Dover got their third point of the season as they held Solihull Moors to a goalless draw at Crabble.

Both teams would have felt like they could’ve picked up all three points in a game where chances went begging for both sides.

Earlier in the day, Andy Hessenthaler made two changes from the draw with Weymouth on Saturday with Ricky Miller and Jake Goodman coming in for the injured Koby Arthur and Travis Gregory.

The away side almost went ahead immediately when Jordan Cranston’s fizzing shot was deflected wide.

The pressure kept coming by the visitors when the National League top scorer Joe Sbarra picked up the ball in the Dover half before running at the defence and testing Adam Parkes who was able to tip the curling effort around the post.

Parkes then did tremendously well to keep the scores level as the ball was threaded through to Sbarra who was through on goal, however the on loan goalkeeper made himself big to make a great save.

Whites grew into the game and almost went ahead twice in the space of thirty seconds. First, Aaron Cosgrave’s superb solo run didn’t prove rewarding as his shot was blocked by the defender, before Miller tested out Ryan Boot, forcing a save from a solo effort.

A mistake from the visiting defence, then allowed Cosgrave to run after a loose ball which would have seen him be through on goal, however Boot was able to put him off long enough for the ball to go out for a goal kick.

It was the Parkes’ turn to make a great save as he reacted really well to stop Adam Rooney’s bullet header at the front post from a corner.

All of Whites’ attacking threat looked to be coming from Cosgrave, with the on loan attacker going close again towards the end of the half as he picked up the ball from Miller, cut inside the defender, but could only hit his shot straight at Boot.

Moors started to press harder and faster in the second half and Danny Collinge did well to stop what looked like would’ve been a guaranteed goal when he got in the way of a dangerous cross towards Rooney who was the only man in the box.

Second half sub Matt Bentley looked dangerous for Whites when he came on the pitch and almost set up Junior Tiensia, however the full-back shot was deflected into the hands of Boot.

Dover picked up only their second point of the season as they held Weymouth to a draw at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Koby Arthur opened the scoring for Dover midway through the first half, however, Whites were pegged back just before halftime through Josh McQuoid.

Earlier in the day, Andy Hessenthaler made four changes from the midweek defeat against Eastleigh with Adam Parkes, Harry Ransom, Junior Tiensia, and Travis Gregory coming in for Josh Bexon, Jake Goodman, Sam Wood, and Ricky Miller.

Hessenthaler’s men started the game very positively and almost took an early lead after a mistake from Weymouth allowed TJ Bramble to find Aaron Cosgrave. The attacker picked the ball up well and ran towards goal, however his shot was blocked by Tyler Cordner who done well to get back.

Whites will feel hard down after this when Ben Williamson looked to have been brought down by Cordner in the area, however, the referee waved the shouts away.

Despite this, the visiting side continued to look the better side, and they got their rewards for this just after 20 minutes through Arthur whose sensational strike from outside the area gave the home goalkeeper no chance.

Williamson then nearly doubled Whites’ lead on the counter-attack, but he couldn’t get on the end of Bramble’s pass which would have seen him through on goal.

The home side started to grow into the game and was almost level when ex-White Omar Mussa’s corner found Taofiq Olomowewe, however, he couldn’t keep his shot on target.

Parkes then made a great save on his league debut to keep Whites ahead as he dived well down to his left to stop Ollie Harfield’s long-range effort.

However, the home side equalised shortly after through Josh McQuoid who kept his composure to slot past Parkes after being put through on goal.

Some heroic defending from Henry Woods kept the score level as the second half got underway. After a scramble in the box, the ball landed at the feet of Brandon Goodship whose shot is blocked brilliantly by the midfielder.

Bradley Ash then went close twice for the home team. First, a quickly taken free-kick found the forward who could only curl wide, before Parkes did well to push an effort wide after Goodship played the ball off to the forward.

Both sides had chances to take all three points as the game came to an end with Tiensia and Arthur going close for Whites and Cordner went close with a header for the Terras.

A poor first-half performance proved costly for Dover as they were blown away by Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.

Ryan Hill opened the scoring for the home side 20 minutes into the game before Harry Pritchard doubled the lead a minute later.

Ben House made it three for Eastleigh with five minutes left of the first half with Josh Hare getting the fourth in stoppage time.

Aaron Cosgrave did get one back for Whites midway through the second half but it only proved as a consolation for Dover.

Earlier in the day, Andy Hessenthaler made one change from the 0-0 draw with Chesterfield on Saturday with Ricky Miller coming back in for Travis Gregory who missed out through injury.

The home side started strong and dominated the early possession. House almost gave them the lead, however, the ball was deflected wide into the side netting, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

Despite riding out the early storm, Dover couldn’t capitalise and Eastleigh took hold of the game with two goals in the space of a minute.

