Dover Athletic 2 – 0 Wealdstone

November 8, 2026 ⋅ 2026-27
DoverDover Athletic
FA Cup1R

2 - 0

WealdstoneWealdstone
KO: 15:00 | Sat 7th Nov ’26

WEALDSTONE limped out of The FA Cup with a whimper, offering barely any threat to hosts Dover Athletic who won through to the FA Cup Second Road more comfortably than the 2-0 scoreline suggests.

The Stones never got to grips with what was required to win an awayday cup tie, and played into the Whites’ hands by passing around in front of their opposition and never properly testing the Dover goalkeeper.

Athletic kept danger at arms’ length with two banks of four and an additional man on patrol between midfield and attack, ready to spring on the counter, and were obliged by a Wealdstone team which failed to operate at any kind of meaningful tempo.

Jack Bates’ first-half double, a pair of fine strikes from outside the box, proved plenty good enough to defeat a lacklustre Stones.

Indeed, Wealdstone boss Gary Waddock judged his team’s first 45 so insipid that he used an unprecedented ‘electric shock’ style move of a quadruple half-time substitution. But it had only a short-lived effect on the flow of the match as Stones slid out of the FA Cup at Crabble.

There were three changes to the starting line-up from last weekend’s win over Southend United. Team captain Connor McAvoy came in for Dion Conroy, Milton Oni replaced Aaron Henry and Luke Norris started instead of Fejiri Okenabirhie.

Dover took less than 15 minutes to go in front. Joe Newton was tamely dispossessed, the ball fed inside and Bates – having had a steadying touch – curled an accurate shot away from Dante Baptiste and inside the far corner.

Wealdstone’s No. 1 was busy a few minutes later, plunging low to deny ex-teammate Sak Hassan whose low far-post volley forced a smart reaction from Baptiste.

Oni had Stones’ first sight of goal moments later, but shot high & wide after Joe Newton’s half-cleared cross fell to him just inside the box.

Dylan Kadji was robbed of possession by Hassan just after the half-hour mark. He found Ruben Soares-Junior for a fierce shot which was beaten out by Baptiste, who was grateful to see the rebound hacked clear.

Shortly after, Stones were spared by an off-side flag after a melee from a set-piece saw Athletic with the ball in Baptiste’s net.

But it was two to the hosts just three minutes from the interval, and there was no keeping out Bates’ rasping 25-yarder. Striding onto a square pass, he left Baptiste with no chance thanks to an arrowing strike to the keeper’s right.

Waddock exercised the option of using four of his eight subs at the break. It was an understandable roll of the dice – and not really much of a gamble given what had gone before.

On came Dion Conroy, Fejiri Okenabirhie and two players returning from injury: Rohan Maher and Kyle Smith.

With an increase in natural width, Stones’ improved intent forced some early corners and then a good chance for Okenabirhie but his shot lacked sufficient power.

That came six minutes into the second-half, but in the next attack at the other end Soares-Junior should have done better than head straight at Baptiste from a free-kick.

Smith’s surging run and bullet of a low cross rather hit Okenabirhie than the striker connecting with the ball, and what appeared a good 58th-minute chance went begging.

On 62, Baptiste had to claw out ex-Stone Corey Andrew’s poke goalbound after a bouncing ball forced McAvoy into an unwanted back header that fell into the striker’s path as he navigated round the keeper before trying for goal.

Hassan had two more looks at goal for Dover, both good chances, either side of what was to prove Wealdstone’s best chance of a route back in when Okenabirhie saw his shot denied by a sprawling save.

Soares-Junior could easily have made it three four minutes from time, but couldn’t add what would have been a deserved gloss on the scoreline for the Kent club when he snatched at a good chance to blaze over.

Stones’ topsy-turvy form took a downward turn in Kent and has cost them the possibility of a lucrative FA Cup Round Two tie.

They can now only make amends with better at Hartlepool United in the league next weekend, but must wait until December 12 to kick off their bid for a return trip to Wembley in the FA Trophy.

Line-up: Baptiste; McAvoy (c), Francis-Clarke, Kanu (T Newton 62); Chesters (Smith HT), Oni (Maher), Kadji, Wells-Morrison, J Newton (COnroy); Norris, Olomola (Okenabirhie HT).Subs not used: Long (GK), Uchenna, Kaunda.

