet. Box thudded a shot into Walker’s chest, before Walker made a superb block – again from the unlucky Bullas as this time he kept his feet and seemed to have flicked the ball past the advancing keeper, but Walker stuck out an arm and the chance was cleared.
Box went down in the penalty area bringing an appeal of more hope than anything else primarily from the crowd before Dover’s promotion was all but sealed three minutes from time.
Following a quick break, Soares raced away only to be crudely halted by keeper Marsden flying out of his goal in the left back position. The Darts reprieve was only temporary though as from the beautifully flight free-kick, Matthews arrived late to majestically glance a header in off Marsden’s right post.
Dartford did go close to reducing the arrears but Jones could not get hold of his shot after a great run from sub-Louis Dunn whilst Dover’s afternoon was summed up when, following his substitution, Nikaj jumped into the crowd to celebrate with the travelling fans rather than return to the bench – and why not, as for the first time in a while after relegation after relegation, the Crabble faithful finally have something to cheer as Jake Leberl’s first season as a manager ends in promotion.
And what a day too for Dover skipper Walker – a clean sheet in a Play Off Final, a winners medal and promotion all this on his three hundredth appearance for the Club.
DARTFORD – Marsden, Odaudu, Carruthers (Dsane), Hill, Whitefield (Dunne), Jones, Olopade, Box, Okoye (Pinder), Olarewaju (Williams), Bullas.
Sub not used – Christian-Law.
DOVER ATHLETIC – Walker, Charles-Cook, Sesay, Tennant, Cocoracchio, Baptiste, Matthews (Gyebi), Nikaj (Lucan), Soares (Angbadvba), Mensah, Hanson.
Subs not used – Amgaduba, Mampolo.
REFEREE – Mr. Scott