WHITES promotion hopes were dealt a blow as Kieron Cadogan struck a first-half winner for 10-man U’s in wet and muddy conditions at Crabble.

The midfielder collected Tommy Wright’s cross and placed the ball past home keeper Mitch Walker into the net, via the far post, as Chris Kinnear’s men fell out of the top seven for the first time this season.

The game sparked into life instantly, with visiting stopper Jamie Butler turning away Ryan Bird’s snapshot. A ricochet then saw Harry Beautyman run clear through, only for Walker to deny the midfielder with his legs.

Butler then tipped over Femi Ilesanmi’s 20-yard rocket from the edge of the box and Bird was unable to slip the ball past the visiting goalie when the striker went through one-on-one.

After watching a Cadogan effort deflect just wide, Walker tipped away Wright’s ricocheted angled strike and then turned behind Simon Walton’s long-range curler.

But there was nothing Athletic’s goalie could do about Sutton’s opener, although his teammates almost levelled instantly.

However, Butler palmed over Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s backwards header from a free kick.

And Walker produced a similar save from Terell Thomas to stop the away team doubling their advantage.

Wright showed some clever skill to beat Mitch Brundle on the wing but fizzed his shot just past the wrong side of the post.

And Kane Richards almost had Athletic level at the break, but Butler was out quickly to save the winger’s close-range effort.

After the restart, Louis John headed just wide from a corner and Josh Passley’s last-ditch block denied Tom Bolarinwa a tap-in after the winger had rounded Walker.

Sub Kadell Daniel almost made an immediate impact but connected with fresh air rather than Ilesanmi’s pass with the goal gaping.

Goalkeeper Walker then produced his best save of the night to deny John.

The 26-year old dived low to somehow keep out the defender’s bullet header from a corner, collecting the ball at the second attempt.

And Whites received a boost on the hour mark when Beautyman was shown a red card.

The midfielder’s rash challenge on Connor Essam saw the former Peterborough man receive his marching orders.

Dover looked to make their man advantage count as Gallifuoco inadvertently blocked Essam’s goalbound shot.

Butler then clawed the ball away from underneath his own crossbar following a melee in the penalty area.

And Sutton’s keeper twice stopped Athletic from equalising in injury time.

Firstly, he beat away Brundle’s near post header from Pinnock’s corner and then blocked Bird’s close-range strike with his face.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that started last week’s game against Leyton Orient as Kane Richards replaced Anthony Jeffrey, who was ineligible to face his parent club.

The result sees Dover drop three places to ninth in the table.

Athletic next travel to Solihull on Saturday 17th February. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

SUTTON UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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MITCH Pinnock struck late to hand Whites a valuable three points against a determined Guiseley side at a wet and windy Crabble on Saturday.

The midfielder collected Femi Ilesamni’s pass and after cutting inside Jack Sheppard, fired through the body of visiting keeper Luke Coddington as Chris Kinnear’s side registered back-to-back league victories for the first time since September.

Captain Mitch Brundle had given his side an early lead with a scorching 30-yard effort, but Dayle Southwell levelled midway through the second half in equally stunning fashion from a free-kick.

Dover almost made the ideal start as Pinnock crashed an effort onto the bar with the match barely five minutes old.

But Brundle was able to better his teammates’ effort, driving a 30-yard scorcher into the top corner after Anthony Jeffrey played the ball into the skipper’s path.

Ryan Bird thought he had doubled the lead after burying Brundle’s cross, but the linesman’s flag denied the forward his thirteenth National League goal of the campaign.

And Athletic’s top scorer went close again moments later, this time heading Jeffrey’s cross narrowly wide.

Whites were almost made to pay for their missed chances as new Lions recruit Harry Flowers nodded over Callum McFadzean’s corner.

The former Burnley defender then blazed wide of a static Mitch Walker moments after his previous chance.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco nodded off target from Pinnock’s corner as the home side searched for a second goal and Walker was called into action twice in succession at the other end, firstly tipping away McFadzean’s low drive and then producing a similar save to deny James Roberts.

Brundle almost had his first brace of the season, flashing Bird’s pass just past the post after the restart.

Walker punched away Roberts’ ferocious drive as the visitors sought to end a run of three defeats on the spin away from home.

And it looked like one of Guiseley’s recent new signings had rescued a precious point for Paul Cox’s strugglers shortly after an hour.

Dayle Southwell, signed from Wycombe earlier in the week, curled a sumptuous 20-yard free-kick past an onlooking Walker.

Cheers from the 2327 strong crowd, in attendance for the club’s third Community Day of the season, were short-lived after the linesman ruled out Pinnock’s curling shot after Bird had allegedly strayed offside.

And midfielder Pinnock almost made the controversial decision irrelevant as he blasted a set-piece past the wrong side of Northampton loanee Coddington’s post.

But the midfielder finally got his just rewards two minutes from time and Femi Ilesanmi almost wrapped up the points in injury time, but he was unable to find the finish needed following a lung-busting run from his own half.

Earlier, Kinnear kept with the same side that started away at Boreham Wood last weekend.

