Dover Athletic 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 15/26/2442 - Tuesday, 18th August 2026 - National League South

Dover Athletic (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Tanga 52
Attendance: 1,005
Admission: £17
Mileage: 88/766

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN!

Scaling and descending the mountainous path to the away end at the Crabble gives plenty of time to reflect. On the upslope the reflection is more of self-preservation, heavy breathing and legs that are turning to jelly whilst the return journey, thankfully in August not having the worry of your feet sliding from underneath you, opinions can be formed on a good result or otherwise.

On this occasion, we were reflecting on a Tonbridge Angels win, but strangely, I carried an admiration of the resilience of Dover Athletic, who had gone down to 10 men following a first half dismissal of ex-Angel Naz Bakrin, but posed the visitors more problems a man light than they had with a full complement.

Whimsical asides with stewards at different points in the climb regarding Sherpa Tenzing and the need for oxygen were met with deadpan faces as the warm hospitality of Dover Athletic was as evident as ever.

Alan Dunne made a couple of changes from Saturday’s home defeat against Torquay United with Jordon Thompson returning from injury and Bunmi Babajide from unavailability.

An opening 20 minutes saw little action on either set of posts before Fabio Roque, with his first appointment at step two level, made his first intervention of the evening with a justifiable yellow card shown to Bakrin as Frankie Baker sought to get clear of the Dover defender on the half-way line.

A minute later Jepthe Tanga went close before, on the half-hour, Tonbridge had their first nervous moment as a header from Sheriff hit his own man to bounce into the grateful hands of the Nathan Harness.

A second ex-Angel Sonny Fish was subject to an unfortunate injury on 45 minutes when following a aerial challenge with Bailey Akehurst, the Tonbridge man’s boot landed on the head of Fish leaving him with a badly gashed head.

Dover were reduced on 10 men in first half added time in curious circumstances. Fair warning had been given by the referee about grappling in the box between Bakrin and Ethan Sutcliffe and when the shirt was virtually ripped from Sutcliffe’s back, Roque brandished yellow cards to both, before being reminded that he had already earlier booked Bakrin.

Tonbridge took the lead after 52 minutes when Tanga took advantage of a mistake from Faud Sesay to race clear and bury his low, angled shot into the far bottom corner for his third goal in three games from the start of the season.

Dover responded positively, but the Angels defence dealt with the majority of their attacks with ease before, after 73 minutes, Harry Gardner let fly with a vicious shot from 25 yards that goalkeeper Mitch Walker could only punch straight into the air above him to collect at the second attempt.

Tonbridge had to survive one final scare in added time when Harness clawed away a corner before the referee blew for time to spark another melee that even involved the Dover chairman marching onto the pitch to confront Mr Roque.

Two away games, two of the most inhospitable visits done and six points on the board, that’ll do nicely.

Dover Athletic 2 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 63/25/2405 - Tuesday, 10th March 2026 - National League South

Dover Athletic (1) 2 Wilkinson 22,54
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 731
Admission: £17
Mileage: 94/3,840

When the fixtures drop in July, there are dates that are immediately pencilled it, Boxing Day, the Maidstone games and perhaps there is a new ground to visit. On the flip side, there are the visits that are done out of nothing more than loyalty while secretly hoping that a valid excuse surfaces to give it a miss.

Such is Dover Athletic, charmless and unfriendly, whose modus operandi seems to be to make visiting supporters as unwelcome as possible.

Where was the communication that this would be a segregated game. I’ve no issue with the decision to segregate given the recent history of both club's set of youths, but to only find out on arrival at the ground is poor, very poor.

For those of you who have never been to Crabble (lucky you), the stadium is set atop a hill, not just any old hill, it’s a mountain that with a bit of snow could host the downhill at the Winter Olympics. After a torturous climb to reach the turnstiles, with no help from club officials informing you in which direction to walk, I decided to put a step counter on the return descent which recorded a near half-mile hike down a treacherous, unlit pathway.

On the playing field, I have nothing but respect for Dover’s manager Jake Leberl. He took over a basket case of a club with a notoriously difficult chairman in a pretty toxic atmosphere and has led them to promotion and relative safety in National League South on what I can only imagine is a small budget in comparison to the division’s big hitters that certainly doesn’t include Tonbridge Angels.

