2014/15 npower League 1 Results
Throughout my history managing this club, we've seemingly had great success coming out of the gates each year and I figured that would again be the case in 2014/15. We beat up on Gillingham 3-1 at home to start the season off in style but we quickly realized that League 1 wasn't going to be easy.
We'd lose consecutive games to Leyton Orient and Plymouth before exchanging a few wins, along with some losses and draws. On October 25th, we were mired near the bottom of the League 1 table, with 3 lonely wins, 3 draws and 6 losses - only 12 points through our first 12 games.
We'd improve slightly on that early season form as we made our way through the middle portion of the season but after a 1-0 away loss to Charlton on February 7, 2015, we sat with 44 points after 32 games (13 wins, 5 draws and 14 losses). We were out of the relegation zone but certainly not out of danger.
Thankfully, that was precisely the point in the season where our fortunes changed…and they changed significantly!
We would not lose one more game all season, winning 8 games and drawing 5 out of our next 13 league appearances to shoot way up the table. On the last weekend of the season, we were in 7th place on the League 1 table, 3 points behind Leyton Orient for the last potential playoff spot. We'd do our part, handling Carlisle at home 3-1 and now waited on the result of the Leyton Orient game against Chesterfield. A loss would pull us into a tie with them and give us the last playoff spot due to goal differential. A Leyton Orient win or tie would see them take that spot away from us.
Unfortunately, they would hold on to a 1-1 draw, giving them 77 points to our 76 and we'd finish one agonizing point out of the 2014-15 League 1 playoffs.
Dover Athletic would be spending next year in npower League 1 once again.
npower League 1 2014-15 League Awards
Top Goalscorer: Jamil Adam, Barnsley - 36
Most Assists: Matt Ritchie, Sheffield Wednesday - 21
Highest Average Rating: Oliver Norwood, Norwich - 7.33 (44 apps)
Most Man of Match Awards: Jamil Adam, Barnsley - 12
Manager of the Year: Eric Roy, Charlton
npower League 1 Player's Team of the Year
GK - Christian Gratzei, Sheffield Wednesday
DL - Paul Robinson, Norwich
DC - Ionut Rada, Peterborough
DC - Elliott Ward, Norwich
DR - Thomas Bartsch, Charlton
ML - Matt Ritchie, Sheffield Wednesday
MC - Michael Woods, Sheffield Wednesday
MC - Oliver Norwood, Norwich
MR - Paul Gallagher, Sheffield Wednesday
ST - Jamil Adam, Barnsley
ST - Luke Freeman, Plymouth
Sheffield Wednesday finished first in the league and scored the most goals so I guess it's not surprising that they dominated the Player's select team, with four players on the top eleven.
Our late season charge brought attention to the club and I was awarded as the League 1 Manager of the Month for both February and March. I'd also finish in 2nd place behind Charlton's Eric Roy for League 1 Manager of the Year.
Cup Competitions 2014-15
FA Cup -
We actually had our finest performance to date in FA Cup play during the 2014-15 season. We had a tough opening draw, playing away against league rival Plymouth but knocked them off 1-0. From there, we'd defeat League 2 side Bristol Rovers at home and follow that with an impressive home win against Championship side Cardiff. In the 4th round, we drew another Championship side, Preston North End away and came away with a close defeat. Still, a very solid showing against good competition.
1st Round - Plymouth 0 Dover 1
2nd Round - Dover 2 Bristol Rovers 0
3rd Round - Dover 1 Cardiff 0
4th Round - Preston 2 Dover 1
League Cup
We'd win our first ever League Cup game in a scintillating away performance against Championship side Swindon Town before getting humbled big-time against another Championship squad, Burnley, in the second round.
1st Round - Swindon 0 Dover 3
2nd Round - Burnley 5 Dover 1
Johnstone's Paint Trophy
Like the League Cup, this was our second year of competing in this event and after bowing out in round 1 last year, finally saw a slight bit of success this year, winning away against Colchester before a home win against Brentford that went to penalties. In the South quarterfinals, we'd run up against Bristol Rovers again and they'd gain revenge for our FA Cup win by defeating us 3-1 at The Memorial Stadium.
