Whites hit back to earn a point.

As the mid day sun beat down on the Megger Community Stadium, Braintree Town headed to Crabble for another piece of Vanarama National South action. It was a glorious afternoon on the Kent coast with the Whites looking to bounce back from defeat last time out. Mitch Brundle switched from a back four to a three as the Gaffer looked to get back to winning ways. But it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams.

In the first minute the post saved Dover when it looked like the Iron were about to open their account on the day. They didn’t have to wait long before netting the opener. With just four minutes on the clock, captain Clements swept home a corner to give the visitors the lead. Set pieces are becoming a real Achilles heel of late and again we were punished and chasing the game early on.

Dover looked to get back into the match and grew with each passing attack until the referee pointed to the spot in the 26th minute after Luke Baptiste had adjudged to have been brought down. Skipper James Dunne took the responsibility and coolly sent Jack Sims the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1. With the home side now on the ascendancy, it looked like the Whites would score just minutes later when Nick Dembele swivelled and shot, with his effort sliding agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

The second half began and the Whites looked like they meant business with Charlie Naylor stepping out from defence, through the midfield before unleashing a fizzing shot that flashed just wide. Henry Young also troubled Sims with a dipping volley from just outside the box as the home side pushed hard for their second goal but it was the visitors who nearly snatched it with 15 minutes to go when Billy Terrell pulled off a wonderful save to deny the Iron all three points. It was another top performance from the on loan stopper who seems to grow in confidence with each game.

Eventually both teams had to settle for a point each but it was another step in the right direction for this new look Dover team. ‘It’s another point. You have to work hard for each point in this league. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb after the start but I will take a look at that. Overall I am pleased but we lacked that little something in the final third. We now look forward to next Saturday,’ said Brundle after the game.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, Naylor, Charles-Cook, Olarewaju, McLean, Dunne, Young, Baptiste, Sutherland, Dembele

Subs: Wilkinson, Anifowose, Olu, Bello, Hatcher

Braintree Town: Sims, Dawudo, Stevenson, Grimwood, Clements, Beadle, Davies, Quantrell, Davies, Lambe, Blackwell

Subs: Tomkins, Blunkell, Nwachuku, Payne

Attendance: 610