They took the lead through Hill who collected the ball well into the box before finishing it low past Josh Bexon. Straight from kick off, they doubled their lead when Pritchard got on the end of Hare’s cross to head home.

Hill almost doubled his own tally midway through the first half, but Bexon did well to make the save down to his left-hand side.

However, Eastleigh didn’t have to wait long to get a third as House’s shot from close range beat Bexon.

It got even worse for Whites as Hare fired home to add a fourth on the stroke of half time.

House looked to make it five just after half time but Bexon did well to stop the ball and make a good save.

Against the run of play, Cosgrave got one back for Whites as he did well to get on the end of a cross to decrease the deficit, however, it only proved as a consolation as Dover were easily beaten.

Dover earned their first point of the season as they held promotion chasing Chesterfield to a goalless draw at Crabble.

Whites will be the happiest of the two sides in a game that lacked any real clear cut chances.

Earlier on in the day, Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler made one change from the defeat to Altrincham last weekend, with Jake Goodman replacing Ricky Miller.

Dover almost went ahead inside 10 minutes when visiting goalkeeper Scott Loach could only parry Aaron Cosgrave’s shot towards Koby Arthur, however Spirerite captain Gavin Gunning would get there before the onrushing Arthur to clear the ball out of play.

Gunning then almost showed what he could do up front as he headed over from Jak McCourt’s corner.

Kabongo Tshimanga then had a great chance to put the visitors ahead shortly before the break, but Josh Bexon made a great save to deny the striker.

Down the other end, Travis Gregory went close to putting the home side ahead, but his shot from outside the area flew into the hands of Loach.

The away side looked to start the second half strong and almost took the lead after Calvin Miller did well down the left hand side before crossing the ball along the face of goal, however nobody was on the end of it to poke the ball home.

Liam Mandeville then went close as the visitors continued to look for chances. Danny Rowe found Tshimanga, who in turn found Mandeville, but the forward could only strike over the bar.

In the final 10 minutes Gregory and second half substitute Miller both had chances from the edge of the box, with Loach smothering Gregory’s shot before Miller shot wide.

Despite going in front twice, Dover suffered a third successive National League defeat this season in an entertaining contest at Altrincham.

Koby Arthur opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, but Whites were pegged back just after 20 minutes through Dan Mooney.

Aaron Cosgrave put Dover back in front midway through the second half, but the home side equalised once again shortly after through A-Jay Leitch-Smith and with a few minutes to go Ryan Colclough won it for Alty.

Dover started bright and was almost ahead within five minutes when Ricky Miller collected the ball from a long kick from Josh Bexon, however his shot went just wide.

However, moments later Whites were ahead though Arthur who was in the right place at the right time to knock the ball home after Cosgrave did very well to get behind the home defence.

Cosgrave almost doubled Dover’s lead shortly after as he picked the ball up in the box, but his shot was blocked well by Brad Jackson.

This came back to haunt the away side as Altrincham levelled through Mooney when the midfielder was able to take Joel Senior’s ball under control before striking past the arm of Bexon.

Connor Kirby then went close to turning the game around, however, after getting the ball from Mooney, he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Alty continued to put pressure on the Dover defence and they would have been ahead if it wasn’t for Bexon who denied Marcus Dinanga with a great save after the striker did well to find a shot after a great cross.

Alty’s goalkeeper Tony Thompson – who was unbeatable when these two sides played at Crabble last season – then made a great save to keep the scores level as he made himself big to deny Ben Williamson’s header from five yards out.

Altrincham started to control the game during the second half, with chances coming from both Mooney and Matty Kosylo.

However, these missed chances looked to have proved costly when Cosgrave gave Whites the lead just before the hour mark with a brilliant strike from the edge of the area, turning the defender and striking into the top corner, giving Thompson no chance.

Despite going behind, Alty continued to control the game and got their just rewards through second-half substitute Leitch-Smith as he connected to a cross into the box to convert past Bexon.

With minutes left, the home side went ahead for the first time in the afternoon through Colclough who scored a penalty after the winger was fouled in the box by Danny Collinge.

By Alex Hoad

Dover slipped to a second consecutive defeat to begin their Vanarama National League campaign as Boreham Wood claimed a 1-0 win at Crabble on Bank Holiday Monday.

It was a third straight win for Wood, who have yet to concede a goal and climbed to third in the table. Whites remain on minus 12 points and rooted to the foot of the table after the League’s pre-season points penalty.

Despite being forced into two changes with Ryan Hanson and Reda Johnson picking up knocks in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Maidenhead, Andy Hessenthaler’s side began brightly and won a couple of early corners but the visitors always looked dangerous on the break.

