Report

AN EARLY goal from Adrian Clifton kept Athletic entrenched in the National League dog fight.

The striker fired home on 13 minutes, via a deflection off defender Scott Doe, as Andy Hessenthaler’s side lost for the first time on their travels in five matches.

Dover’s defeat, their third in four National League matches, leaves them one point and one place above the relegation zone.

An early chance for the hosts saw Clifton’s cross-cum-shot deflected goalwards by Ryan Upward, however, right-back Danny McNamara was on hand to thump clear before the ball could cross the line.

Mitch Brundle then let fly with a volley from the edge of the box, with home keeper Carl Pentney forced into a finger-tip save over the bar.

After scoring, Clifton can only wonder how he was unable to double the lead 12 minutes later.

Walker parried Sam Nombe’s ball into the area only as far as the big striker, but Maidenhead’s top scorer smacked his shot against the crossbar.

Following the restart, Walker came to Dover’s rescue with a brave point-blank block to deny Nombe from close range following Upward’s pass across goal.

The danger wasn’t quite over as the rebound fell for James Akintunde, but the attacker blazed well over from a few yards.

Kevin Lokko headed McNamara’s cross wide of the mark as the away team pushed for a leveller and Akintunde smashed over from 20 yards at the other end of the pitch.

Substitute Alfie Pavey latched onto Brundle’s lofted pass, but Pentney was out quickly to block the striker’s header.

Odametey let fly from range following a swift counter-attack, however, Walker produced a brilliant save to stop the ball finding the top corner.

Upward nearly sealed the win for the Berkshire side, seeing his effort deflect inches wide.

Akintunde raced clear onto sub Mike Fondop’s ball, but the forward was once again denied by the onrushing Walker.

Fondop then skewed wide and Whites almost stole an unlikely point at the death.

Pavey found some space in the area but saw his strike hit the Maidenhead defence and bounce away to safety.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made one change to the side that won 3-1 at Salford last week, with Brundle back from injury to replace Jai Reason.

Whites next host Braintree Town in the National League on Saturday 2nd March, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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