Usually the Hope Inn would expect very little from an away fixture on a boggy Elms Vale pitch, with just the bare eleven to select. However the new more resolute Hope side who are now unbeaten in 8 league games and sitting at unprecedented 4th in the table, went into this match confident of getting a result, even with an injured B. Fielding playing up front.
The Dover Dynamos, although lying towards the bottom of the league, were able to select one of their stronger sides and put early pressure on the Hope Inn defence. However it was the Hope that took the lead, making use of the wings were there was still some grass on the pitch, Steve Miller drilled in a low cross from the right that was met at the far post by Dave Fielding sliding in.
The Hope grew in confidence after the goal, but lacked the cutting edge to extend their lead, although Brian Fielding came close with a low drive that hit the post. Then a rare error in the Hope defence allowed Dynamos to draw the game level just before half time.
After the break the Hope soaked up a lot of pressure from the home team, but took the lead again from a counter attack that eventually ended with Brian Fielding just 6 yards out with the ball at his feet and only the goal keeper to beat. He froze for a few seconds as he contemplated the most appropriate strike to beat the keeper, before taking the obvious and easy option of just rolling towards the near post and past the stranded keeper.
Unfortunately for second time in the match, the Hope’s lead didn’t last long and Dynamos equalised again after following up on a shot which was deflected out by ‘Skins’ in the Hope goal.
In the not too distant past the Hope may have capitulated and ended up throwing this game away, but their recent form has seen them develop some self belief and grind out results. This was personified with the game’s man of match Jae Donnelly as he picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the Dynamos defence. He fought his way to the by line where he crossed the ball across the face of the goal for John Muir to neatly tuck the ball into net, a la Le Tallac.
Overall a hard fought but deserved win for the Hope Inn, which will keep them up in the dizzy heights of top four in the Dove Premier league.
