Report

WHITES were goalless against the National League leaders at Crabble on Saturday, though Andy Hessenthaler’s men will rue an early penalty miss in front of the highest attendance at Crabble this campaign.

After sending Inih Effiong sprawling when both players went for a 50-50 ball, visiting stopper Dean Brill denied Athletic’s top scorer, diving to his left to save Effiong’s spot kick.

Earlier Dale Gorman sent an early warning to Dover with a 20-yard strike just over the bar.

After his penalty save, Brill then denied Dover from the resultant corner, tipping away Alfie Pavey’s bullet header from Mitch Brundle’s set piece.

Josh Koroma fired inches over from Macauley Bonne’s pass and Brill collected Brundle’s fierce cross at the other end.

Koroma will wonder how he did not put the Os ahead seven minutes before the break.

The attacker sprinted towards Mitch Walker from Bonne’s clever through ball, successfully lifting the ball over the onrushing keeper, but watched in disbelief as the ball trickled the wrong side of the far post.

Following the restart, Pavey thundered an effort against the crossbar after playing a one-two with Effiong.

Dover’s target man then tried again, firing off target by a matter of centimetres from the edge of the box.

Bedsente Gomis was unable to connect to sub Anthony Jeffrey’s cross and Bonne fired just wide for Orient.

Cries of a foul on Jeffrey were waived away allowing Gorman to take the ball and crash a shot into the side netting.

A quick clearance from Walker almost led to an opener.

The Crabble stopper sprinted out to beat Bonne to the ball and booted the ball upfield where Widdowson’s weak back header allowed Effiong to nip in, but the forward could only place his shot wide.

Justin Edinburgh’s side were then denied by the post just before the start of injury time.

Gorman’s low volley thumped the foot of the woodwork and off a teammate for a goal kick.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started against Maidstone on Boxing Day.  Pavey, Scott Doe and Joshua Debayo came in for Bobby-Joe Taylor and Ricky Modeste, who were injured, plus Jeffrey who was named as a substitute.

Whites next travel to Maidstone in the National League on New Year’s Day, kicking off at 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

LEYTON ORIENT REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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