Whites win after heroic performance.

It was a first half of missed chances for the hosts, with Dover taking theirs as the sides played out an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

A terrible mistake from Will Mosses let in the Iron’s forward who rounded Nelson, only to strike it against the foot of the post.

Moments later and Braintree were in again with the Dover defence unable to clear and with Nelson being closed down and dispossessed on the edge of his penalty area, the hosts could only fire agonisingly wide.

The onslaught continued with Braintree again coming close in the 8th minute with Aaron Blair firing agonisingly over.

After the initial blitz, Dover started to grow into the game and in the 25th minute took the lead through some neat build up play resulting in Luke Wanadio gliding towards the edge of the box and firing into the far bottom corner. It was an absolute stunner.

Lee Martin could have doubled the Whites lead but a fine save from Jack Sims kept the hosts down to a 0-1 score line which proved pivotal moments later as the goal scorer for the Whites was caught on his heels trying to clear his lines in the right back position only for the ball to fall to Alfie Matthews who fired the hosts level. It was a fantastic equaliser just before the break.

While it was all square at half-time, Braintree had enough chances to be in front.

Both sides enjoyed neat spells of possession In the early periods of the second half with first Wanadio firing across the hosts goal, but there was no one to capitalise for the visitors.

Baris Altintop should have put the Iron in front in the 63rd minute when a free-kick in the penalty area dropped to the skipper, who fired over the crossbar from six yards out.

Moments later and the impressive Blair, weaved his way into the Dover box, but his curling shot was inches wide.

In the 73rd minute, Dover took the lead. A neat build up between Wanadio and Boateng resulted in the former lashing a shot at Sims who parried out for Brandon Pierrick to lash into the net. The travelling Whites were sent wild.

With ten minutes remaining, it was penalty box fury as Dover battled to clear their lines with first Boateng throwing his body to save a goal and then hooking off the line. From the resulting corner, Higgs headed away as a Braintree player looked to nod home.

Nelson then punched the next corner clear to ensure the barrage was seen off. It was real backs to the wall defending.

It was one fine block after another as with the referee signalling five minutes of added time, Jordan Higgs cleared the ball off the line in heroic fashion.

Braintree thought they had an equaliser but the linesman ruled out the equaliser in the 94th minute. Seconds later and Dover had a penalty. Pierrick was clumsily fouled in the box and Wanadio despatched at the second attempt. 3-1 and a job done.

It was a fantastic defensive display. Get in!

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Paxman, Moses, Janjeva, Higgs, Wanadio, Oliver, Martin, Pierrick, Boateng, Nikaj

Subs: Baptiste, Brundle, Carney, Ajayi, Byford

Braintree Town: Simms, Davies, Farrell, Altintop, Bradshaw, Clements, Regis, Payne, Matthews, Reynolds, Blair

Subs: Janneh, Rush, Turner, Curtis, White

 

Attendance: