Dover Athletic vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 14th December, 3 pm – Match Preview
Photos: Ben Keyes
Cray Wanderers play the first of back to back away Kent derbies on Saturday 14th December as the Wands visit Isthmian Premier league leaders Dover Athletic for the first time since August 2007.
Cray come into the game in good heart after successive 1-0 wins at Bowers & Pitsea and on Tuesday against Chichester City and are unbeaten in three league games. On Tuesday, Cray had to show their mettle on a cold night and created the better chances before the dismissal of Quade Taylor before the half hour. However early in the second half Chichester also were down to ten men and Cray edged ahead through Nathan Jeche’s close range strike in the 77th minute.
The Wands saw out the remaining minutes to pick up back to back league wins for the second time this season to move up to sixteenth in the table on 22 points after 19 games. Defensively Cray have been sound since a 1-4 defeat to Chatham Town in mid October and have conceded only five goals in eleven games picking up 18 points in 11 games.
Certainly that form will be tested against Dover Athletic who have returned to the Isthmian Premier this season following relegation from the National South last season. Jake Leberl’s side top the table with forty three points from 19 games and have a six points lead at the top from Billericay Town and are unbeaten in 11 games including 9 wins. Last Saturday, Dover were impressive 4-1 winners at Dulwich Hamlet coming from an early goal down to win with goals from Ruben Soares-Junior (2), league top scorer George Nikaj (16 goals) and Alfie Matthews.
At home Dover Athletic have beaten Chichester City (5-2), Dartford (5-1), Bognor Regis Town (1-0), Hashtag United (4-2), Potters Bar Town (3-0) and Canvey Island (3-2) and drawn with Cray Valley PM (2-2). Their only defeats came against Folkestone Invicta (2-3) and Wingate & Finchley (1-2). Dover are unbeaten away from home and have beaten Potters Bar Town (8-0), Horsham (3-1), Whitehawk (2-0), Folkestone Invicta (1-0), Bowers & Pitsea (2-0), Lewes (3-1) and Dulwich Hamlet (4-1) and drew at Billericay Town, Carshalton Athletic and Chatham Town. In the FA Cup and FA Trophy, Dover Athletic were beaten in both competitions at home to Sittingbourne but are through to the Semi-Finals of the Kent Senior Cup after beating Cray Valley PM and Deal Town.
This will be the first time Cray have visited the Crabble since the 2007-08 season with Dover winning 3-2 in August 2007 with the Wands scorers, Danny Whelan and an own goal. The sides drew 1-1 at Hayes Lane in December 2007 with Michael Power scoring a penalty. The two teams did meet in the Kent Senior Cup in January 2011 with Cray winning 3-1 at Hayes Lane with goals from Tony Dolby, Tyrone Sterling and Jack Clark.
Dover Athletic were formed in 1983-84 after the original Dover club folded in 1982 and placed in the Southern League South and were promoted to the Premier in 1987-88. Dover were Southern League Champions twice in 1989-90 and 1992-93 and were promoted to the Conference under Chris Kinnear’s management where they stayed until 2001-02 and were FA Trophy Semi-Finalists in 1997-98 losing to Cheltenham Town. After relegation to the Southern League they spent two seasons before being moved to the Isthmian League for the 2004-05 season where they were relegated to Division One South where they met Cray Wanderers in the league for the first time.
Dover reached the playoffs in 2005-06 losing to Tonbridge Angels in the final but were promoted as champions in 2007-08 with 98 points. The club went on a roll and won the Isthmian Premier at the first attempt with 104 points and in 2009-10 now in the National South finished 2nd but were beaten by Woking in the playoff final. They reached the 3rd Round of the FA Cup in 2010-11 beating Gillingham and Aldershot Town before losing at Huddersfield Town and reached the playoffs again in 2012-13 after finishing 3rd and were beaten at Salisbury City in the final.
Dover Athletic finally won promotion in 2013-14 after finishing 5th and beat Sutton United and Ebbsfleet United to go up again under the management of Chris Kinnear. Their first season in the National League Premier saw them reach the 3rd Round of the FA Cup again after beating Morecambe and Cheltenham Town losing to Crystal Palace in a live televised tie. In 2015-16 Dover Athletic finished 5th but were beaten by Forest Green Rovers in the playoff semi-final. Since then after 6th and 8th placed finishes Dover were relegated in 2021-22 to the National South and last season finished 24th to return to the Isthmian League.
This will be a tough challenge for Neil Smith’s side and shows how strong the Isthmian League Premier is this season but can go into the game with confidence and should be a great pre-Christmas fixture.
