Today - A personal view

[Cookie]

Well as far as the score goes we didnt deserve to win & they did to be honest.But that dosen't mean too much in the circumstances.

We lacked power & thrust up front first half. New player Akinde got the only worthwhile header on goal in that first half. Honours pretty even at half time,though Dover had a few chances more than we did.

Second half.

Axon played well.Introduction of Howarth made a big difference. Great headed goal from him from a "high,lets hope for something on the end,lobbed cross" from Bagley,excellently climbed for I must add by Howarth & placed in bottom right hand corner.

Dover got earlier penalty when two Gate defenders defended naively.

Overall we lacked "punch" & "movement" & in defence,at times,we failed to stamp our authority as we should,but with so much chopping & changing of players its understandable.

 

Who shone for me!

 

1)Howarth,continually fights for everything & knocks those balls on well to his partners.A terrific finish too.

2)Axon showed some good skills in the second half & made a terrific cross into the box which nearly brought a goal earlier in that half.

3)Akinde?(ex Ebbsfleet)? looked useful in the first half before making way for another.He will give us more fight & strength up front & from the little I've seen of him he is one for the starting XI.

4)Saunders was majestic at the back.

5)McKimm also looks like he's nearing his best.

 

If we add those not on show today. Jacko,Side,Yianni,Watson & Harte to those that are giving good accounts of themselves then things are looking fair/good for the season.

Time now to pick a first XI & a squad from all these & get them working together as a unit.

I think the core of the team are beginning to show.

 

Dover a well run outfit, well marshalled & played ball to feet & with a lot of success at times.They will do good this season no doubts.

They were the better side but that wasn't what it was all about today really,it was about learning & I think both managers will have done so on todays showing.

 

 

 

[Pagey]

what was the Attendance Tony ?

[Cookie]

415 or something like that Andy. Very disappointing really but we expected that too didnt we.

[MargateFan]

Keister should not have remained on the pitch after that awful kick to Deano's back. Anyone mentioned it was a friendly? Deano looked pretty hurt afterwards, I hope he is OK.

 

Rob's goal was a beauty, soaring header, placed exactly, what a talisman he is for the team, love him.

 

Liked the young black lad, heaps of potential there. Axon and Vannisburg (spelling, I know) worked their socks off and also looked good. Have not seen anything from Suter yet that has impressed me. But oh, how glad I am we have Scotty. Towering performance in goal.

 

A draw a fair result. Was Dover's no. 14 Byron Walker? Picked him out when he played against us in a friendly last season, still admire him a lot.

[Jeff Trice]

Vanhinsbergh didn't come on !

[Cookie]

Originally Posted By: MargateFan

Keister should not have remained on the pitch Axon and Vannisburg (spelling, I know) worked their socks off and also looked good. Have not seen anything from Suter yet that has impressed me.
Was Dover's no.14 Byron Walker? Picked him out when he played against us in a friendly last season,still admire him a lot.

It was also odds on that when Keister got close to Skinner it would turn nasty..& it did..for a few seconds.

Did Vannisburg(your spelling is better than mine) actually get a run out then? I must have missed that as I rate the boy.

Byron Walker is a player I like too. Gets at defences,in your face & causes all sorts of problems. He came on late in the game I believe.

Didnt want to give any negatives but I have to agree with you about Suter. Still,with the midfield nigh on sorted I would expect Jacko to be first choice out wide anyway.

[Cookie]

Young came on I think(yellow boots)??

[michael]

I wonder why Haworth apparently never starts these games, as he consistently seems to be our best attacker ?

[Cookie]

He gave it all in the second half Michael today.

As hard working as he is he would probably be too knackered if he were to play TWO halves at his workrate & then maybe he would be less effective in second of those halfs. Besides Trotty must already have him penned in for a 1st team place anyway & it was probably a case of seeing how Akinde fared today in the first half.Both did did themselves the world of good I thought.

[Chris1]

If that was Young with the yellow boots, who was the defender who came on for Trotty at half time, number 16? Played well apart from the penalty incident. 16 was Young on the team sheet.

 

Yellow boots wore 12, although team sheet had 12 as Bowes (sub GK). Anyway I also thought yellow boots had potential. Was that the Vannisburg lad then?

 

Full marks to Smith and Axon in general too.

 

As MF says above, Dover's no.14 was real handful.

 

Who will play left back when Skinner is suspended, as surely he will be on today's showing?

 

I saw it pretty much same as Cookie: Dover did enough to win and SCS was far the busiest keeper. Still, only a friendly and a few names missing, so let's not be pessimistic (yet).

 

[michael]

I guess Deano will play left back, but with Jay apparently also in defence, it does leave the midfield a bit short .Hopefully Owen will be signed up.

[Cookie]

Didnt think Owen looked too comfortable in midfield.Okay it was his first outing for us & I dont know what his best position is but someone said to me that he was a centre back at other clubs & if so that would account for him being slow off the mark today. Still, he has the height & strength to be a fair player given the chance.He certainly looks the part in appearance.

[Jeff Trice]

Centre back who came on at half time for Trotty was Dan Young, forward in the yellow boots who came on during the second half was Nick Moir - the young striker who scored our goal at Chatham on Tuesday.

[Cookie]

Another change I hadn't noticed,Young for Trotty. Oooh, so many to keep tabs on. Thats cleared that one up then. Cheers Jeff!