Report

WHITES promotion hopes were dealt a blow as Kieron Cadogan struck a first-half winner for 10-man U’s in wet and muddy conditions at Crabble.

The midfielder collected Tommy Wright’s cross and placed the ball past home keeper Mitch Walker into the net, via the far post, as Chris Kinnear’s men fell out of the top seven for the first time this season.

The game sparked into life instantly, with visiting stopper Jamie Butler turning away Ryan Bird’s snapshot. A ricochet then saw Harry Beautyman run clear through, only for Walker to deny the midfielder with his legs.

Butler then tipped over Femi Ilesanmi’s 20-yard rocket from the edge of the box and Bird was unable to slip the ball past the visiting goalie when the striker went through one-on-one.

After watching a Cadogan effort deflect just wide, Walker tipped away Wright’s ricocheted angled strike and then turned behind Simon Walton’s long-range curler.

But there was nothing Athletic’s goalie could do about Sutton’s opener, although his teammates almost levelled instantly.

However, Butler palmed over Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s backwards header from a free kick.

And Walker produced a similar save from Terell Thomas to stop the away team doubling their advantage.

Wright showed some clever skill to beat Mitch Brundle on the wing but fizzed his shot just past the wrong side of the post.

And Kane Richards almost had Athletic level at the break, but Butler was out quickly to save the winger’s close-range effort.

After the restart, Louis John headed just wide from a corner and Josh Passley’s last-ditch block denied Tom Bolarinwa a tap-in after the winger had rounded Walker.

Sub Kadell Daniel almost made an immediate impact but connected with fresh air rather than Ilesanmi’s pass with the goal gaping.

Goalkeeper Walker then produced his best save of the night to deny John.

The 26-year old dived low to somehow keep out the defender’s bullet header from a corner, collecting the ball at the second attempt.

And Whites received a boost on the hour mark when Beautyman was shown a red card.

The midfielder’s rash challenge on Connor Essam saw the former Peterborough man receive his marching orders.

Dover looked to make their man advantage count as Gallifuoco inadvertently blocked Essam’s goalbound shot.

Butler then clawed the ball away from underneath his own crossbar following a melee in the penalty area.

And Sutton’s keeper twice stopped Athletic from equalising in injury time.

Firstly, he beat away Brundle’s near post header from Pinnock’s corner and then blocked Bird’s close-range strike with his face.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that started last week’s game against Leyton Orient as Kane Richards replaced Anthony Jeffrey, who was ineligible to face his parent club.

The result sees Dover drop three places to ninth in the table.

Athletic next travel to Solihull on Saturday 17th February. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SUTTON UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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