United 1
(McGavin 59′)
Dover 0
United claimed their first win of 2024, thanks to another special goal from Brett McGavin.
After a goalless first half, it was McGavin who once again stole the show as he produced a spectacular goal to end Dover’s resistance, and seal 3 important points for Gary Johnson’s side.
United manager Johnson rang the changes following the 2-0 FA Trophy defeat at Hereford last weekend, with Dan Martin, Asa Hall, Brad Ash and Ethon Archer all named in the starting XI at the expense of Archie Harris, Lewis Collins, Osman Foyo and Duane Ofori-Acheampong, with the latter missing out through injury.
A closely-fought first quarter of the game saw both teams largely cancel each other out, although all in the United camp were aggrieved not to have been awarded at least one spot-kick, with Archer and Ross Marshall both taking tumbles inside the box under dubious challenges – the referee though, remained unmoved.
The first opening came in the 31st minute, as Dillon De Silva’s tricky across the face of the 18-yard box saw him swivel and fire a low shot into Daniel Jinadu’s palms, and although the visiting glovesman appeared to lose full control of the ball momentarily, he regained ownership of it before Will Jenkins Davies could pounce.
The on-loan Plymouth man was next to try his luck moments later, as Martin’s foray into opposition territory saw him make inroads down the left wing, before cutting the ball back to the near-post, where Jenkins Davies fired the ball once again straight at the ‘keeper.
At the other end, Nick Dembele came within inches of making the breakthrough, with Mark Halstead smothering bravely to keep a low ball across the six yards ball out of harm’s way on 40 minutes.
As the match headed towards the interval, things began to liven up, with Brad Ash’s volley from eight yards out forcing Jinadu to palm the ball over his crossbar in order to keep the scoreline blank.
Level-pegging at the change of ends.
Johnson’s side were certainly the better of the two sides once the action restarted, with a nice passing move in the 55th minute ending with McGavin feeding Dan Martin to fire into Jinadu’s midriff from fifteen yards.
Just short of the hour mark, United made the breakthrough they threatened.
Having seen their route to goal initially blocked, the ball fell to McGavin 25 yards from goal. After taking a moment to size up his options, McGavin answered the Yellow Army’s calls of ‘Shoot!’ to do just that, and rifle a thunderous shot into the back of the net in style.
Although always looked to have more quality in possession, they weren’t quite able to convert that superiority into many clear-cut chances.
It wasn’t until two minutes before full-time that the home side threatened again, with Archer’s twists and turns eventually earning him the opportunity to fire in another low drive, even if it was straight at the Dover glovesman.
In the final minute, Jinadu got down well to keep out McGavin’s 22-yard free-kick, with United’s No.14 coming within inches of claiming another excellent strike.
Dover registered little in attack in the closing stages, and it was with relative comfort that Torquay saw out the closing stages for a valuable three points.
Onto Chippenham on Tuesday evening.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 3. Dan Martin, 6. Ross Marshall, 8. Asa Hall (4. Tom Lapslie, 67′), 11. Brad Ash (10. Lewis Collins, 75′), 14. Brett McGavin, 17. Dillon De Silva, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 30. Ethon Archer.
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 26. Archie Harris, 32. Osman Foyo.
Yellow Cards: McGavin 7′, Jenkins Davies 48′, Collins 80′, Martin 88′
DOVER ATHLETIC: 1. Daniel Jinadu, 3. Roman Charles-Cook, 4. Peter Ojemen (11. Ifeanyi Allen, 66′), 6. James Dunne (c) (9. Zidan Sutherland, 83′), 10. George Nikaj, 14. George Wilkinson, 15. Charlie Naylor, 16. Jacob Mensah, 20. Nick Dembele (7. Denstiny Oladipo,62′), 25. John Oyenuga, 26. Scott Holding.
SUBS NOT USED: 8. Freddie Oliver, 22. Luke Baptiste.
Yellow Cards: Dembele 57′
Attendance: 1,889 (13 away),