WOKING 1-2 DOVER

(Carter 38)

(Gallifouco 26), (Marsh-Brown 90)

DOVER missed out on the top seven by goal difference despite Keanu Marsh-Brown’s injury time winner.

The substitute fired in Anthony Jeffrey’s pass to confirm Woking’s relegation to the National South, but the three points were not enough as Dover finished the season eighth in the table.

In a game the hosts needed to win to stand a chance of avoiding relegation, Chris Kinnear’s men had taken the lead through Giancarlo Gallifuoco, but Woking were level shortly before half time through Charlie Carter.

Earlier, Kevin Lokko headed a corner goalwards, with the defender’s shot was blocked and Nortei Nortey’s follow up from the edge of the area was easily dealt with by home stopper Nathan Baxter.

And only a stunning save from Mitch Walker kept the scoreline level.

The stopper flung himself across his goal to deny Carter from a yard out following some pinball in the penalty area.

Mitch Pinnock then tried to chip Baxter from range, but was off target.

19 year-old Baxter tipped away Mitch Brundle’s curling 20-yarder, but there was nothing the Cards keeper could do from the following corner.

Australian Gallifuoco took advantage of hesitant home defending to nod the ball into the bottom corner.

Carter and Reece Grego-Cox went close for Woking, both shooting off target when well placed.

But midfielder Carter did restore parity on 38 minutes.

The 21-year old fired in at the second attempt after Grego-Cox escaped out wide and fired in a ball to his teammate.

Josh Staunton almost gave the hosts a lead, forcing Walker to tip over his header.

And Dover supporter’s player of the season then denied Cook following Parry’s misjudgement and Carter was denied by the woodwork from the resulting corner.

Woking’s goalscorer rose high to meet a corner, but saw his header bounce off the underside off the bar and down onto the goalline.

Following the restart, Joey Jones blazed well over after bursting forward from the back.

Walker then tipped away Grego-Cox’s teasing cross and Staunton’s bullet header fizzed wide from a corner

Pinnock’s right-footed effort from the edge of the area sailed into the stand, whilst at the other end Carter could only slide Grego-Cox’s ball wide and Staunton blocked Pinnock’s fierce drive.

And with time running out, Kevin Lokko almost grabbed a winner.

The big defender met sub Keanu-Marsh-Brown’s cross, but the ball curled agonisingly past the angle of post and bar.

And Baxter frustrated the visitors once more, tipping away Jeffrey’s low drive in a frantic finish.

But Marsh-Brown and Dover had the final say in a game were both sides ended up being disappointed come the final whistle.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same line-up that started in last week’s 3-2 win against Gateshead.

Woking:  Baxter, Ramsay, Ralph, Wynter, Staunton, Jones (Theophanous), Isaac (c) Bawling 80), Ferdinand, Cook (Charles-Cook 74), Carter, Grego-Cox.

Subs not used:  Orlu, Theophanous, Mason.

Dover:  Walker, Gallifuoco, Ilesanmi, Parry (Bellamy 45), Essam, Lokko, Brundle (c), Nortey (Marsh-Brown 66), Pinnock, Bird (Azeez 45), Jeffrey.

Subs not used:  Passley, Daniel.

Attendance:  2,593

DOVER 3-2 GATESHEAD

Gallifuoco (37), Bird pen (66), Azeez 88              

Vassell (24), Johnson pen (83)

Ade Azeez’ late winner kept alive Dover’s play-off 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 spilled 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 McLauglin 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 play-off 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:  Walker, Parry, Essam (Marsh-Brown 88), Lokko, Gallifuoco, Brundle (c), Nortey, Ilesanmi, Jeffrey, Bird (Azeez 79), Pinnock (Passley 73).

Subs not used:  Daniel, Bellamy.

Gateshead:  Hanford, Vassell, Byrne (c), Mellish (York 73), Kerr, Barrow, McLaughlin, Penn, Langstaff (Peniket 63), Johnson, Burrow (Preston 63).

Subs not used:  Montgomery, Green.