Report

A LATE goal by Stuart Lewis handed Whites’ back-to-back victories in the National League at Crabble on Saturday.

Midfielder Lewis followed up after visiting stopper Jake Cole spilt out Anthony Jeffrey’s ball across goal to extend Dover’s unbeaten league run to seven matches.

The victory lifts Andy Hessenthaler’s men to 17th in the league table on 54 points, with boss Andy Hessenthaler setting a revised target of 60 points by the end of the season.

Earlier, Rollin Menayese headed over from John Goddard’s cross as the game’s first meaningful chance went the way of the already relegated Shots.

Inih Effiong then went for glory, exchanging passes with Anthony Jeffrey before forcing visiting goalkeeper Jake Cole into a low save from the edge of the area.

Effiong then slipped in Jamie Allen, but Dover’s forward slipped at the crucial moment and sent his shot sailing over the crossbar.

The home side continued to create chances and Bobby-Joe Taylor, playing in a more advanced role for Whites, headed Jeffrey’s pinpoint ball back across the goalmouth and out for a goal-kick.

Aldershot’s first attempt on target arrived shortly after the restart when Goddard took aim, however, Worgan was equal to the long-ranger and parried the ball away.

Effiong swivelled in the area, only to see his strike bravely blocked by the visiting defence, while Jeffrey had Cole scrambling along his goalline with a dipping 30-yarder.

Kevin Lokko then glanced Taylor’s corner off-target and the away side went even close five minutes before the hour mark.

Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong found Reece Grant in the area, but the striker was unable to hit the target as the ball deflected off Joshua Debayo and onto the foot of the post before being cleared the safety.

Athletic and Effiong were left looking to the skies with their next opportunity.

Taylor slipped in Dover’s top scorer at the far post, only for Cole to somehow deny Effiong with a spectacular block from point-blank range.

Goddard stabbed McDonnell’s pass just wide and sub George Elokobi volleyed past the far post from distance.

Cole continued to thwart the hosts, somehow palming over Nortei Nortey’s deflected top corner-bound strike.

And the Shot’s stopper was not finished there.

Referee David Rock ushered play on following a foul on sub Alfie Pavey, but while the Aldershot defence remained motionless, Cole was out quickly to deny Allen.

Stuart Lewis had an effort cleared off the line and moments later the Aldershot backline denied Athletic.

Jeffrey outsprinted his opponent out wide, finding Allen to thump the ball goalwards, only for Rollin Menayese to acrobatically clear the ball off the line.

Sub Kadell Daniel nearly scored his first goal of the season, firing inches wide, while Cole gathered Jeffrey’s long-distance effort at the second attempt.

Agyepong raced through to steal the win late on, only for Worgan to make a sprawling save.

Dover finally made the breakthrough on 89 minutes thanks to Lewis’ first goal for the club.

Lewis tucked the ball into the bottom corner after Cole parried out Jeffrey’s ball.

Earlier, boss Andy Hessenthaler four changes to the side that started at Barrow last week.  Adebowale, Jeffrey, Debayo and Allen came in for Scott Doe, Josh Passley, Pavey and Jai Reason with the latter two named as substitutes.

Whites next travel to Ebbsfleet in the National League on Bank Holiday Monday 22nd April, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

ALDERSHOT TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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