The win sees Whites move up one place to sixth in the table, five points off current leaders Macclesfield Town.

Dover next host Leyton Orient in the Buildbase FA Trophy on Saturday 3rd February. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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TWO defensive errors saw Whites lose for the first time in six league matches as they were beaten 2-1 by promotion rivals Aldershot at a wet Crabble on Saturday.

Jim Kellerman capitalised on home keeper Mitch Walker’s error to give the visitors the lead and though Manny Parry restored parity seconds later with his head, the Shots won the game after a mix-up at the back between Parry and Walker saw debutant Nicke Kabamba claim the three points.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco had the first shot of the match, but his effort lacked the power needed to beat visiting keeper Lewis Ward after sprinting onto Ryan Bird’s lay-off.

And fellow centre-back Parry will feel he should have done better as he headed Femi Ilesanmi’s deep cross straight at Ward when unmarked.

Seconds later Nortei Nortey, following a flowing move on the right wing, fizzed a ball into the box which evaded all of his teammates.

Whites top scorer Bird went close to adding to his 12 goals this season. The striker firstly saw a shot blocked by the visiting defence following Mitch Pinnock’s corner and then headed over when well-placed at a long throw-in.

The away team almost had the lead five minutes before the break. Bernard Mensah’s perfectly weighted pass set Shamir Fenelon through on goal, only for the winger to stab wide with the onrushing Mitch Walker coming out to meet him.

And it was a rare calamity from Walker that gave the Hampshire side the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Dover’s number one confidently claimed Cheye Alexander’s free-kick but collided with Parry as he fell backwards, dropping the ball for Kellerman to slot the ball into an empty net.

However, the keeper’s blushes were spared by Parry’s leveller seconds later.

The centre-back headed Pinnock’s set-piece into the bottom corner of the net, out of reach of Ward’s despairing dive.

Shortly after the restart, Ward tipped over Gallifuoco’s headed effort from Brundle’s corner and with the rain teeming down, The Shots goalie caught Pinnock’s 25-yard free-kick at the first attempt.

Dover pressed forward to end their current run of four consecutive draws and Bird went close just after the hour mark, flicking Josh Passley’s ball into the box agonisingly wide.

But Chris Kinnear’s men were unable to get a much-needed win as debutant Nicke Kabamba grabbed a winner after coming off the bench with just over 20 minutes remaining.

A ball into the area from sub Bobby-Joe Taylor was grabbed by Walker, but an accidental kick in the head from Parry meant White’s keeper was unable to keep hold of the ball, allowing the Portsmouth loanee to round the goalie and chip the ball home.

A sweeping home move saw Brundle flick the ball for Bird to pull the trigger, however, George Fowler recovered well to tackle the forward.

With time running, Gallifuoco lashed Pinnock’s driven pass wide and the visitors almost sealed the win late on with a lightning counter-attack.

Kellerman slid in Mensah and though the midfielder appeared to have tucked the ball home, Nortey was on hand to acrobatically clear the ball off the line.

Athletic were unable to find an equaliser and the loss sees them drop one place in the table to fifth.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that started away at Maidstone. Kane Richards replaced Kadell Daniel, who started as a substitute.

Whites next host Marine in the FA Trophy on Saturday 13th January. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

ALDERSHOT TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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WHITES could not end 2017 with a win after being unable to break down ten-man Halifax Town at Crabble on Saturday.

Visiting keeper Sam Johnson pulled off two stunning first-half saves, denying both Mitch Brundle and Ryan Bird in succession.

And Athletic were not able to capitalise after Jake Hibbs received his marching orders late on following a second bookable offence.

The home side went close early on as Mitchell Pinnock’s searching ball almost found substitute Kadell Daniel at the far post, but Josh Wilde cleared the ball behind for a corner.

And Connor Essam would have blasted the hosts ahead from the resulting set-piece had it not been for Scott Garner’s brave block to deny the defender a second league goal of the season.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Sam Johnson brilliantly palmed away Brundle’s dipping 25-yard volley and though Ryan Bird pounced on the rebound, the giant goalkeeper was up quickly to deny Dover’s top scorer.

Brundle then spotted Bird had peeled off the visiting defence, however, the forward was unable to stretch his legs enough to reach his skipper’s diagonal ball.

Danny Clarke seemed to be in disbelief after Essam’s mistake left him one-on-one with home stopper Mitch Walker, giving Giancarlo Gallifuoco enough time to track back and tackle the midfielder.

Australian Gallifuoco almost had Dover ahead just after the break but powered Brundle’s corner just wide of the far post.

And the away side had their first shot on target on the hour mark as Josh MacDonald crossed for Tom Denton, but the tall striker could only direct his header straight into the arms of Walker.

Daniel also tried with his head minutes later, nodding Pinnock’s searching ball over the bar.

And Bird thought he had won the game late on, but fired wide after latching onto Jake Hibbs’ headed clearance.

Earlier boss Chris Kinnear kept with the same side that drew with Maidstone on Boxing Day. New signing Liam Bellamy was named on the bench, replacing the ill Kane Richards.

The draw sees Dover rise one place to fourth in the table, seven points of leaders Macclesfield Town.

