Report

Ten-man Dover were made to pay for defensive errors as they were well beaten by a ruthless Woking on Tuesday evening.

Despite going ahead early on, Whites were hit for five at Crabble for a second time this season, having also conceded the same amount to Aldershot last month.

The home side’s misery was compounded by Oscar Gobern’s sending off for a dangerous challenge shortly after the hour mark.

The loss, Athletic’s sixth of the season, leaves Andy Hessenthaler’s men second-from-bottom on the National League ladder, one point from safety.

The hosts got off to a dream starting when Ade Azeez knocked the ball on for Steve Rigg to slot home for his first goal of the season.

The home side then went close to doubling their lead, but Azeez’s header from Sam Wood’s cross flew over the intended target.

Whites were duly punished twice in quick succession.  Josh Davison nodded in Josh Casey’s pinpoint cross to level matters, before Kane Ferdinand converted Charlie Cooper’s fizzing set piece.

Ferdinand doubled his tally just after the half hour mark as he headed home Woking’s third – another delivery from Casey.

Rigg then had two chances to haul Whites back in the game, only finding the side netting from close range and then seeing visiting keeper Craig Ross grab onto his drive from just inside the area.

Home stopper Tom Smith made a great save to deny Ben Dempsey from adding a fourth just before the break and Athletic’s task of avoiding back-to-back home defeats was dealt a blow shortly after the hour mark.

Gobern was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Charlie Cooper when both players challenged for a 50-50 ball.

Woking sealed the three points as Davison broke on the counter attack and found Max Kretzchmar to slot home.

The Cards were not finished there and made it five late on from a corner as Cooper’s ball into the area was bundled in by Kretzchmar.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made two changes to the side defeated by Altrincham at the end of October.  Gobern and De Havilland replaced Bayli Spencer-Adams and Louis Collins, who were both named as substitutes.

Dover next travel to King’s Lynn Town in the National League on Saturday 22nd November, kick off 3 pm.