CONCORD RANGERS 1 DOVER ATHLETIC 0

By John McNicoll

Dover fall to Concord sucker punch.

It was a half that started so brightly for the visitors. Dover dominated the early parts and looked the more likely to open the scoring, notably through Jordan Higgs.

The Whites midfielder fired a low effort into the hands of Beeney on 13 minutes and 10 minutes later fired a volley over the crossbar from a quick free-kick whipped in by Myles Judd.

In the 26th minute, Dover looked like they had made the breakthrough when a free-kick taken short by Martin was curled towards the back post by Wanadio, only for Beeney to get a fingertip to the ball. It was a fantastic save by the home stopper.

Jordan Higgs then had a further two chances, glancing a header over then firing the ball over via a deflection, but all of a sudden you’re starting to think it’s going to be one of those nights.

The home side grew into the game inside the last five minutes of the half and on the stroke of half-time as the referee signalled one additional minute, Nelson, a freezing cold bystander, was picking the ball of out of his net.

Concord broke down their left hand side, delivered a lovely cross to Manor who unmarked, headed the cross back where it had come from and the hosts lead at the interval.

The second half mirrored the first with Dover sweeping forward, pinning back Concord who were quite frankly just looking to get out of their own half at times. The Whites huffed and puffed but the impressive Beeney was equal to everything that was thrown at him.

Andi Janjeva looked to take matters into his own hands midway through the second period when he picked up the ball on the half way line, strode forward about ten yards and unleashed a fizzing drive that went narrowly past the post. It was Janjeva again moments later, this time from a corner which was nodded down into the path of the young centre back, who drove his shot back with pace but Beeney was not to be beaten, tipping it around the post.

The Story of Dover’s night

The home side rallied in the final moments with Dover pushing to get an equaliser and began to find gaps in the Whites back line but the referee blew for full time and it was another body blow and just one of them nights. Teams below Dover need to win all their games to ensure a squeaky bum time end of the season but we still have our fate in our own hands as we head to Farnborough this Saturday.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Sterling, Janjeva, Higgs, Oliver, Martin, Wanadio, Baptiste, Carney

Subs: Wilkinson, Nikaj, Brundle, Boateng, Pierrick

Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Pollock, Beckett, Monville, Hernandez, Kyei, Steward, Hudson, Manor

Subs: Ramsay, Bettamer, Munns, Day, Modeste

Attendance: Unknown – no announcement