One area in which Dover have always excelled is with their academy and it was fitting that a scholar of their programme, George Wikinson, was the architect of their 2-0 win.

Tonbridge went into the game on a high following Saturday’s win against Worthing, but on the night have to reflect on an evening of possession aplenty but with no cutting edge and ending up on the receiving end of two very good goals, the first a beautifully crafted team goal and the second a wonder strike from 25 yards.

On a heavy pitch, manager Alan Dunne opted for an amount of rotation with four changes to the starting XI with Bradley Williams, Matty Warren, Naz Bakrin and Alfie Pavey included.

A game unfolded that was high on endeavour, low on quality but, uncharacteristically defined by two moments of excellence. After 20 minutes of nothingness, a series of one-two’s within the Angels box opened up the space for Wikinson to roll the ball past Matt Rowley into the far corner.

Frankie Baker’s persistence and pace offered the Angels a route back into the game but this foundered throughout on the defensive solidity of two brick outhouses in Jalen Jones and Harry Beadle.

Bunmi Babajide, as always, was full of energy and it was his effort just before the break that was deflected into the welcoming hands of Mitch Walker that brought the first involvement of the Dover stopper.

Dunney’s Plan B was left with a Crabble-sized mountain to scale after 54 minutes when a headed clearance was met on the half-volley from Wilkinson which found the top corner like a tracer bullet. It was some hit and one I guess he won’t replicate ever again.

The goal brought a trio of the Dover oiks to goad the Angels support, undoubtedly the segregation plan was well founded, if ill-timed.

A full complement of substitutions, the vast majority of possession and plenty of “penalty area entry” failed to unduly stretch Walker although a cross-cum-shot from Bailey Akehurst drifted only narrowly wide and Akehurst was also responsible for a shot that cannoned off the goalkeeper’s chest.

Roll on July, fixtures being scanned in excited expectation, but this one won’t set the pulses racing.

Sent from my iPhone

Dover Athletic 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 74/23/2197 - Tuesday, 23rd January 2024 - National League South

Dover Athletic (1) 1 Mensah 45
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Higgs 16 Mampolo 52
Attendance: 455
Admission: £15 Senior
Mileage: 78/5,210

Tonbridge Angels emerged from a wind swept, rain sodden Crabble with all three points following a game where any sort of quality was largely negated by the effect of Storm Jocelyn, that grew stronger as the game progressed.

Jay Saunders was forced into another reshuffle recalling Francis Mampolo from his dual registration at Margate with Jamie Fielding and Ansu Janneh both missing through illness.

Such was the swirling nature of the wind it was difficult to ascertain whether either side had any advantage from it in the first period that the Angels completely dominated. Such was their overwhelming superiority the travelling support were bewildered that half-time arrived with the scores level. It was a mystery that the combined talents of Miss Marple and Vera would not be able to unravel. At one point, an exasperated voice of a Dover supporter pleaded: “Can we have our ball back”, but the name of the game is putting the ball in the net and despite countless chances only one was converted and Dover scrambled a late first half equaliser.

In contrast to the rest of the half, Dover fashioned two decent chances in the opening 10 minutes with Iffy Allen blasting high and wide after two minutes when well placed on the right side of the goal and on 10 minutes the Angels bar was rattled by George Wilkinson from 20 yards.

From that scare, Tonbridge started to control the game with some slick passing and movement that belied the conditions with Paris Lock and Mampolo leading the Dover rearguard a merry dance.

After 16 minutes the goal finally came with a move that started with Mampolo and ended with Jordan Higgs turning and shooting to score against his old club.

It was a mixture of dogged defending, some good goalkeeping from Daniel Jinadu and, in truth some poor finishing that allowed the half to progress without any further addition until the last minute. Jinadu saved well to deny Nathan Odokonyero, Tariq Hinds and Mo Dabre as the traffic became ridiculously one way.

On the stroke of half-time a free kick sent into the Angels box was only partially cleared and the ensuing scramble saw Jacob Mensah stab the ball home.

Even in the time added, another Angels chance came and went with Jinadu saving with his feet from Odokonyero.

The effect of the wind on the kicking of Dover goalkeeper, Jinadu probably said that the wind had now veered in the Angels favour although the rain swirling said otherwise.