1st Round - Colchester 1 Dover 2
2nd Round - Dover 0 Brentford 0 (Dover win 4-3 on penalties)
South Quarterfinal - Bristol Rovers 3 Dover 1
2014-15 Overall Dover Statistics
Top Goalscorer: Alexander Rattke - 15
Top League Goalscorer: Alexander Rattke - 13
Most Assists: Alexander Rattke - 13
Highest Average Rating: Aaron Greene - 7.18 (28 apps)
Most Man of Match Awards: Aaron Greene - 6
Fans Player of the Year: Alexander Rattke
The numbers were down considerably for our strikers this year, partially due to the fact Aaron Greene battled injuries for most of the year. Rattke was excellent all year.
2014-15 Dover Best Eleven
GK - Liam O'Brien - 48 apps 0g 6.85 avg
DL - Aziz Deen-Conteh - 38 apps 0g 6.88 avg
DC - Michael Raynes - 32 apps 2g 7.05 avg
DC - Oliver Nicholas - 45 apps 4g 7.01 avg
DR - Conor Morrissey - 34 apps 0g 6.86 avg
ML - Arsene Bamba - 35 apps 5g 7.09 avg
MC - Janusz Kedzierski - 43 apps 1g 6.90 avg
MC - Arron Williams - 21 apps 3g 6.96 avg
MR - Keith King - 30 apps 9g 7.13 avg
ST - Aaron Greene - 28 apps 13g 7.17 avg
ST - Alexander Rattke - 40 apps 15g 7.13 avg
Other notables: DC/MC Carl Graham 4 apps 0g 6.50; DC David Ogilby 31 apps 2g 7.01; ML Ismael Fofana 28 apps 5g 6.95; MC Tobias Figueiredo 18 apps 3g 6.75; ST Patrick Cooper 30 apps 10g 6.98; ST Razak Abdul 12 apps 3g 6.79; ST Phillip Roberts 11 apps 4g 7.03
GK -
Liam O'Brien basically carried the mail all season long. New signing
Bryn Halliwell only played 5 games and was terrible in almost all of them. He'd never play another game of professional football after this season and to this date is actively looking for managerial jobs.
D -
Our defense was pretty solid, especially down the middle. New signing
Michael Raynes stepped in and performed quite well alongside
Oliver Nicholas and captain
David Ogilby, who were both equally as good. Young vice-captain
Luke McCullough dealt with two significant injuries during the season, tearing a calf muscle and later breaking his foot. Both injuries kept him out of action for 4 months each and he'd only play 7 league contests for us this season.
Aziz Deen-Conteh and
Conor Morrissey were both steady at fullback.
M -
Perhaps a changing of the guard? Noticeable by their absence on our Best Eleven are
Ismael Fofana and
Abdeltareck Sakali, who were passed by newcomers
Arsene Bamba and
Keith King. Bamba was sensational as a 17 year old, putting up 5 goals and 13 assists in 37 total appearances (both league and cup ties). King was very effective as well, with 9 goals and 5 assists in 32 total appearances. Sakali, who arguably has been one of our top players throughout my tenure, saw a dramatic fall off in the quality of his play, getting 0 points in 17 total appearances. He won't be resigned next year. Fofana was still effective when called upon. At centre midfield, young
Arron Williams forced his way into the lineup, getting 7 points in 18 league appearances and using his great speed to his advantage.
Janusz Kedzierski was solid defensively, as usual and despite not being listed above,
Richie Ryan was a constant in our lineup, playing 38 games and scoring 5 goals.
F -
Like Luke McCullough, star striker
Aaron Greene tore a calf muscle early in the season and missed over four months of action. He still was as effective as ever upon his return with 13 goals and 8 assists in 29 total appearances.
Alexander Rattke was ever present up front, playing 40 games, scoring 15 goals and adding 13 assists to lead the team in both categories. New signing
Lee Cochrane didn't make an impact but young strikers
Patrick Cooper and
Phillip Roberts continued to show great potential.
Year-End Financials
The move to League 1 certainly proved to be significant on the financial statement, as our turnover doubled from last year, going over £3.6m but our wage costs also doubled. Our sale of GK Reice Charles-Cook essentially provided our profit for the season, as for all intents and purposes, we broke even on the year.
Another very encouraging sign is that our attendance figures continue to shoot skyward, with an average of well over 5000 fans coming in per game. With a capacity of 6500 and only 1000 total seats, we're getting to the point where a stadium expansion should be considered.
Closing Thoughts
I guess I have to consider this season to be a success, especially after our incredible 14-game undefeated streak to end the season. Still, finishing one point out of the playoffs was a bitter pill to swallow.
Hopefully the squad has gelled with our late season success and I'm thinking we just may have a shot at promotion next year.