DIRECTIONS TO DOVER ATHLETIC FC
Megger Community Stadium, Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB
PLEASE NOTE ALL PAYMENTS AT THE GROUND ARE BY CARD PAYMENT ONLY. THERE IS A CRABBLE KEY SYSTEM WHICH YOU CAN PICK UP FROM RECEPTION WHICH YOU CAN PUT CASH ON TO USE AROUND THE GROUND.
Admission Prices – CARD ONLY
£15 adults, £14 Concession 60’s+, £9 U18s, U11s free.
By Car
Leave the M25 at Junction 2 and take the A2 then the M2 towards Dover. On the outskirts of Dover on the A2 again, you will reach a roundabout that has a Mcdonald’s on your left.
At this roundabout take the fourth exit onto Whitfield Hill, signposted Dover North/River. At the bottom of this road, you will reach another roundabout, where you take the first exit onto London Road, going towards Dover Town Centre.
At the next set of traffic lights, you make a 180-degree right turn (so you are almost coming back on yourself) onto Crabble Road. After passing under a railway bridge the entrance to the grounds is further down on the left.
Parking isn’t available for supporters at the stadium itself but there are free spaces available in the rugby ground. Stewards will direct fans when they arrive.
Rail Travel
The main railway station in Dover is Dover Priory which is approximately 2 miles from Crabble. The closest station to Crabble is Kearsney which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the ground.
Trains from Bromley South go to Kearsney at 27 mins past the hour and returns at 22 mins past the hour.
Kearsney is the last stop before Dover Priory on the line from London Victoria (via Canterbury). Some trains on this line do not stop between Canterbury East and Dover Priory so if you are planning on getting off at Kearsney make sure that the train you are travelling on is a stopping service.
If you are travelling on the line from London Charing Cross (via Ashford) the train will not pass through Kearsney so you will have to stop at Dover Priory, near the town centre.
If you get off at Kearsney, turn right as you leave the station, go under the railway bridge and then take the first road on the left (Lower Road). Follow Lower Road all the way along, past a pond on your right and Crabble Corn Mill on your left. At the end you will see the Cricketers pub on the other side of the road. Turn right and you should see the entrance to the ground. If you get off at Dover Priory it is probably best to get a bus or taxi to the ground as it is a long walk.
From Kearsney, the no 15 bus will take you to Carlsden Close and is about an 8 minute walk to the ground. If you get off at Dover Priory, the no 64 from Priory Street to Buckland Hospital will take you to Crabble Avenue and a three minute walk to the ground. Check local buses for details
Nearest pubs
The nearest pub to the Crabble is the Cricketers on Crabble Avenue (CT17 0JB) and is a four minute walk to the ground. This is a friendly village pub with a tremendous beer garden with traditional bar games and snacks available and a TV screen. Please note the pub opens at 1 pm. Also the Royal Oak in River, a village close to the ground is a 19th century pub and is family friendly and also dog friendly and is also a B&B. If you end up in Dover itself which will have a wide range of drinking establishments perhaps the best bet is the Eight Bells, a JD Wetherspoon’s pub in Cannon Street (CT16 1BZ). Please bear in mind it is a bit of a trek to the ground from here. For Fish & Chips lovers, the best recommended establishment is The White Horse, St. James’ Street (CT16 1QD) but if you are making a day of it with Dover’s rich history you will find plenty of places to dine even at this time of year.
Dover is a historic Kentish town and port which faces France via the Strait of Dover. The town has had a revamp in recent years with high speed rail links with the Channel Tunnel and also the beach and promenade, pier and harbour improvements. Dover attracts a vast number of tourists each year especially to see the famous castle and white cliffs.
Dover was one of the Cinque Ports (Five Harbours) based on the South-East coast of England along with Hastings, New Romney, Hythe and Sandwich. Dover briefly came under the control of the French in 1217 after the Battle of Sandwich which saw Louis VIII’s army defeat Henry III via the Cliffs but after three months had been deposed and returned home.
The Port of Dover’s location in the English Channel and Strait of Dover in particular is the busiest shipping lane in the world with ferry services to Calais and Dunkirk running several times daily.
Dover Castle was built in medieval times in the 11th century and is described as the ‘Key of England’ as it’s importance as a defensive bastion of the South-East Kent coast and to wade off invaders. The tunnels of the Castle were used as an air raid shelter and military command centre and military hospital during the Second World War. The evacuation of British, French and American soldiers from Dunkirk in 1940 was directed from the castle tunnels.
The White Cliffs, part of the Kent Downs are designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty and on a clear day can be viewed from the French coast. The cliffs links with Dover Castle and as part of the fortifications of England have played an important part in fending off invasions and the site of some pretty fierce land and sea battles.
Trips to Dover for Cray Wanderers fans have been rare in recent years so with the Whites returning to the Isthmian Premier this should be a great day out for Wands fans as we head towards the Christmas holidays.
