Report

TEN-MAN Whites gained their first clean sheet of the season with a goalless draw at Chesterfield, though the points almost stayed at the Proact Stadium in a dramatic finale.

After Aryan Tajbakhsh was shown a second booking, both Bradley Barry and Curtis Weston struck the woodwork in the dying moments.

It was almost the dream start for Chris Kinnear’s men as Tim Schmoll, diving at full stretch, headed over Mitch Brundle’s cross following a short corner.

And Lee Shaw blazed over from inside the area for the hosts after some trickery from Joe Rowley.

Brundle’s 20-yard shot lacked the power needed to trouble home keeper Shwan Jalal.

But Mitch Walker in the Dover goal had to produce a fine save on 25 minutes.

Schmoll’s well-timed tackle on Curtis Weston in the area fell for Shaw, but a combination of Walker and Moussa Diarra kept out the forward’s angled drive.

Chigozi Ugwu struck a 25-yard effort straight down the throat of Walker just before the break.

Following the restart, Binnom-Williams nodded Rowley’s corner inches over.

And set piece taker Rowley smashed sub Zavon Hines pass wide of the angle in a bright start from Martin Allen’s men.

Schmoll and Tajbakhsh fired over from distance for Whites, but the best opportunity of the match so far came at the other end.

Barry’s devilish cross ended with Walker denying the lying-in-wait Rowley at his near post in spectacular fashion.

Sub Kadell Daniel’s shot with his first touch was no match for Jalal and Walker tipped Hines’ fierce drive around the post.

And Michael Nelson almost scored from the resultant corner, scuffing wide when well placed at the back post.

Athletic ended the game a man light as Tajbakhsh was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence in injury time.

And it almost proved costly as the hosts struck the post and crossbar seconds before the final whistle.

Barry headed against the post from a cross with Walker somehow touching Weston’s rebound shot onto the bar, seconds before the referee called time on the game.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that drew with Ebbsfleet.  Anthony Jeffrey and Jack Connors replaced sub Nortei Nortey and George Smith, ineligible to face his parent club.

Whites next host Solihull Moors on Saturday 15th September, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

CHESTERFIELD REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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