ADE Azeez’ late winner kept alive Dover’s playoff hopes in a thrilling Community Day game at Crabble on Saturday.

The substitute followed up on Anthony Jeffrey’s shot after visiting goalie Dan Hanford spilt the pacy winger’s low shot.

A Giancarlo Gallifouco header and Ryan Bird’s spot-kick cancelled out Theo Vassell’s impressive opener, but Danny Johnson’s penalty seemed to have secured a point for the visitors.

However, Azeez slotted in two minutes from time to raise Chris Kinnear’s men into the top seven.

The home side started brightly and Bird headed wide from Mitch Brundle’s cross early on.

And Gateshead almost scored their first goal at Crabble this century as debutant Macauley Langstaff prodded wide from Scott Barrow’s cross.

Mitch Pinnock was left wondering how he did not get any contact on Jeffrey’s flashed ball across the box and soon after, Femi Ilesanmi was next to test the Gateshead backline.

The defender burst forward and drilled just wide of Hanford’s far post.

And Dover play-off chances were left hanging by a thread on 21 minutes.

Vassell, in space 30 yards from goal, found the top corner via the post much to home stopper Mitch Walker’s surprise.

Pinnock almost replied instantly for Athletic, firing narrowly wide from outside the area.

And Manny Parry also tried his best to level, heading Brundle’s corner straight into Hanford’s arms.

At the other end, Paddy McLaughlin missed a glorious chance to double the visitor’s lead, volleying Barrow’s ball off target with the target gaping.

But it was Gallifuoco to the rescue with a crucial equaliser seven minutes before the break.

The Australian rose highest to bullet a header past a statuesque Hanford from Brundle’s set piece

Boss Kinnear then almost saw his side go ahead moment’s later with Jeffrey and Bird both seeing their shots blocked.

After the break, Vassell almost doubled his tally for the afternoon, curling wide of the top corner.

And another player nearly doubled his goals scored in the match minutes before the hour mark.

Gallifuoco headed Bird’s cross goalwards, but he could not keep his effort on target.

But Bird’s 16th National League goal of the season had Dover ahead for the first time in the game.

Jeffrey teased a foul in the area and Dover’s striker sent Hanford the wrong way from the spot.

But it was another penalty that nearly ended Dover’s playoff hopes.

Brundle clattered Richard Peniket in the box after the substitute latched onto a flick-on, leaving Johnson to slot in the resultant penalty.

However, Azeez struck late in the day to hand Dover a vital win and keep alive his side’s promotion hopes.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that lost to Tranmere on Tuesday night.  Nortei Nortey and Bird replaced Liam Bellamy and Azeez, who started as substitutes.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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DOVER’S play-off hopes hang in the balance following a narrow defeat to fellow promotion chasers Tranmere at Crabble on Tuesday night.

Andy Cook capitalised on Manny Parry’s error six minutes before the break and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, in spite of Connor Essam’s attempts to clear the ball off the line.

And Cook could have added to his tally of 25 goals this season earlier in the match, racing through on goal within seconds of the kick-off, but Mitch Walker was equal to the National League’s top scorer’s low drive.

Cook and strike partner James Norwood then combined with the latter seeing his strike blocked by Essam.

Visiting stopper Scott Davies misjudged a free kick into the area, but his backline spared the keeper’s blushes after the ball flew over the former Fleetwood Town man’s head.

Livewire Cook almost stunned the home crowd, turning his man and curling inches wide from 25-yards.

And at the other end, Parry skied from over close range following a corner and the same player rose highest to meet Mitch Pinnock’s cross but nodded over.

But it was Cook who opened the scoring and Rovers almost doubled their lead following the restart.

Connor Jennings sprinted clear but was unable to find a way past Walker.

Cook could only direct Larnell Cole’s cross into Walker’s arms and James Norburn’s 20-yard rocket had Athletic’s stopper scrambling across his goal.

And hotshot forward Cook went for glory from distance after Norwood nodded the ball into his path, missing the far post by inches.

Athletic pressed for a leveller but were unable to find a way past a resolute Rovers defence.  The loss sees Whites drop once place to ninth in the standings, three points outside the playoffs.

Earlier boss Kinnear made one change to the side that started at Maidenhead on Saturday.  Azeez replaced Ryan Bird, who started as a substitute.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

TRANMERE ROVERS REACTION

RYAN Bird’s second-half penalty was enough for Dover to see off nine-man Torquay.

The striker slammed in his 15th National League goal of the season as Chris Kinnear’s men recorded a fourth consecutive victory at Crabble.

Mitch Brundle had the game’s first shot on target just past the ten-minute mark, spinning his defender and firing low at visiting keeper Ryan Clarke from just inside the area.

Rhys Healey, booked moments earlier for simulation in the penalty box, volleyed well wide from close range after a fine initial touch.

Cardiff loanee Healey then cut in from the left and fired towards goal, but Walker was able to dive onto the midfielder’s effort.

Ryan Bird could only head wide after Anthony Jeffrey outpaced his marker and crossed towards the striker and at the other end, Liam Davis lashed a volley high and wide of the mark.

Healey almost had the away side in front, controlling Luke Young’s corner and flashing a volley a mere inches past the post.

And Elliott Romain was almost gifted a goal by the Dover defence.

Kevin Lokko’s poor touch almost gave the Dagenham & Redbridge loanee a clear sight of goal, however, Walker was on hand to gather the ball.

Brundle’s free-kick from the left-hand side almost found it’s way into the top corner, but Clarke denied the Dover skipper with his fingertips.

Brett Williams was then within a whisker of connecting to Young’s wayward strike before the referee blew for half-time.

Following the restart, Jeffrey collected Femi Ilesanmi’s pass and after a dart into the area, lashed a shot onto the foot of the post with the Torquay defence able to clear the rebound.

But Whites had the lead just minutes later thanks to Bird.

The striker stepped up to slam in his third spot-kick of the season after Connor Evans’ handball in the box.

And The Gulls’ task was made even more difficult when Healey was shown a second yellow card following a rash challenge on Connor Essam.

But the ten men of Torquay almost snatched a point.  Firstly Young forced Walker to tip away his ferocious 20-yard volley and then was on hand to claw away Romain’s header.

United were reduced to nine men in injury time as Romain was shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle on Gallifuoco.

But Athletic held on for the crucial three points to keep them in the playoff hunt.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to the side that started at Ebbsfleet on Bank Holiday Monday. Nortei Nortey, Josh Passley and Jeffrey replaced Mitch Pinnock, Ade Azeez and Liam Bellamy, who all started as substitutes.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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