Tonbridge continued to dominate the game in the second period, perhaps with not quite the same authority but the lead was regained on 52 minutes when a cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by the keeper under pressure from Odokonyero and when the ball fell at the feet of Mampolo he swept it home.

Chances continued to be made to put the game to bed but were not taken which gave the home side the impetus to set up a last 10 minutes in which the peppered the goal with crosses and numerous corners. At times the defending was desperate but the storm was weathered in more ways than one.

Dover Athletic 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 13/22/2020 - Tuesday, 16th August 2022 - National League South

Dover Athletic (1) 1 Higgs 7
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Walters
Attendance: 773

Admission: £14
Programme: None
Mileage: 78/1,317

It is a footballing cliche that nothing is won in August (number 22 in fact) but with Tonbridge Angels equal third (I’m not having any of this fourth on alphabetical order nonsense) and that, their highest-ever position in National League South, why not celebrate the moment?

Three successive away games before their return to the now hallowed 3G on Saturday has yielded seven points when most, if not all, would have bitten hands off for four.

This win at Dover Athletic, the first since David Ijaha’s 90th minute winner on New Year’s Day 2013 was satisfying on so many levels. The Crabble club were inhospitable hosts which included making the visiting chairman, Dave Netherstreet, pay on the gate to some pretty rough house tactics on the pitch that led to five bookings for the home side and (cliche 28) handbags at full time. Even the after match interviews ended up in darkness as a jobsworth steward ordered the floodlights to be turned off.

After the sweltering heat of Saturday, a Tuesday evening on the East Kent coast with a balmy 24degC brought to a halt the water breaks although several hefty challenges brought lengthy medical attention that served the same purpose.

Jay Saunders shuffled his pack after Saturday’s toils at Saharan Slough with Louis Collins, Manny Maja and Tushaun Walters coming into the side with Femi Akinwande and TQ Addy dropping to the bench whilst Tommy Parkinson was on crutches and in a protective boot following his injury at Slough.

Dover went in front after seven minutes with a stunning strike from Jordan Higgs from about 30 yards that cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar past a helpless Jonny Henly.

James Taylor added to the Angels’ worryingly lengthening injury list when he limped out of the action after 11 minutes. All of sudden, what looked a top heavy midfield looks a little threadbare.

On 19 minutes, a foul on Jamie Fielding brought Dover’s first yellow card and a free kick on the right from which Walters curled a shot into the far corner with the Dover keeper, Sandford, stranded. After the game, Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler called it a fluke. No way. I was looking straight down the barrel and once the right hand member of a two man wall peeled off, there was a clear sight of goal and Walters shape as he took the free kick suggested he took aim for exactly where it finished.

There was more concern for the Tonbridge bench as Joe Turner went down injured on the half-hour mark and although he continued he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

In terms of half-chances, both sides had their moments but it should have been the Angels that went into the break in front when Mason Saunders-Henry put a clear headed opportunity over the bar from Craig Braham-Barrett’s cross.

Into the second half, it was the home side that carved out the early chances but it was Tonbridge that got their noses in front after 56 minutes when a ball forward saw Collins outsprint Dover’s backline to touch the ball past the goalkeeper who brought him down for a penalty award. Turner, now moving easier, powered his penalty past Sandford who had guessed correctly.

As would be expected, Dover threw everything forward to salvage the game but the Tonbridge back line, with makeshift central defender Tommie Fagg, heading just about every ball crossed into the danger area, was holding firm. But, with seven minutes remaining, it took a stupendous save from Henly to touch over the bar a wonderful piece of improvisation from Alfie Pavey who produced a perfect bicycle kick.

Akinwande might have spared the Angels supporters fingernails when he steered his shot agonisingly wide after being sent clear with only Sandford to beat.

A late, high malacious challenge from Pavey on Collins, that should have brought more than a yellow card, brought a melee that spilt over at the final whistle as Dover’s frustration boiled over.

And so to the big homecoming on Saturday and the green, green plastic of home.

