The Whites fall to a sucker punch from the visitors. – This weeks match report was written by Fred Deveson.

Dover might have lost but even before the game had started, it was all hanging in the balance. Heavy rain poured over Dover, and it was a late call as to whether the game would go ahead or not, but despite the torrential rain, the referee decided that conditions were good enough and play started.

Dover started the game well, securing possession and pinning Hampton and Richmond back in their own half for the first few minutes of the game. Paris Lock started on the right and looked lively, with his blistering pace proving difficult to contain for the away side, who sat in a playoff spot coming into the game. The visitors always had a threat in behind and this did cause Dover some wobbles early on, but Naylor and Ojemen made a solid start to the game in defence and cleaned up nicely, despite the tricky conditions.

As the first half wore on, the game got scrappier, but Dover were still largely on top, rattling the bar mid-way through the first half. Hatcher and Sutherland had a couple of shots saved and blocked by the resolute defence of Hampton and Richmond but that was largely the peak of the action for the first half. A couple of rough challenges flew in and as the away side were coming back into the game more, the Dover defence began to look slightly more nervous with Ojemen picking up a yellow card which meant he had to be much more cautious in the second half. An early substitution for the promotion chasing Londoners brought a new look to their attack and the substitute Donaldson was lively, but nothing more.

The second half kicked off and conditions did not improve. The rain hammered down and the ball was skidding off the surface which made the in-behind threat of Hampton even greater. Dover, like the first half, were solid and were lively. The crowd were seeing encouraging signs and it seemed that soon, Dover may convert one of their chances. Corners flew in and out and Zidan Sutherland looked lively playing off the left and combining with Sesay, but each attack was met by a low and compact block which proved impossible to break down come the final whistle.

Around the hour mark, Mitch Brundle made a change which saw Baptiste come on in a bid to add some more creativity in the hopes of finding a breakthrough, but it was the visitors who drew first blood. A scrappy piece of play in the penalty area ended with a finish off the bar from Jake Gray and The Whites were in all sorts of trouble. The game remained largely lifeless from then on, with substitutes Nikaj and Dembele desperate to make an impact.

It wasn’t until the final minutes of the game that Dover piled on the pressure and sought a breakthrough which on the basis of the rest of the match, they deserved. A simple ball over the top which Dembele chased, led to the Hampton and Richmond goalkeeper missing his clearance completely. The Dover man was pulled back and the defender saw red; a late lifeline for Dover, however the free kick was tame and rolled into the gloves of the grateful Desbois. That was not all, as another ball from the back had Zidan Sutherland in on the left. A slip from a Hampton and Richmond player was controversially given as a free kick as Zidan was alleged to have fouled his man, much to the anger of the home faithful, and the game was brought to a close shortly after by the referee.

Despite the loss and controversial decisions going against The Whites, it was a promising afternoon for Dover who threatened well, but just lacked the cutting edge as the visitors took all three points and move up to third in the league, while Dover sit in the drop zone, with relegation rivals Welling up next.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, Naylor, Ojemen, Sesay, Dunne, Young, Anifowose, Hatcher, Zidan, Lock

Subs: Baptiste, Nikaj, Dembele, Holness, Powell

Hampton & Richmond Borough: Desbois, Thomas, Inman, Fernandes, Seymour, Gray, Wishart, Deadfield, Hunt, Pitblado, Bloomfield

Subs: Donaldson, Whittingham, Cheadle, Solomon, Kurran-Browne

Attendance: 482