Big Will Evans had already headed over the bar for the visitors when they came close to a breakthrough when Jamal Fyfield slashed a far-post volley over the bar – and River End stand – from six yards following a deep cross from Josh Rees on 11 minutes.

Dover really should have been infront at the other end just a minute later when Travis Gregory did superbly down the right, picking up a return pass from Ricky Miller and firing a low cross into the middle where Aaron Cosgrave lay in wait. His first-time shot back across goal was however too close to Nathan Ashmore and the former Ebbsfleet keeper was able to parry before the ball was hacked clear.

Scott Boden saw a shot blocked at his near post by Dover keeper Josh Bexon before, mid-way through the half, Miller gave Whites fans a reminder of his talent when he chased the ball down on the left and fizzed in a fierce drive from 25 yards which flew narrowly past the far post with the flying Ashmore beaten.

Kane Smith hooked a volley over Bexon’s bar and saw an inswinging free-kick from 40 yards fly inches past the far post after evading everyone.

The visitors took the lead four minutes before the break when Williamson’s pass in midfield was charged down. Mendy picked up the loose ball and was able to drive forward and spread to Smith on the right whose low centre was agonisingly turned in at his near post by Jake Goodman.

It was nearly 2-0 on the stroke of half-time when former Whites striker Tyrone Marsh reached a lofted through ball and lobbed Bexon, stranded in no man’s land after rushing off his line, only for his effort to bounce well wide.

The second half was a cagey affair with plenty of stoppages which eventually led to Whites boss Hessenthaler being shown a yellow card by referee Gary Parsons for his protests. Chances were few and far between as the visitors seemed largely content to run down the clock.

Mendy did flash a low cross in from the left five minutes after the restart but the sliding Marsh was unable to connect in the centre while Evans tamely headed a free-kick straight at Bexon.

Koby Arthur and James Caton were sent on by Hessenthaler to try to change the game while Academy youngster Alex Green came off the bench on 75 minutes to play in central defence after a nasty clash led to Jake Goodman walking off looking very woozy.

Caton stung Ashmore’s palms with a near-post cross-shot from the left byline with time running out but despite plenty of late possession and some set-pieces in dangerous areas, Dover were unable to muster their first goal of the campaign infront of a crowd of 1,517 – the first National League spectators at Crabble in 534 days.

Dover Athletic: Josh Bexon; Seth Twumasi, Danny Collinge, Jake Goodman (Alex Green, 75mins), Sam Wood (C) (Koby Arthur, 61mins); TJ Bramble, Henry Woods, Travis Gregory; Ricky Miller (James Caton, 70mins), Ben Williamson, Aaron Cosgrave. Subs not used: Adam Parkes, Khale Da Costa.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesanmi, Ricketts (C), Evans, Fyfield, Rees (Smith, 70mins), Boden, Raymond, Smith, Marsh (Stephens, 90mins), Mendy. Subs not used: Green, Munns, Jallow.

Two goals in the opening 20 minutes condemned Dover to defeat as they kicked off their National League campaign at Maidenhead.

Josh Kelly opened the scoring for the home side, before Sam Barratt doubled their lead a few minutes later.

Despite both sides having bright starts, it was the hosts who took the lead 15 minutes in after Barratt’s cross found the head of Kelly at the back post who headed it past Josh Bexon in the Dover net.

Shortly after, Barratt doubled the Magpies’ lead when he was able to get onto the end of a ball over the top of the defence to put the ball past Bexon.

The home side continued to look dangerous and almost got a third in the first half but Barratt couldn’t get on the end of Jack Senga’s cross.

Reda Johnson almost got Whites back into the game on the stroke of half time when a Ricky Miller free kick found its way to the defender, however James Holden in the Maidenhead goal did well to make the save and smother the ball.

Minutes into the second half, Gillingham loanee Henry Woods looked to half Whites’ deficit, however his shot went just wide.

Ex-Magpie Jake Goodman then thought he had got Dover back into the game just before the hour mark, however Holden made a great save to deny the defenders header from a corner.

Miller almost got Whites back into the game with 10 minutes to go, but he couldn’t keep the ball on target as his shot went wide.

Dover continued to come forward as they looked to get back in the game, and they almost did get one back with a minute to go and, but Holden did well again to deny Goodman.

Dover XI – Bexon, Wood, Johnson, Goodman, Collinge, Hanson(Gregory 45′), Woods, Bramble, Miller, Williamson(Arthur 65′), Cosgrave

Subs not used – Parkes, Caton, Da Costa

A dominant second-half display sealed victory for Dover in their penultimate pre-season fixture after the game was pushed back 30 minutes due to Watford’s delayed arrival due to a crash on the approach to the Dartford Crossing.

Dominic Hutchinson gave Watford the lead midway through the first half before Ricky Miller equalised for the penalty spot. Shortly after Ben Williamson put Whites in front before Travis Gregory doubled the lead with just over 15 minutes left.

