Report

Whites earned a first-ever point at Mill Farm in a game of few chances for either side.

The home team had the best opportunity to score a goal when Jordan Williams’ ran through on goal in the first half, however was unable to get the ball past visiting keeper Yusuf Mersin.

Coasters goalie Montgomery turned away Inih Effiong’s curling strike as Andy Hessenthaler’s men ended a run of back-to-back losses at Fylde.

The match was also Jim Bentley’s first home match in charge of AFC Fylde since his appointment earlier in the week.

Home skipper Danny Rowe curled narrowly off target within a minute of the game starting.

Rowe then went for goal again, heading Luke Burke’s cross narrowly off target.

Matty Kosylo then fired a warning shot wide for Fylde and at the other end, Steven Rigg headed Josh Passley’s cross wide of the far post.

Mersin dived low to grab onto Rowe’s 30-yard free-kick and Oscar Gobern then directed Passley’s cross straight at home stopper James Montgomery.

Athletic can thank Mersin for keeping the scores level after Paul Rooney missed his header.

The defender’s misjudgement let in Williams’ on goal, but the Turkish keeper was out quickly to block the midfielder’s shot.

Effiong blasted wide shortly after the restart and Kosylo opted to shoot when cutting inside for Fylde, only to blast his effort into the side-netting.

Whites then nearly went ahead with one of the best attacking moves of the match.

Effiong and Jai Reason played a one-two and Dover top scorer Effiong forced Montgomery into a diving save.

Williams’ then dragged a 20-yard strike wide as the away side continued to limit their hosts’ chances.

Reason unleashed a 30-yard volley straight at Montgomery and with 10 minutes remaining, Williams slipped in Rowe, but the normally reliable striker curled into the side netting with just Mersin to beat.

The point sees Dover drop one place to 12th on the league ladder, three points outside the play-offs.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler kept with the same team that started against Eastleigh on Tuesday night. Striker Ruel Sotiriou, signed on loan from Leyton Orient the day before the game, was named as a substitute.

Whites next host Southend United in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper on Sunday 10th November, kick-off 12 noon.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

AFC FYLDE REACTION