Report

GOALS from Stuart Lewis, Inih Effiong and Josh Passley handed Whites a routine home win in their final match of the National League season on Saturday lunchtime.

Lewis fired in Reason’s flick in the first half and Effiong hammered in a second after the break as Andy Hessenthaler’s men registered a fourth consecutive victory.

Josh Passley converted a penalty with the last kick of the game as Whites’ ended the season unbeaten in nine league games to finish 14th on the National League ladder, missing out on a top-half finish by virtue of goal difference.

In a slow start, Alfie Pavey blazed well over after Stuart Lewis’ initial shot was blocked.

Pavey was on target with his next effort, heading Bobby-Joe Taylor’s free-kick straight at visiting keeper Ross Worner.

Worner was called into action again moments later, tipping over Mitch Brundle’s cross.

But Sutton’s keeper was helpless when Stuart Lewis’ fired the hosts ahead on 17 minutes.

Dover’s midfielder latched onto Jamie Allen’s pass and smashed the ball into the bottom corner for his second goal in three matches.

Anthony Jeffrey lashed one just wide after cutting inside and Pavey was denied a seventh National League goal of the season by the assistant referee after heading in Jeffrey’s cross.

Brundle went for glory from a free-kick, with Worner dropping down to palm away the skipper’s goalbound effort.

Brett Williams was just off-target with a fierce drive in a rare Sutton attack and the striker’s next shot was on target, but lacked the power to trouble Walker.

The away side went close to equalising shortly after the restart as Tom Bolarinwa smacked the crossbar with a curling effort.

Walker made his first save of the match, tipping away Williams’ bottom-corner bound strike.

Taylor went close to scoring his first goal for Dover, blasting Jeffrey’s cross inches over.

Worner prevented Allen from heading into the bottom corner but was left rooted to the spot when the home side doubled their lead on 76 minutes.

Sub Inih Effiong sprinted clear and slammed his ninth National League goal of the season into the top corner.

Williams almost pulled one back for United but was unable to get the better of Walker.

And Jeffrey’s went close to added gloss to the scoreline in injury-time as Worner scraped his drive wide.

However, the scoring was not over as Passley netted from the spot in injury time after being fouled in the area.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made one change to the side that started at Ebbsfleet on Bank Holiday Monday with Mitch Walker, making his final appearance for Athletic, replacing Lee Worgan in goal.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SUTTON UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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