Att: 1,913 (away fans figure TBC)

Match Report:

Garry Waddock Post Match  HERE

Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE

Match Highlights:

WFC HERE

DA HERE

 

Non – League Newspaper

Dover Athletic Website

Match Report

Dover Athletic booked their place in the Emirates FA Cup Second Round with a memorable 2-0 victory over National League side Wealdstone at Crabble, courtesy of two outstanding first-half strikes from Jack Bates.

In front of 1,913 supporters, Jake Leberl’s side produced another impressive cup performance to overcome opposition from the division above and extend their run in this season’s competition.

Having already beaten Folkestone Invicta, Hanwell Town and Dorking Wanderers on their way to the First Round Proper, the Whites entered the contest full of confidence.

The opening exchanges were competitive, with neither side able to carve out a significant opportunity before Dover broke the deadlock in the 14th minute.

A long clearance from captain Mitch Walker found Sak Hassan, who went down inside the area under a challenge. With appeals for a penalty waved away, the loose ball fell to Bates on the edge of the box, and the midfielder made no mistake, driving a powerful effort beyond Wealdstone goalkeeper Dante Baptiste.

Dover nearly doubled their advantage just four minutes later. Euan Williams delivered from the right flank, picking out Hassan at the far post, but his attempt was kept out by Baptiste.

The Whites continued to threaten and thought they had found a second shortly after the half-hour mark. Harry Beadle’s long throw caused problems in the Wealdstone penalty area, with Ruben Soares-Junior involved in the ensuing scramble, but the referee ruled out the effort for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Wealdstone’s first notable opening arrived in the 41st minute when Olufela Olomola tested Walker from distance, although Beadle’s intervention took the sting out of the shot.

Moments later, Dover struck again in spectacular fashion.

A swift counter-attack involving Soares-Junior and Corie Andrews created space for Bates, who unleashed a superb strike from around 25 yards that flew beyond Baptiste to send Crabble into celebration once more.

The midfielder’s second of the afternoon took his tally to ten goals for the season, including five in the FA Cup, and gave Dover a commanding advantage heading into the interval.

Wealdstone manager Gary Waddock responded with four substitutions at half-time, introducing Dion Conroy, Kyle Smith, Ronan Maher and Fejiri Okenabirhie in an attempt to turn the tie around.

However, it was Dover who threatened immediately after the restart. Hassan tried his luck from distance within seconds of the second half beginning, before Soares-Junior directed a header from a free-kick straight at Baptiste.

The visitors began to create opportunities of their own, with Okenabirhie narrowly diverting a delivery from the right past Walker’s post.

There was action at both ends shortly after the hour. Andrews came close to adding a third for Dover, only for Baptiste and Aidan Francis-Clarke to prevent his effort from crossing the line. At the other end, Luke Norris sent a long-range attempt narrowly over the crossbar.

Walker was then called upon to preserve Dover’s two-goal cushion, standing firm to deny Okenabirhie as the forward advanced towards goal.

As the game entered its closing stages, the Whites continued to find openings on the counter-attack.

Hassan was unfortunate not to add his name to the scoresheet with 15 minutes remaining, sending an effort narrowly wide after the Wealdstone defence had been caught out.

Soares-Junior then had another opportunity to put the result beyond doubt in the 86th minute, but fired over after breaking through on goal.

Beadle also produced a vital defensive intervention late on, preventing Wealdstone from capitalising on a dangerous cross from substitute Tyrelle Newton.

Despite the visitors’ efforts to find a route back into the contest, Dover held firm to complete an impressive victory and secure their place in Monday’s Second Round draw.

The result marks another significant moment in the Whites’ cup campaign, bringing the club within one victory of the Third Round Proper for the first time since the 2014/15 season, when Premier League Crystal Palace visited Crabble.

Dover’s attention now turns to next weekend’s FA Trophy Second Round tie at home to Burgess Hill Town, with the Whites looking to continue their cup form.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Beadle, Jones, Bakrin, Wilson-Braithwaite, Williams, Bates (Wilkinson 87′), Andrews (Baptiste 82′), Soares-Junior (Fish 90+2′), Hassan.

Unused substitutes: Jallow, Ezenwanne, Bartlett, Onu, Sesay, Leberl.

Wealdstone: Baptiste, J. Newton (Conroy 46′), Wells-Morrison, Norris, Kadji, Olomola (Okenabirhie 46′), Chesters (Maher 46′), Francis-Clarke, Oni (Smith 46′), McAvoy, Kanu (T. Newton 62′).

Unused substitutes: Long, Uchenna, Smith, Kaunda.

Goals: Bates (14′, 42′).

Referee: Matthew Norton.

Attendance: 1,913.