Dover 1-0 Torquay

(Bird penalty 57)

RYAN Bird’s second half penalty was enough for Dover to see off nine-man Torquay.

The striker slammed in his 15th National League goal of the season as Chris Kinnear’s men recorded a fourth consecutive victory at Crabble.

Mitch Brundle had the game’s first shot on target just past the ten minute mark, spinning his defender and firing low at visiting keeper Ryan Clarke from just inside the area.

Rhys Healey, booked moments earlier for simulation in the penalty box, volleyed well wide from close range after a fine initial touch.

Cardiff loanee Healey then cut in from the left and fired towards goal, but Walker was able to dive onto the midfielder’s effort.

Ryan Bird could only head wide after Anthony Jeffrey outpaced his marker and crossed towards the striker and at the other end, Liam Davis lashed a volley high and wide of the mark.

Healey almost had the away side in front, controlling Luke Young’s corner and flashing a volley a mere inches past the post.

And Elliott Romain was almost gifted a goal by the Dover defence.

Kevin Lokko’s poor touch almost gave the Dagenham & Redbridge loanee a clear sight of goal, however Walker was on hand to gather the ball.

Brundle’s free-kick from the left hand side almost found it’s way into the top corner, but Clarke denied the Dover skipper with his fingertips.

Brett Williams was then within a whisker of connecting to Young’s wayward strike before the referee blew for half-time.

Following the restart, Jeffrey collected Femi Ilesanmi’s pass and after a dart into the area, lashed a shot onto the foot of the post with the Torquay defence able to clear the rebound.

But Whites had the lead just minutes later thanks to Bird.

The striker stepped up to slam in his third spot kick of the season after Connor Evans’ handball in the box.

And The Gulls’ task was made even more difficult when Healey was shown a second yellow card following a rash challenge on Connor Essam.

But the ten men of Torquay almost snatched a point.  Firstly Young forced Walker to tip away his ferocious 20 yard volley and then was on hand to claw away Romain’s header.

United were reduced to nine men in injury time as Romain was shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle on Gallifuoco.

But Athletic held on for the crucial three points to keep them in the play-off hunt.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made three changes to the side that started at Ebbsfleet on Bank Holiday Monday. Nortei Nortey, Josh Passley and Jeffrey replaced Mitch Pinnock, Ade Azeez and Liam Bellamy, who all started as substitutes.

Dover:  Walker, Parry, Essam, Lokko, Passley, Nortey, Brundle, Gallifuoco, Ilesanmi, Bird, Jeffrey (Azeez 82)

Subs not used: Pinnock, Daniel, Bellamy, Marsh-Brown.

Torquay:  Clarke, McGinty, Gowling, Balatoni (Efete 63), Barnes (Reid 76), Young, Evans, Davis, Healey, Williams, Romain.

Subs not used:  Pittman, Klukowski, Osborn.

Attendance:  1,128

Referee:  Carl Brooks

Ebbsfleet 2-1 Dover

(Shields 55), (Drury 90+6)        (Marsh-Brown penalty 90+3)

WHITES National league play-off hopes were dealt a blow after Andy Drury grabbed a last minute winner for Ebbsfleet in Bank Holiday Monday’s Kent derby at Stonebridge Road.

The midfielder slotted in from a tight angle following a free-kick to cancel out Keanu Marsh-Brown’s penalty just minutes earlier.

Hosts United, who had taken a second half lead through Sean Shields, were nearly ahead within minutes of the kick off as Corey Whitely volleyed Marvin McCoy’s cross just over.

At the other end, a long throw ended with Mitch Brundle firing a deflected effort into home stopper Nathan Ashmore’s hands.

And Mitch Walker was called into action for the first time midway through the first half.

The visiting keeper reached down low to tip Drury’s low drive onto the post and away from danger.

Femi Ilesanmi found himself as the last line of defence after Ashmore’s long kick set Luke Coulson clear, but the wing-back was able to come away with the ball following a perfectly-timed tackle.

Walker was soon on hand to deny United once again, this time saving Danny Kedwell’s goalbound header.

Ade Azeez then slid in to connect to Ilesanmi’s cross-cum-shot, but was unable get the crucial touch as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

Dave Winfield and Coulson seemed to clash as they both simultaneously headed Kedwell’s cross wide and shortly after, Whitely flashed an effort from the edge of the area past the wrong side of Walker’s right hand post.

And with the break looming, Shields blazed over from 20 yards after getting the better of Giancarlo Gallifuoco out wide.

Ebbsfleet had the lead nine minutes after the restart as Shields cut inside Azeez out wide and fired through Walker from an angle.

Whites tried to hit back and substitute Josh Passley nearly levelled when his deep cross looped just beyond the corner of post and bar with Ashmore beaten.

Kedwell smashed a low shot wide from outside the area and goalscorer Shields tested Walker from range.

And Dover’s captain went even closer to finding the net from distance.

Brundle collected sub Marsh-Brown’s pass and rattled the crossbar with a 30 yard strike.

And Chris Kinnear’s men thought they were going home with a point after Marsh-Brown sent Ashmore the wrong way following the referee’s decision to award a penalty once Gallifuoco was felled in the box.

But Drury had the final say with a last-gasp winner as Athletic lost their second consecutive National League match.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same side that started at Eastleigh on Tuesday night.  Nortei Nortey replaced Ejiro Okosieme on the bench.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, McCoy, Rance, Winfield (c), Clark, Drury, Kedwell, Shields, Coulson (Weston 84), Bush, Whitely (Powell 90).

Subs not used: Connors, Miles, Wabo.

Dover: Walker, Parry (Passley 62), Essam, Lokko, Gallifuoco, Brundle (c), Bellamy, Ilesanmi, Pinnock (Jeffrey 62), Bird (Marsh-Brown 74), Azeez.

Subs not used:  Nortey, Daniel.

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 1,735