Dover Athletic 3 Slough Town 1

DOVER'S debut in the Ryman League got off to a great start at the Hoverspeed Stadium, as two second half Chris Wright goals knocked the stuffing out of Slough.

While the visitors had arguably been the better side in the game's opening hour, Whites' team of kids, dismissed as Sunday league players by Gravesend manager Andy Ford a week ago, ultimately ran out worthy winners by virtue of their superior fitness.

Clearly, few in a crowd of 637 would have known what to expect from Whites' first venture into the unknown.

However, it's difficult to imagine how manager Richard Langley could have been more delighted with a result achieved by a side that, Billy Bone apart, would all have needed to produce ID in order to buy a post match beer at what one wag referred to as "Kempy's Creche."

While the first half was just about even in terms of possession, Slough spurned three decent chances as Matt Miller (twice) and Ian Hodges failed to hit the target. But if the game had a particular turning point it came in the minute before the interval. First, Miller and Hodges combined to set up full back Josias Carbon just inside the 18-yard. while Carbon's drive was beautifully struck, debutant keeper Pat Mullin got across his goal to push the ball behind with a high class save.

It probably summed up Slough's afternoon rather well when Athletic went straight up the other end of the field to take the lead. Penned in by the right hand corner flag, Wright and midfielder Dale Skelton worked a one-two to send the latter behind the Rebels' left flank.

As Wright drilled the ball low across the box, Rob Smidmore drove a beautifully struck volley from 15 yards across keeper Jake Whincup and into the bottom left hand corner.

The next goal was always going to be vital to the outcome and that too went Athletic's way, just after the hour mark. As Skelton whipped the ball to the far post from close to the left hand touchline, either Whincup or defender Martin Moller might reasonably have been expected to be alert to the danger.

In the event, Wright got between the pair of them to prod the ball over the line to give Dover a little breathing space.

If Wright's first goal was a scrappy one, his second, which effectively decided the outcome, was first-rate. It came as Shaun Welford chased down a long ball out of defence, going shoulder to shoulder with two visiting defenders. Displaying some strength, Welford bounced off both of them to lay the ball off to strike partner Wright, whose left foot perfectly placed the ball into the top right hand corner from 20 yards.

A goal for their endeavours was the very least Slough deserved, and they got one back as Hodges found space to nod home a corner from the left 15 minutes from time.

Dover: Mullin, Farrier, Rogers, Skelton, Cloke, Hickman, Smidmore (Smissen-81), Bone (Lane-75), Welford, Wright, Mee (Welch-75).