Report

WHITES’ National league playoff hopes were dealt a blow after Andy Drury grabbed a last minute winner for Ebbsfleet in Bank Holiday Monday’s Kent derby at Stonebridge Road.

The midfielder slotted in from a tight angle following a free-kick to cancel out Keanu Marsh-Brown’s penalty just minutes earlier.

Hosts United, who had taken a second-half lead through Sean Shields, were nearly ahead within minutes of the kick-off as Corey Whitely volleyed Marvin McCoy’s cross just over.

At the other end, a long throw ended with Mitch Brundle firing a deflected effort into home stopper Nathan Ashmore’s hands.

And Mitch Walker was called into action for the first time midway through the first half.

The visiting keeper reached down low to tip Drury’s low drive onto the post and away from danger.

Femi Ilesanmi found himself as the last line of defence after Ashmore’s long kick set Luke Coulson clear, but the wing-back was able to come away with the ball following a perfectly-timed tackle.

Walker was soon on hand to deny United once again, this time saving Danny Kedwell’s goalbound header.

Ade Azeez then slid in to connect to Ilesanmi’s cross-cum-shot but was unable to get the crucial touch as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

Dave Winfield and Coulson seemed to clash as they both simultaneously headed Kedwell’s cross wide and shortly after, Whitely flashed an effort from the edge of the area past the wrong side of Walker’s right-hand post.

And with the break looming, Shields blazed over from 20 yards after getting the better of Giancarlo Gallifuoco out wide.

Ebbsfleet had the lead nine minutes after the restart as Shields cut inside Azeez out wide and fired through Walker from an angle.

Whites tried to hit back and substitute Josh Passley nearly levelled when his deep cross looped just beyond the corner of the post and bar with Ashmore beaten.

Kedwell smashed a low shot wide from outside the area and goalscorer Shields tested Walker from range.

And Dover’s captain went even closer to finding the net from distance.

Brundle collected sub Marsh-Brown’s pass and rattled the crossbar with a 30-yard strike.

And Chris Kinnear’s men thought they were going home with a point after Marsh-Brown sent Ashmore the wrong way following the referee’s decision to award a penalty once Gallifuoco was felled in the box.

But Drury had the final say with a last-gasp winner as Athletic lost their second consecutive National League match.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same side that started at Eastleigh on Tuesday night.  Nortei Nortey replaced Ejiro Okosieme on the bench.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

EBBSFLEET UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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