Dover Athletic 0 Tonbridge 1

Match 42/12/995 - Tuesday, 1 January 2013 - Conference South

Dover Athletic (0) 0
Tonbridge (0) 1 Ijaha 90+2
Att. 1,102

Entrance: £9 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 99/3,460

Match Report

What a difference a couple of days can make, or more importantly a couple of players. Tonbridge put behind them their woeful home performance against Bromley with a hard-earned victory at arch-rivals Dover and in the process completed their first double over the Whites in 26 years. The Tonbridge midfield that was so poor against Bromley was strengthened with the inclusion of new signing David Ijaha and the return of Tom Davis and Lee Browning.

One of the charms of non-league football is the non-segregation of supporters and it is shame that this fixture has been blighted by bad behaviour in the recent past and, therefore, necessitates the imposition of segregation. Dover’s method of segregation involves the lengthiest and most arduous of detours away from the main entrance for the visiting supporters, “the walk of shame” as it was dubbed by one supporter. I can only presume that some arrangements must have been made for the elderly or infirm, because for them, it would have been mission impossible.

The result of the animosity is the sweetest of victories for whoever gains the spoils and, in the space of a week, Tonbridge supporters were able to celebrate on both occasions. The opening 20 minutes were evenly contested with Dover rattling the bar through Ben May and Tonbridge actually having the ball in the net only for this writer to see his eccentric celebration cut short by a linesman’s flag.

One of the major problems of segregation is the restriction of a position behind the goal and Crabble is a ground where the far goal seems even further away than usual, perhaps it is the slope that gives this perception. Consequently, when an almighty scramble ensued in the Tonbridge area with the ball coming back off the inside of a post and then the follow-up shot being stopped on the line by Sonny Miles, who injured himself in the process, it was head-in-hands stuff but not quite knowing just how desperate the defending needed to be.

The second half was played with Tonbridge kicking into the distance, but easy to see was the fine diving save needed by Mitch Walker to deny Ijaha. We then got treated, certainly not the right word, to another scramble in the Tonbridge area, but this time viewed at close range. Once again the woodwork was rattled by May after Moses Ademola had rounded Lee Worgan, but bodies were thrown in front of the ball to eventually shepherd it to safety.

Into the last 20 minutes and it was Tonbridge that stepped up and finished much the stronger, whilst I was spouting the old defensive “if I’m I willing to take a draw on the way in, I’ll take it on the way out”, there were signs that the home side had faded and it was now their turn to be holding on. Into five minutes of added time and two moments that will live in memory for the rest of the season. Ijaha rifled a loose ball into the net from 12 yards to silence the season’s best Crabble attendance and then, with breath held, a last kick of the match free kick from Dover’s Daryl McMahon clipped the crossbar on its way over and the points were ours.

The long trudge back to the car only served to prove the pointlessness of the segregation as we walked straight into the body of the Dover support coming in the opposite direction. If they, or us, wanted to start a fight then the segregation would only have served to identify who was who from the direction in which they were walking. A couple of Dover supporters offered their congratulations, perhaps recognising three old duffers that are not exactly going to cause mayhem, whatever the result. It is a real shame on both clubs that the small minority are not going to allow the rivalry between these clubs to be any less than bitter and that the gross inconvenience of segregation will continue in the meantime.

Dover Athletic 2 Tonbridge 1

Match 21/12/974 - Saturday, 22 September 2012 - FA Cup 2QR

Dover Athletic (2) 2 May 6, Webb 43
Tonbridge (1) 1 Purcell 29
Att. 625

Entrance: £9 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 99/1,247

Match Report

It was 40 years ago that a fresh-faced, 21-year-old went to the Angel Ground on FA Cup First Round day alongside 7,769 others in hope that his Southern League favourites might pull off a giant killing against their illustrious opponents from south London, Charlton Athletic. Sadly, it was to end in disappointment as the Football League side romped to a five-nil victory. Today, the no-longer fresh-faced, disappointment-hardened Tonbridge supporter entered Dover Athletic’s Crabble Ground with little expectancy that the years of hurt might be at an end. Once again, sadly, like so many other seasons in that 40 year cycle, Tonbridge failed to make it past the first hurdle.

With stats like those it is obvious that the FA Cup and Tonbridge [Angels] Football Club are not a good fit and it was so predictable that they would be dealt with a tough draw, down the years Tonbridge have had difficult draws and when they get a soft one, they mess it up. There were good reasons to be optimistic, Dover had failed to win at home this season and Tonbridge had the confidence of their first win last Saturday against Boreham Wood, but after a first minute scramble to clear and a sixth minute goal from Ben May, the usual FA Cup scribble was appearing on the wall.

