It was a cold, crisp night at the Dripping Pan, where Dover made Lewes’ dreams of victory evaporate quicker than the breath in the air. The match felt like the kind of script you’d expect to see in a gritty, underdog sports film, where the favourites fall apart and the dark horses make their mark. Dover were clinical. Ruthless. The kind of team that doesn’t just show up; they take over.
From the first whistle, Dover were in full control, and Lewes seemed to be caught in their own fog. Dover’s attack hit Lewes hard, starting with George Nikaj heading them into the lead just eight minutes in. Things escalated quickly, as Ruben Soares-Junior doubled Dover’s advantage just four minutes later, punishing Lewes with a counterattack straight off their own corner.
The Whites were cruising through Lewes defence in their own ‘GNX’ building momentum with every move. Then came the controversy. Luke Baptiste, charging through, was brought down by Lewes’ keeper Toby Bull in the box. Lewes were being challenged and forced to Squabble Up, full of fire and intensity. The ref, however, kept his cards hidden, showing Bull some unexpected mercy. Baptiste stepped up to take the penalty, and despite Bull getting a hand to it, the ball found the back of the net. 3-0 Dover, and Lewes were left trying to catch their breath as Dover’s dominance echoed through the ground.
Lewes came out stronger in the second half, and just before the hour mark, they finally found a way through Dover’s defence. Solid as the famous white cliffs themselves. Captain Danny Bassett capitalised on a rebound after Ladapo’s shot was parried by Dover keeper Walker, sliding the ball home to bring it back to 3-1. Much like the cliffs that have stood unshaken for millennia, Dover’s defence held firm, and despite Lewes’ late pressure, it was nothing more than a consolation as Dover ran out deserving winners. On a cold night in Lewes, it was Dover who warmed up the scoreboard.
