Just Back (merged)

Although road closures and contraflows contrived to try and f*ck me over.

Town were on top in the first half without really getting out of second gear. Dover offered nothing. Very basic and very route one. You felt we could easily have scored a few more without really creating many clear cut chances. Second half they dragged us down to their level and had a lot more possession. We ended up being quite deep and survived a number of close things. Jimmy tipped one over, just turned another around/over, they thought they'd scored another and then with about 20 seconds to go one went just wide. On that basis Dover probably thought they deserved a draw. I'm not sure as we had a couple of chances too, especially a Toto header (think it was Toto - was getting a burger). There was not a great deal of skill on show, it was all a hundred miles an hour and attritional. Their centre halves being particularly physical. Town though fought hard and competed manfully for everything - you couldn't fault their resolve and as a result we held on (Clay was out on his feet near the end). I couldn't really think of any stand out performers for us, everyone gave it their all.

Next stop Welling...........

PS About 250 Mariners there, that never stopped singing and beating that f*cking drum!

Gutsy performance in what was not really a pulsating game in rain, hail, and what looked like a flutter of snow.

Well set-up and taken early goal.  Lenny just kept going one-on-one with the keeper after he initially seemed to push a great pass a little too far.  We looked to be on top the first half, and then under a fair bit of pressure the second half.

Oddly for a home-side, Dover were set up to frustrate - it looked like their formation was pretty much 5 - 5 (!!) so there was a congested midfield clogging up the works for both teams.

Good to see Brown get a run out.  

Great Town support.  Appalling roads!!  2 and a half hours to get there just from South London.  Then on way back -- M2 closed, M20 almost closed, M25 1 lane only open: Mariners going home to Grimsby will have a very long night.

UTM

Agree with most of that. Ollie looked on fire first half. Faded out of it second half. Magnay looked pooped too as well as Clay.

Thought although routine saves, McKeown was handtastic towards the end.

First half we were much the better side. Great ball from Arnold for the goal. They played very direct despite not having particularly tall forwards but they did have effort and pace.
By and large we dealt with it at the back but when we got it we tried taking them on at their game and we ain't very good at it.

Don't want to be critical after 19points from 21 but some of our 'go to' men didn't shine tonight. I expected Diz to use his experience, get it down and pass it we he seemed to keep lobbing the ball in the air to nobody in particular. Brown looked like an under11 in mens football when he came on. I will get my tin hat on now and say Magnay, whilst ok, had probably the poorest game I have seen him have in a Town shirt.

Toto man of the match for me but Pearson and steady Gregor did well too. Clay tried to use the ball more than most and Arnold was our only real threat

Only thing that matters is the points, rest up and go again Saturday. UTM

Agree with whats been said, after a good first half where we were on top we retreated a bit deep at times in the second and struggled to impose ourselves on the game, I can only really think of one chance we had in the second half when Arnold ran through.  

Dover then came at us more and we needed some good saves and a bad miss to keep it as a Town victory.  In many ways Dover deserved something but delighted we held on through a very long and nervous second half of football.

Thought a lot of players looked tired tonight.  Agree with you Chris about Magnay which is no big critcisim as he has been superb for us every time I have seen him but along with our central midfield pair and Palmer he deffo showed signs of fatigue tonight.  Still they all kept fighting for Town and that was great to see, hopefully they can be refreshed and ready to go again on Saturday.

Agree that Magnay showed fatigue but still thought he was fantastic. A crucial slide tackle in the box and running down strikers who got behind the central defenders coming to mind. Overall, poor performance but once again the team spirit came through in the end. These lads are busting a nut every game for each other and it's so enjoyable being able to see that from Town players.

Only thing that matters is the three points, but... Palmer was greedy as fcuk last night, Jolley was urine poor again, and their full backs excrement themselves every time someone attacked them and crossed the ball which usually caused panic in the centre backs.  

Then halftime arrive and we never attacked their defence again, other than to hoof it Neweyesque down the flanks.  Should of at least drawn, but play excrement and win, I'll take that

Hopefully have Makreth back soon to provide more options up front.  Sounds like Jolley is one for next season.

Did sound extremely backs to the wall in the final few minutes last night - I wonder why it always seems to go like that for us. I suppose on the plus side it didn't end up a draw (or even worse a defeat) and we held on for all three so maybe that's a positive?