It was further disappointing that Tonbridge could have erased that writing as the game panned out with an equaliser and plenty of possession that could and should have produced a different result.

Disappointment is a word I’m using a lot in this post, and it is disappointing that the police felt the need to impose segregation on this game for fear of trouble between two sets of supporters that obviously don’t like each other. A group of Dover “supporters” gathered at the corner of the seated enclosure during the second half and the insults and counter insults that followed virtually justified the police’s decision. It was such a distraction that the support that Tonbridge had enjoyed in the first half as good as died at a time when it was most needed.

Tommy Warrilow looked towards the amount of possession as good reason for his side to have merited their place in the hat for the next round but their failure to stretch goalkeeper Mitch Walker during the second half says otherwise. Two poorly defended goals added to the despair. After six minutes, a simple cross into the box allowed an unchallenged May to glance a header into the bottom corner and another cross was headed down by Ian Simpemba to Danny Webb who scored from the edge of the six yard box. In between, George Purcell won out in a challenge with Webb, to score from inside the box to equalise the opening goal.

The second half erred on the side of a non-event, Frannie Collin had an opportunity but poked the shot straight at Walker, whilst with the game stretched Dover had a couple of chances late on to seal the game, substitute Ricky Modeste pulling a shot wide when clean through.

So that’s the FA Cup for another year at qualifying level, Tunbridge Wells fell at the first, Tonbridge fell at their first, it doesn’t auger too well for Gillingham at this rate. How’s that song go: “Forty years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming”, but sadly dreams can turn into nightmares.

Dover Athletic 1 Gillingham 2

Match 07/12/960 - Tuesday, 31 July 2012 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dover Athletic (0) 1 Willock 57
Gillingham (2) 2 Jackman 11, Birchall 42
Att. 825

Entrance: £10 Senior
Programme: None Produced
Mileage: 93/287

Match Report

Adam Birchall led his team out at Crabble last night, scored a goal and made it through his first 90 minutes since his injury last pre-season. He received a warm reception on his old stomping ground and scored his goal a couple of minutes before the half time break after Connor Essam’s header from a corner had been cleared from the line, the striker fired the clearance through the crowded penalty area and into the centre of the goal.

As with the Ebbsfleet fixture, Martin Allen announced his side two days before the match with a second eleven getting 90 minutes into their legs. Two French trialists were included, the central defender Itoua, who had played at Stonebridge Road and a right back, simply known as Mikael, who I thought had a reasonably good first half and was rather surprised to see him replaced at half time. As the second half progressed, several of the youth team were introduced.

In the opening exchanges, Dean Rance, released by Gillingham this summer, had an opening effort that didn’t trouble Tommy Forecast before Danny Jackman opened the scoring for the visitors. Lewis Montrose, who looked very busy in midfield, passed to Jackman who from 20 yards fired in off the right hand post.

Midway through the half Martin Allen appeared on the touchline on the opposite side of the pitch to the dugouts and was constantly barking out orders with his son, Charlie, the closest and therefore the subject of much of his berating. Too slow in the middle of pitch appeared to be his consistent concern and Move, Move almost becoming a chant. His presence was quite intimidating and, if I was a Gillingham player, I wouldn’t want to cross him!

Four changes were made at half-time, both trialists departed along with Andy Frampton and Ashley Miller. Twelve minutes into the second half Dover pulled a goal back when a looping header from Callum Willock dropped into the corner of the net with Forecast stranded. It was a set piece that wasn’t defended and I’m sure Allen, back in the dugouts, would have been pretty annoyed.

Jack Payne, only made it to the hour mark, being behind everybody else in fitness having missed the trip to France. In the closing minutes, Essam turned an ankle and very painfully hobbled to the sidelines leaving Forecast, Jackman, Birchall and Allen to be the four that completed the 90 minutes.

On the walk from the gates of the Crabble grounds a very steep hill is encountered, a golf buggy is employed to take the less abled up the hill. On this occasion, I decided, for the first time to sit along the side rather than stand behind the goals and from there it is apparent just how much of a slope there is on the pitch heading back down the hill.

