Report

White slumped to defeat at the hands of their play-off rivals in the Midands on Saturday.

A first-half own goal by Aaron Simpson and a brace from Callum Howe after the break saw Andy Hessenthaler’s men well beaten by the Moors, a result that lifted the hosts above Athletic in the National League table.

Earlier, Jake Beesley was sent clear to go one-on-one with Lee Worgan, only to take too heavy a touch, allowing Athletic’s stopper to come out and gather easily.

In the swirling winds, Tyrone Williams found space to run into out wide.  Though his ball was heading in the direction of the two Moors attackers in the area, Worgan was out to dive onto the right-back’s pass.

Michael Woods was almost left red-faced when his back-header only found Beesley, however Dover’s captain was relieved to see Darren Carter blaze over his teammates’ lay-off.

The home fans were left stunned when Beesley failed to convert his next chance.

Paul Rooney’s slip saw the striker sprint clear, however Beesley got his angles all wrong and smashed the ball clear over Worgan’s crossbar.

Instead it was James Ball to have the game’s first shot on target.

Ball ran onto Darren Carter’s pass and arrowed a shot towards the bottom corner, an effort well saved by Worgan with Simpson on hand to clear the danger.

Bobby-Joe Taylor saw his effort from the edge of the area deflect just wide and moments later, after out-muscling Darren Carter, Ricky Modeste fired over from the angle.

Instead it was the hosts who went ahead nine minutes before the break when Carter’s floated free-kick was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Simpson.

Nassim L’Ghoul took aim after the restart from 20-yards, a shot that whizzed past the wrong side of the foot of the post.

Moors double their advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

Rooney’s header from Beesley’s cross flew high into the air, only for the ball to land back in the area, with Callum Howe quickest to react, stealing in ahead of the Dover defence to sweep the ball underneath Worgan.

Inih Effiong nearly delivered a swift response for the away side, seeing his close-range strike deflect just wide.

An away defeat for Dover was confirmed with nine minutes left, when Worgan palmed Geraldo Bajrami’s header from Carter’s corner onto the bar, with the lieing-in-wait Howe on hand to tap in his second of the game.

Williams almost added a fourth when stabbing the ball goalwards in the penalty area, but Simpson was across to clear away the danger.

It made no difference as Dover were unable to register back-to-back wins in the National League, slipping outside the play-offs into eighth.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made two enforced changes to the side that started the 5-1 home win against AFC Fylde last weekend, with Worgan and Taylor replacing the injured duo of Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Dominic Poleon.

Whites next host Yeovil Town in the National League on Saturday 7th March, kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SOLIHULL MOORS REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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