Whites were gifted a fourth late on through an own goal.

Aaron Cosgrave thought he had given Whites an early lead when he was able to tap the ball in from a yard after great play by Ricky Miller who beat the challenge of three players, however, the referee called it back for offside.

Ben Williamson then forced the Watford keeper into a save, with a speculative effort from outside the box.

Kane Crichlow almost gave The Hornets the lead a quarter of an hour into the game but couldn’t get on the end of a ball across the goal line.

Watford did take the lead shortly after when Hutchinson smashed home from inside the six-yard box after Whites failed to clear.

Miller almost equalised straight away for Dover, however after finding space at the edge of the area, his shot curled just over the bar.

Kamil Conteh almost doubled Watford’s lead from a free-kick which looked to be curling into the top corner. However, Josh Bexon did well to deny the Watford youngster.

Whites came out determined in the second half and equalised five minutes into the second half when Miller stroked the ball into the bottom left corner.

Almost immediately after, Dover was ahead after a defensive error from the Watford goalkeeper allowed Williamson to strike into an open net from 40 yards out.

TJ Bramble almost got in on the act after this. After picking up the ball from a parried Miller shot, the second half substitute shot from the edge of the box, however, the ball was pulled just wide.

Gregory sealed it with just over 15 minutes to go, doing well to meet a great cross into the box slotting it into the net, giving the Watford stopper no chance.

Gregory continued looking dangerous as Whites were gifted a fourth after the wingers cross was deflected in off a Watford head.

Dover suffered their first loss in pre-season after the League 2 visitors scored in each half.

Jamie Reid put Stevenage ahead before Chris Lines doubled their lead in the second half.

Reid struck inside the first 10 minutes after he got on the end of a high through ball from Jake Reeves to fire past Josh Bexon, giving the keeper no chance.

Shortly after, Whites were almost level through Gillingham loanee Henry Woods, who forced the visitors trialist goalkeeper into a great save after great work from TJ Bramble to keep the ball under huge pressure from the Stevenage defence.

Ricky Miller then went close after Aaron Cosgrave won a free kick on the edge of the area, however, his shot deflected off the wall and out for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Ryan Hanson went close from Sam Wood’s cross, glancing his header over the bar.

Whites started the second half strongly and were almost level through Ben Williamson, who got on the end of a deep cross from Miller and it needed a good save to deny him.

From the resulting corner, Whites went close again, this time Jake Goodman heading wide from Wood’s corner.

Goalkeeper Adam Parkes, who replaced Bexon at half-time, produced a couple of stunning saves to deny Stevenage, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Lines’ stunning free-kick.

A trialist almost got one back for Whites in the closing minutes after getting on the end of a great cross but he was denied spectacularly by the visitors keeper.

Watford loanee Adam Parkes saved a penalty on his debut as Dover Athletic continued preparations for the new season with a close victory against neighbours Folkestone Invicta at Crabble on Saturday

A trialist put the home side ahead midway through the first half, however, Whites were pegged back in the second half thanks to a brilliant goal from Tyler Sterling.

Folkestone then had the chance to go ahead, however, former Dover striker Ade Yusuff’s penalty was saved by Parkes, with Aaron Cosgrave scoring with the next attack to seal victory for Whites.

First half action saw goalkeeper Josh Bexon forced into an early save after Folkestone went close from a free-kick through Sterling.

Whites needed Bexon again to keep the score level, first parrying away Yusuff’s shot, before getting down well to save Alfie Paxman’s rebound.

However, Dover grew into the game and almost went one up through Ricky Miller as a good ball played him in behind the Folkestone defence, but his shot hit the crossbar.

Travis Gregory then went close after beating off one challenge, his shot was blocked from the corner.

Whites’ pressure was rewarded from the corner as a got a strong header onto the ball from the cross power home.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler made 10 changes at halftime, which included Watford loanee Parkes.

Shortly after the break, Folkestone was level through Sterling’s free-kick.

Whites then went searching for that second goal. First Trialist G went close when his shot from outside the area curled just wide.

Cosgrave then would have liked to do better when he got put through on goal, but he mishit his shot and Folkestone was able to clear.

Moments later, Trialist H went close as the ball landed at his feet in the box, but his shot went just wide of the left-hand post.

Folkestone was then awarded a penalty with 10 minutes to go and from that, Dover went straight down the other end to go back infront, with Cosgrave getting on the end of a cross into the box to seal victory.

First Half XI – Bexon, Wood, Goodman, Trialist A, Twumasi, Trialist B, Trialist C, Da Costa, Gregory, Miller, Williamson

Second Half XI – Parkes, Wratten, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Hanson, Trialist G, Trialist H, Trialist I, Trialist J, Cosgrave