Whites next travel to Maidstone on New Year’s Day. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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RYAN Bird’s goal ten minutes from time saw Whites complete an impressive second-half comeback in a thrilling Boxing Day Kent derby at a rainy Crabble.

Trailing to two Joe Piggott strikes at the break, Nortei Nortey headed home shortly after the restart and Bird pounced to level the scores after visiting keeper Lee Worgan parried sub Kadell Daniel’s cross-cum-shot to Athletic’s top scorer.

The visitors fashioned the first chance, but Aaron Collins was unable to direct Piggott’s high ball into the box on target.

The Wolves loanee then tried again, this time testing home stopper Mitch Walker from twenty-yards.

Dover’s first shot on target came on 21 minutes from Bird as he headed Mitch Pinnock’s free-kick straight at Worgan.

And Anthony Jeffrey also attempted to score with his head, but nodded Josh Passley’s centre well wide of the mark.

A set piece provided Whites next chance as Connor Essam nodded over Pinnock’s corner.

And seconds later Bird almost put the hosts ahead.  The striker fired Femi Ilesanmi’s low cross towards the bottom corner, but Worgan flung himself to tip the ball around the post.

But it was the away side who had the lead ten minutes before the break.

Seth Nana Twusami took advantage of hesitation by Jeffrey and crossed for Collins, who flicked the ball away from Walker’s clutches and straight to the laying-in-wait Piggott to take a touch and curl into the far corner.

And Maidstone’s top scorer doubled his match tally minutes later.

The forward was left alone in the box to power in his 12th of the season from Jamar Loza’s accurate cross.

The forward almost had his hat-trick after the break, but was unable to get the better of Walker at the near post after winning a tussle in the penalty area.

Skipper Mitch Brundle almost had Dover back in contention, striking the underside of the crossbar with a stunning 30-yard lob.

And Athletic went close again minutes later with Worgan forced to tip over Passley’s floated ball into the box.

The home pressure continued with Bird a whisker away from connecting to Pinnock’s driven pass across the goalmouth.

But Dover were back in the game with just over 30 minutes left of the clock.

Passley tossed in a ball from the right for Nortey to head into the bottom corner – past Worgan’s despairing grasp.

The home crowd were almost celebrating an equaliser shortly after, but Kadell Daniel stabbed over Manny Parry’s ball to him from close range.

But the substitute proved integral to Whites equaliser ten minutes from time.  The winger’s long-range shot from an angle deceived Worgan, who could only parry the ball upwards, allowing Bird to gleefully prod in his twelfth National League goal of the season.

Stones’ goalie faired better when blocking Pinnock’s lashed effort with his legs as the home team searched for a winner.

And it looked like Giancarlo Gallifuoco would complete a stunning turnaround, but Worgan somehow caught the Australian’s point-blank header from Brundle’s cross.

Earlier, boss Kinnear kept with the same side that drew at Wrexham on Saturday.

Whites next host FC Halifax Town on Saturday 30th December.  Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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DOVER ended their four-match winless run in style with an impressive  4-0 win over 10-man Hartlepool in freezing temperatures at Crabble on Saturday.

A brace in each half from Mitch Pinnock and Ryan Bird saw Whites complete the double over their visitors, who had former Athletic midfielder Nicky Deverdics sent off late on for an alleged elbow on Connor Essam.

The hosts made the ideal start, Pinnock latched onto Nortei Nortey’s lay-off and fired into the bottom corner to double his league tally for the season.

Ryan Bird stabbed Pinnock’s pass wide and visiting keeper Scott Loach dived low to push away Manny Parry’s downward header from Mitch Brundle’s corner.

Man-of-the-match Pinnock then curled an effort straight down the throat of Loach, but the midfielder did not have to wait long to bag his second goal of the game.

Anthony Jeffrey, making his first start for Whites since signing on-loan from Sutton, took advantage of Louis Laing’s slip and passed across the area for Pinnock to tap in.

A spectator for much of the half, home stopper Mitch Walker blocked Liam Donnelly’s drive before diving onto the loose ball.

Femi Ilesanmi had an effort deflected wide following the restart and Pinnock almost found himself clean through, only for the ball to strike the midfielder on the back of the leg.

Walker gratefully clasped onto the ball after Rhys Oates flick-on bounced goalwards off Jack Munns and Dover’s stopper dived onto sub Tom Adeloye’s low drive soon after.

But Hartlepool were unable to breach Whites’ backline and Bird secured the points late on with his 10th and 11th league goals of the campaign.

The striker headed in sub Kadell Daniel’s cross and completed the rout in injury time, stroking home Pinnock’s free-kick to move joint top of the National League goalscoring charts.

Earlier, boss Chris Kinnear made two changes to the side that started at Bromley last Saturday.  Ejiro Okosieme and Jeffrey came in for Loui Fazakerley and Kadell Daniel, who were on the bench.

The win sees Whites move up one place to fourth in the standings, three points behind new leaders Macclesfield Town.

Dover now take a break from the league as their FA Trophy campaign gets underway, with Eastbourne Borough the visitors to Crabble on Saturday 16th December.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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