A 4-2 away win and a first half that Jay Saunders described as “probably some of the best football we’ve played this pre-season” contributed to an encouraging performance against a Dover side that offered a stern test.

On a more typically warm pre-season afternoon, two trialists featured in a squad that continues to be carefully managed as a few niggles sidelined several potential starters. A couple of second half injuries highlighted how important this precautionary approach is at this stage of the season.

The Angels opened the scoring after 10 minutes when a Sean Shields free kick was met with a powerful Jamie Fielding header at the far post.

Shields doubled the scoreline after 27 minutes with a perfectly executed effort from the edge of the box.

Fielding, feeling a hamstring needed to be replaced at the break by Crossley Lema and, within a minute of the restart, Dover were back in the game with a goal from Luke Baptiste.

Club captain Scott Wagstaff was brought into the game but his afternoon was only to last about 10 minutes as he felt a reaction to a calf injury that has kept him out of the last couple of games.

The home side were level after 64 minutes when a trialist defender lost the ball under pressure from George Nikaj who rounded Toby Steward before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Two goals in the final ten minutes from trialists saw the Angels return home with their third win of pre-season. On 80 minutes, following a corner, the trialist centre back stabbed the ball home from close range and, four minutes later, the trialist front man was on hand to tap into a empty net following some great work from Mo Dabre.

Reflecting on that first half display, Jay Saunders said: “First half we were very, very good, caused them lots of problems. Second half we came out sloppy and let them back into the game, but the first 45 was probably some of the best football we have played this pre-season.”

Tuesday evening sees the Angels return to the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium where we will entertain a Charlton Athletic XI.

Picture: Matt Davison