Dover remove Staines
Passion, desire, commitment and the willingness to play as a team is something that has not been in abundance for the Whites recently, but it was back in droves after they picked up a welcome three points against high flying Staines Town.
Caretaker boss Gary Whittle did his chances of getting the role on a full time basis no harm at all as he showed his continued skills in organising the squad to compete and a newly found attacking flair to go with the defensive expertise shown in the excellent draws against Kingstonian and Windsor & Eton.
"We have picked up two good points on our travels and this was an important game for us as we had to show we had the ability to pick up a win and the players responded in exactly the way I wanted" was his initial reaction after the game.
In the only change to Saturday, Tom Hickman was restored to the side after his suspension and he slotted into a five man midfield with Craig Cloke and Matt Carruthers who produced a real captain's performance as he drove his side forward at every opportunity and showed that on his day there can not be many players at this level who can live with him.
With the three Dover central defenders looking comfortable against the pacy Staines attack, the opening goal that Dover's industry deserved came in the 18th minute and seemed to come straight off the training ground.
Cloke using his mammoth throw to full affect found the head of Shaun Welford on the penalty spot and his delicate flick found Shane Hamshare whose looping header from eight yards found the corner of the net for his first goal for the club on his home debut.
Confidence is a wonderful thing and it was flowing through a Dover side showing real purpose and it was 2-0 five minutes later as Carruthers free kick was launched into the box and Cloke bravely connected to head the ball into the net.
The onus of getting the ball up quickly up to the front men of Craig Wilkins and Welford was working a treat as Staines could not cope with the movement of the pair and they came close after another flowing move, before the deserved third came ten minutes before the break.
Carruthers won the ball in the midfield with one of his trademark sliding tackles before feeding the onrushing Hamshare on the right and Wilkins delightfully flicked his pinpoint cross home.
The one-way traffic continued as Carruthers once again floated in a delightful ball to find Wilkins and his sublime knockdown found Welford whose diving header smashed against the post before bouncing clear.
The halftime whistle could not come quick enough for the visitors as in virtually every attack the Whites looked dangerous and the standing ovation they received from the crowd was deserved with the pain of those six consecutive defeats wiped away with a performance of real promise.
The second period was more of a mundane affair with the Whites willing to let Staines come at them but they lacked any real penetration as the defence held firm with new signing John Scarborough continuing to look impressive as he made everything look simple and formed a real defensive framework with Nicky Humphrey and Dean Readings as the frailty on the flanks that had cost them dear this season seemed a distant memory.
With Welford willing to chase every course - all he lacked was a goal that his all round game deserved - half chances came and went with Carruthers forcing a fine save with the keeper.
The visitors did pull a consolation back with fifteen minutes remaining when a cross was inadvertently flicked into his own net by Readings under pressure from Jermaine Hunter.
Nothing however could take the gloss off a good night for Dover as after all the recent upheavals they showed that the players had the desire to compete at this level and if they can continue to gel and be organised as a unit they should hopefully climb the table.
But the final word should go to Whittle the man who has made the Crabble a happier place once again "I am not going to get carried away by three results as there is a long way to go but we have stopped the rot and now is the time to consolidate as we have laid some foundations for the important games coming up".
Dover Athletic: Hyde (Mulllins 83), Hamshare, Humphrey, Cloke, Readings, Scarborough, Hickman (Skelton 76), Rogers, Carruthers, Wilkins (Smissen 76), Welford