Martin Allen will be pleased that, at all levels, Gillingham remained undefeated and this was a good work out against a Conference South side that might well make an impression on that division this season. It says much for their ambition that they have managed to prise Willock away from Ebbsfleet, a club a division higher. Time is counting down, there was one new signing made between the two games, Tom Flanagan, a young central defender from MK Dons. In the mind’s eye a first eleven can be envisaged but new arrivals could change that line-up between now and the League Cup game at Bristol City.

Dover Athletic 0 Tonbridge 0

Match 12/11/899 - Saturday, 27 August 2011 - BSq Conference South

Dover Athletic (0) 0
Tonbridge (0) 0
Att. 1,003

Entrance: £9 Senior Citizen
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 95/872

Match Report

This League continues to confuse me. I was disturbed on Tuesday night by the way that Welling virtually bullied Tonbridge out of the game and expected more of the same at Dover, but this time we came across a side far less physical that virtually allowed their visitors to play their own game.

Who would have thought, given the goalfest that has been Tonbridge’s season so far, that this fixture would end up goalless. But, I’m sure most of the Tonbridge support assembled and probably Tommy Warrilow, would have taken the result on the way in.

Martin Hayes gave a less than gracious Radio Kent interview after the game but when he reflects, he must eventually come to the conclusion that for whatever reason, Tonbridge were well worth their point and were the team that came closest to winning with a Frannie Collin opportunity right at the death.

It was a game of very few goal scoring opportunities, George Purcell and Billy Bricknell had first half shots that failed to trouble Tonbridge keeper, Lee Worgan and Tonbridge entered the half time break thoroughly content with their opening half effort.

The second half saw Tonbridge build on the confidence taken from the opening period and could have had a penalty on the hour when Lee Browning was brought down. In the final 10 minutes Collin had chances to put his former employers to the sword with first a run that left three defenders in his wake before a shot that sailed over and in the last minute of time added on he forced Venezuelan keeper Miguel Ruiz into a great save and we all watched in anguish as his follow up shot was blocked by Nathan Ashton to deny a famous victory for the Angels.

Easy conclusion to make from this game is that Welling might well be the side that are to emerge as the best team in Conference South as they moved to the top of the table with another easy victory today, whilst the likes of Sutton, who were impressive at Longmead, are still looking for consistency.

Dover Athletic 1 Gillingham 4

Match 02/07/619 - Saturday, 21st July 2007 - Pre-season Friendly

Dover Athletic (0) 1 Pouton 59
Gillingham (2) 4 Mulligan 24, 31 Crofts 66 Pugh 80
Att. 3,011

Entrance: £9
Programme: £1.50
Mileage 96/171

The Dover website predicted a 3,000 crowd for this Pre-Season Friendly, I for one poured scorn on such a figure, but was proved completely wrong as 3,011 turned up to see Andy Hessenthaler’s opening match as the manager of Dover Athletic. I would guess that Gillingham fans made up 50% of the attendance and this would be as much a tribute to the true Gillingham legend as to the fans wish to see their new signings for a first time. As a Tonbridge supporter, Douvre, as they are affectionately known because of their close proximity to France, are great rivals, but with Hess in charge I can only wish them the very best of luck for the coming season.
I like Crabble, high on a hill and surrounded by trees, it appears that it has been built on a plateau. It is a ground that whilst these days may not satisfy the criteria of their previously owned Conference status, it is far above the standard of most of their counterparts in Ryman South. There are covered terraces behind both goals and a seated stand that goes the full length of the pitch. The second length is a bit of a gaggle of buildings with a smaller stand and a wooden club house and as you walk along the touchline you actually descend below the level of the pitch but that adds to its charm.

Gillingham arrived direct from a four day training stint in Le Touquet. It was a shame they did not play a open doors match in France as this proved to be a very good day out a couple of years ago. They started with what would be considered their first choice side at this stage of pre-season. Of the new boys, Barry Cogan showed up well and it was a very good cross that allowed Mulligan a deft header for the second goal. Efe Sodje and Simon King looked solid enough in the centre of defence, but perhaps next week’s game against Charlton will be a better stage to judge their partnership. Aaron Brown flitted in and out of the game with no great effect. As always with these pre-season games the second half became disjointed with substitutions and after a great free kick from Alan Pouton brought the score back to 2-1, goals from Crofts and Pugh sealed the game.
Match Report