Report

A stunning free-kick from Jamey Osborne denied Dover a third consecutive win on Saturday.

The midfielder curled Sollihull’s first shot on target into the top corner from 25-yards to cancel out Inih Effiong’s early header.

Athletic’s top scorer had stylishly put Andy Hessenthaler’s men ahead after five minutes, looping Jack Munns’ set piece into the top corner.

Both sides had chances to win the game and the away side nearly won it with three minutes remaining when sub Nathan Blissett diverted Callum Howe’s header onto the post.

However, both sides, coming into the match with Dover’s home record matching Moors’ away record, had to settle for a point at the end.

Whites made the perfect start when Effiong’s backward header from Munns’ free-kick looped over the outstretched arms of visiting stopper Boot and into the top corner.

Jai Reason then went close, striking the outside of the post from the edge of the box following Munns’ clever back-heel.

Effiong then had the ideal chance to double the hosts’ lead after beating Moor’s offside trap, only to be denied by Boot’s sprawling save having sprinted through on goal.

Those missed chances were then punished by Solihull.

Home stopper Yusuf Mersin could only watch as Jamey Osborne curled a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner after Michael Woods had committed a foul on the edge of the box.

Reason then nearly restored Whites’ lead after arriving onto Bobby-Joe Taylor’s pinpoint cross at the backpost, only to head high over the bar.

Steven Rigg latched onto Reason’s clever flick after the break, but stabbed his shot straight at Boot.

Yusuf Mersin’s palmed away Osborne’s 20-yard effort after Paul McCallum wrestled Paul Rooney off the ball.

Callum Howe rose highest to meet Osborne’s corner, but could only find the roof of the net and substitute Ruel Sotiriou nearly made an instant impact after coming on, nodding Rigg’s centre wide of the target as the game started to stretch.

Sotiriou went close to meeting Aaron Simpson’s cross and at the other end Mersin was out quickly to deny McCallum sliding in.

Effiong then ran through the Solihull defence, however Boot once again denied the big striker, turning his effort into the side netting.

The woodwork then denied the Midlands side from snatching a late winner.

Osborne’s set-piece was met by Howe and via Blissett’s forehead, the ball smacked the post with Oscar Gobern able to clear away to safety.

And neither side were able to find a winner as whites moved up one space on the league table to ninth.

Earlier, boss Andy Hessenthaler made one change to the side that started at Yeovil last weekend, with Reason returning from suspension to replace Nassim L’Ghoul.

Whites next host Maidenhead United on Tuesday 26th November, kick-off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SOLIHULL MOORS REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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