A share of the spoils as Whites are held at home.

On another beautiful day at Crabble, Dover looked to get back to winning ways with Chippenham Town heading to the South Kent coast. The team returned to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation as opposed to the 3-5-2 used against Dartford on Bank Holiday Monday. The Whites looked to have plenty of possession in the early stages with the build up playing coming down both flanks.

Chevron McLean twice evaded his man, working his way into the penalty area before shooting at the goalkeepers near post when a cross field pass could have been the better option. Chippenham began to apply a little pressure with a flurry of corners midway through the first half but Dover cleared with ease, something that couldn’t always been said so far this season. Will Henry was called into action in the visitors goal, first denying Sutherland with a fine save and then from Allen, who’s snap shot was again kept out.

 

The teams went into the break with the scores level but it was the home side who were dictating the play. Then in the 58th minute and against the run of play, Chippenham took the lead through a slice of luck. Craig Fasanmade’s shot deflected off a body and sent Terrell the wrong way with the Dover stopper adjusting his body but not able to make the ground up to keep the ball from spinning into the net.

Dover clicked into gear and again began wave after wave of attack with both wings the main outlet. Zidan Sutherland picked up the ball in the left hand channel and flashed a cross come shot across the six yard box where a Bluebird defender sliced into his own net to level the scores. 1-1.

Sutherland again should have sealed the points when clean through, only to fire straight into the body of Henry who rushed out smartly to meet him. Dover pushed and pushed but Chippenham held firm, nearly claiming all three points themselves at the death when first a fine stop by Terrell and then the Whites were saved by the crossbar. It was a case of two points dropped rather than one gained but all eyes are now on Tuesdays match away at St Albans.

‘We created enough chances to win three matches,’ said Brundle after the game. ‘That’s where strikers earn their money. It was a much better performance than on Monday. It’s hard to take a 1-1 with the amount of chances we had.’

A special mention to Billy Terrell who picked up the Megger Player of the Month Award for August. Well done, Billy.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, McLean, Naylor, Ojemen, Charles-Cook, Allen, Dunne, Young, Sutherland, Stewart

Subs: Olarwaju, Baptiste, Dembele, Anifowose, Nikaj

Chippenham Town: Henry, Jones, Grant, Fasanmade, Haines, Evans, McClure, Windsor, Nicholls, Spokes, Williams

Subs: Holloway, Lewis, King, Heal, Tuodolo