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Potters Bar manager left ‘shell shocked’ at his side’s 8-0 loss to Dover

Potters Bar Town manager Max Mitchell says he was left ‘shell shocked’ at his side’s 8-0 loss to Dover Athletic on the opening day.

What a start to the season it is for Dover for their first game back in the Isthmian League Premier Division since 2009, having been relegated from the National League South, finishing 24th with 27 points from 46 games played a few months ago.

An absolute drubbing for their opponents, who finished 15th in the 7th tier, with 51 points from 42 games last season.

So, how did both sides’ next games play out in midweek? Dover fell to a 3-2 defeat in front of a bumper crowd at home to Folkestone Invicta.

And for Potters Bar, they won 1-0 away at Dartford, who were also relegated from the National League South ending up in 21st, with 46 points from 46 games, and beat Cray Valley Paper Mills 2-1 Mills at the weekend.

Quite the response from Potters Bar, and didn’t concede either. Already, it sounds like the Isthmian league is going to experience quite the unpredictable season.

He said: “Firstly a huge apology to everybody who travelled down on behalf of us as management team and the playing group.

“It was a performance that needs an apology and has left me a little shell shocked in all honesty.

“To go from a team who competed last week against St Albans City, and put in the work and performance that they did, to a performance [against Dover] was two completely different sides.

“We have to look at it and we’ll come out of the emotion and analyse it.

“We have to move forward. We have no opportunity to do anything else.

“In terms of the game, I felt we were good for the first 15 minutes, probably the only spell of the game where we caused them some issues, especially down their left-hand side.

“But as soon as they got the first goal, we started to deteriorate.

“Out of possession we were poor and we could talk all day about the rest of it, but we want to make sure we put it behind us quickly.

“I have to address it as manager of this football club, I won’t hide from it for sure, but we have to move forward.

“We have a game against Dartford on Tuesday night and we will assess the damage [from here] and make sure we prepped to go again.”

On the perfect way to start the season, Dover boss Jake Leberl said: Yeah, definitely. Yeah. And it wasn’t like that, was it? First half, to a certain degree it was very tight and we were causing us a few problems, but we stuck at it. And then once we got the first, I Just felt that we were going to go on and get a few more because we did look fit, we did look organised, we did look strong and, like I’ve said already, there’s a team there already. A lot togetherness. But look, let’s not get carried away. It’s an absolutely fantastic start. You know, a good win away from home with a clean sheet. First clean sheet of, we haven’t had one in pre-season, so lots and lots of good things. But, you know, something like that can derail you as well. You know, it happened a little bit pre-season when we went to Whitstable, we got a little bit carried away. So, you know, we can’t obviously, let that affect us going into a really difficult game Tuesday night.

Interviewer: Were there any standouts for you, Jake? Anyone in particular?

Jake: I mean, obviously Nikaj has got his hat trick, but no, you know, I’m not for standout. I’m all for the team. I think every single one of them put in a, you know, a good shift and a good display. It was a really fantastic team, team effort, which is, you know, what you need to be to be successful.

Interviewer: And big derby on Tuesday night against Folkestone. Are you feeling like the team is ready for that?

Jake: Yeah, definitely. I mean, obviously, you know, we’re all a little bit apprehensive going into this today. I saw Potters Bar had a really good result, you know, at St Albans, I thought were outstanding last year and they just got beat the last kick of the game last week. So now the game started, it was very tight affair, but goals change games, yeah, Folkestone at home. Like I said previously, a little bit disappointed it wasn’t the Christmas fixture, but going into it now, first home game of the season, a new era. Like I keep saying, I want the people that have stayed away to give these boys a chance. Come and have a look. The fans here today were fantastic. Although, you know, after 25 minutes, I heard a few negative shouts. You know, you can’t win a game in the first 20 minutes and people have got to be patient and understand, you know, as we go, and there’s going to be bumps in the. Bumps in the way. And, you know, the famous old saying, never too high, never too low. Really enjoyed tonight and really look forward to focusing big derby Tuesday night.

Potters Bar Town 0

Dover Athletic 8
George NIKAJ (33′)
Luke BAPTISTE (42′)
Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (45′)
George NIKAJ (47′)
George NIKAJ (65′)
Harrison PONT (68′)
Joe TENNENT
 (80′) Jaiden DRAKES-THOMAS (89′)

Lineups:

Potters Bar Town: 1 Seb Stacey, 2 Prosper Keto, 3 Layne Eadie, 4 Jamie Dicks, 5 Isaac Currie, 6 Ronnie Henry, 7 Samrai Gebrai, 8 Joe Re, 9 Steve Cawley, 10 Max Jessop, 11 Ore Bello.

SUBS: 12 Daniel Aldana, 14 Calvin Ekpiteta, 15 Ryan Hayes, 16 Hamid Salam, 20 Finn Rushton

Dover Athletic: 1 Mitch WALKER, 2 Roman CHARLES-COOK, 3 Fuad SESAY, 5 Joe TENNENT, 6 Luca COCORACCHIO, 7 Luke BAPTISTE, 10 George NIKAJ, 11 Lindell STEWART, 14 Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR, 16 Harrison PONT, 23 George WILKINSON.

SUBS: 4 Jeremiah GYEBI, 9 Eniye AMGBADUBA, 15 Tamas AMGBADUBA, 19 Jayden SILCOTT-BROWN, 20 Jaiden DRAKES-THOMAS

Attendance: 204
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: The Orbital Fasteners Stadium

Here’s how fans reacted with the Potters Bar Town manager left ‘shell shocked’ at his side’s 8-0 loss to Dover…

@Tonyrussell78: Fair play for coming out & fronting up. I have so much respect for this; it’s easy to talk & post when things are good. Embrace the challenge & enjoy overcoming it. Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.”

@TheMailmanUk: The first 7 goals were unlucky but the 8th!!!! Damn

@ayesizzy: Fucking ell

@adwatkins8: Whole 11 washing cars for free tomo

@FansMaidstone: Dover finally found their level

@mhmyhyhyh: Fold the club

@riverport_: I would 8 to be a Potters Bar Town fan right now

@OfficialReader9: A hard long pre season all to be beat 8-0 on the first game… LONG DAY! 🤯⚽️

@gskirk85: Perfect start to the season.. COYW!

@TBowdery27: We used to dream of days like this

@aaronjfarrow2: rahhhhh first game of the season

@theory_harry: Different gravy we are roll on Folkestone

@TheRiverEnd1: I’m speechless…. After such misery for the last few years, what a way to start the season. Unbelievable performance from every single player. LET’S GO, COYW!!!!!!! #DAFC

@LeeCPDAFC: Superb start to the season. Are we that good or were Potters Bar that bad? Let’s see Tuesday but still, that was great today and matches our record win (8-0 v East Preston in 2009!)

@hfc_felix: And yet people have still been coming at me for saying Dover will win this league…

@jonnycyclone: Speechless! What a start, roll on Tuesday!

@UKFDFC: A sign of things to come for @DoverAthletic? Could they be going straight back up?

@Samuel_Y92: Gutted to have missed it but absolutely buzzing! COYW!

@guywouldham: That’s fantastic well done lads. Bring on Folkestone!!

@toptargets: Wow! Some win that is!👏👏👏

@charmaine86afc: Well done Dover

@anorak58: WTF!!! COYW

@steveysey: Hope the players, staff and fans that travelled enjoyed every second #coyw

@flaviov4lentino: Some team 👌

@WayneOfKent: Great start to the season ⚪️⚫️⚽️

@LWick27: Unreal COYW 🙌⚫️⚪️

@Sam_spr1: Not bad 🤣

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