DOVER AND OUT

An account of my trip to watch Maidenhead United's match at Dover in April 2022, written for the Maidenhead Advertiser

The prospect of a trip to relegated Dover initially prompted feelings of ennui.  The way the season was closing suggested a tight match was in the offing and indeed the stoppage time winner from Josh Kelly demonstrated progression from the promising performance on Tuesday night at Wealdstone. Yet Dover’s season of the walking dead gave a sense of obligation to proceedings. At York Road, back in August, the Whites refused to capitulate, despite the Magpies taking an early two goal lead, making United work hard for their win. This appeared to set the tone for their season, losing narrowly most weeks as they struggled with the burden of their close season points deduction. They had managed to break their duck eventually with a win over Eastleigh in January and continued to show great fight as illustrated by their amazing eleven goal thriller at Wrexham, but remained on negative points.

On a more positive note Dover’s bucolic Crabble ground is well worth the half an hour yomp from the station, especially when bathed in the Spring sunshine. A welcome pit stop en route at the Breakwater Tap with its full spectrum of beer from Pilsner to Stout provided an opportunity to assess the season’s progress and speculate on what will follow in September. The consensus was that there is a core of a squad already for the new campaign for what is expected to be the toughest one yet as the National League returns to its full complement of clubs.

The team news provided the expected reshuffle from Tuesday night as the players coped with the rigours of the season’s stresses and strains. It was good to see Sam Barratt retain his place after a promising return to the starting eleven at Wealdstone after his long lay off. For Dover, former Magpie Seth Twumasi headed a long injury list for the home team, another ex United defender Jake Goodman taking the captain’s armband to marshall a youthful Whites eleven from the centre of defence.

The first half saw little in the form of goalmouth action, Alan Devonshire having to deal with the early departure of Remy Clerima and then at the break Emile Acquah, both to injury. The interval provided a rare opportunity to wander around the ground non league style, thanks to the meagre 475 crowd, saying hello to Seth in the clubhouse.

As on Tuesday, Maidenhead dominated the second half and were faced with a stubborn last line of defence in Alexis Andre Jr. He made several good saves to repulse increasing waves of United attacks, enlivened by Acquah’s replacement Shawn McCoulsky, who eventually beat him with fifteen minutes remaining, only for a defender to clear off the line. 

The young Dover team were clearly tiring but they seemed to be set fair for a point when McCoulsky had an effort tipped onto the bar by the goalkeeper. However a stoppage time red card for Luke Baptiste unsettled them and sparked one final Maidenhead attack. A free kick led to a corner and the ball fell into liquidiser of yellow and white legs, Josh Kelly having the presence of mind to flick the ball into the back of the net from inches out.

This must have been soul destroying for Dover but a heartening testament to Maidenhead’s resilient will to win. As we headed back to the Breakwater Tap we mused upon the mathematics of United’s league status and wondered whether this would be confirmed by a long overdue win against Weymouth on Good Friday.