DOVER 1-2 ALDERSHOT

(Parry 45) (Kellerman 45)
(Kabamba 67)

TWO defensive errors saw Whites lose for the first time in six league matches as they were beaten 2-1 by promotion rivals Aldershot at a wet Crabble on Saturday.

Jim Kellerman capitalised on home keeper Mitch Walker’s error to give the visitors the lead and though Manny Parry restored parity seconds later with his head, the Shots won the game after a mix-up at the back between Parry and Walker saw debutant Nicke Kabamba claim the three points.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco had the first shot of the match, but his effort lacked the power needed to beat visiting keeper Lewis Ward after sprinting onto Ryan Bird’s lay-off.

And fellow centre-back Parry will feel he should have done better as he headed Femi Ilesanmi’s deep cross straight at Ward when unmarked.

Seconds later Nortei Nortey, following a flowing move on the right wing, fizzed a ball into the box which evaded all of his teammates.

Whites top scorer Bird went close to adding to his 12 goals this season. The striker firstly saw a shot blocked by the visiting defence following Mitch Pinnock’s corner and then headed over when well-placed at a long throw-in.

The away team almost had the lead five minutes before the break. Bernard Mensah’s perfectly weighted pass set Shamir Fenelon through on goal, only for the winger to stab wide with the onrushing Mitch Walker coming out to meet him.

And it was a rare calamity from Walker that gave the Hampshire side the lead on the stroke on half-time.

Dover’s number one confidently claimed Cheye Alexander’s free-kick, but collided with Parry as he fell backwards, dropping the ball for Kellerman to slot the ball into an empty net.

However the keeper’s blushes were spared by Parry’s leveller seconds later.

The centre-back headed Pinnock’s set-piece into the bottom corner of the net, out of reach of Ward’s despairing dive.

Shortly after the restart, Ward tipped over Gallifuoco’s headed effort from Brundle’s corner and with the rain teeming down, The Shots goalie caught Pinnock’s 25-yard free-kick at the first attempt.

Dover pressed forward to end their current run of four consecutive draws and Bird went close just after the hour mark, flicking Josh Passley’s ball into the box agonisingly wide.

But Chris Kinnear’s men were unable to get a much-needed win as debutant Nicke Kabamba grabbed a winner after coming off the bench with just over 20 minutes remaining.

A ball into the area from sub Bobby-Joe Taylor was grabbed by Walker, but an accidental kick in the head from Parry meant White’s keeper was unable to keep hold of the ball, allowing the Portsmouth loanee to round the goalie and chip the ball home.

A sweeping home move saw Brundle flick the ball for Bird to pull the trigger, however George Fowler recovered well to tackle the forward.

With time running, Gallifouco lashed Pinnock’s driven pass wide and the visitors almost sealed the win late on with a lightning counter-attack.

Kellerman slid in Mensah and though the midfielder appeared to have tucked the ball home, Nortey was on hand to acrobatically clear the ball off the line.

Athletic were unable to find an equaliser and the loss sees them drop one place in the table to fifth.

Earlier, Kinnear made one change to the side that started away at Maidstone. Kane Richards replaced Kadell Daniel, who started as a substitute.

Whites next host Marine in the FA Trophy on Saturday 13th January. Kick off 3pm.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Passley, Brundle (c), Nortey (Bellamy 87), Ilesanmi, Richards (Daniel 64), Bird (Alabi 76), Pinnock.

Subs not used: Dean-Conteh, Fazakerley.

Aldershot: Ward, Alexander, Evans, Fowler, Kinsella (McClure 80), Gallagher, Oyeleke, Fenelon (Joe-Taylor 45), Kellerman, Mensah, Rendell (c), (Kabamba 60)

Referee: Joseph Johnson

Attendance: 1,237

MAIDSTONE 2-2 DOVER
(Wraight 69) (Ilesanmi 27)
(Anderson 90) (Nortey 76)

SUBSTITUTE Joe Anderson’s injury-time strike denied Whites a winning start to the New Year in a Kent thriller at the Gallagher Stadium.

The right-back collected fellow sub Jack Paxman’s clever through ball and slotted past visiting stopper Mitch Walker to ensure the scoreline matched that of the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.

Femi Ilesanmi had stunned the home crowd midway the first half with an unbelievable 30-yard strike, only for Tom Wraight to head in an equaliser after the break.

Nortei Nortey’s brilliant solo goal seemed to have won the match for Athletic, but Anderson struck late on to make it four consecutive draws for Dover.

The hosts fashioned the first chance early on as Walker parried behind Wraight’s swirling free-kick.

From the resulting corner, Joe Pigott powered Wraight’s ball towards goal, but Walker was able to pluck the ball out from underneath his own crossbar.

On ten minutes, Giancarlo Gallifouco headed Dover’s first chance wide from Mitch Pinnock’s set piece.

All the chances were coming from free-kicks and one from Piggot flew into the side-netting.

But the best Stones chance of the half fell the way of Jamar Loza.

Josh Hare’s delivery found the attacker in space, but Walker was equal to his effort and collected the ball at the second attempt.

The home pressure continued as Wraight curled wide via a deflection off Mitch Brundle.

A lightning counter-attack by the away side ended with Pinnock finding Kadell Daniel at the back post, but the home defence were able to block his effort.

Ryan Bird went close to adding to his 12 National League goals this campaign, but headed wide from Pinnock’s accurate cross.

Instead it was a player yet to register for Whites that opened the scoring with a sensational strike midway though the first half

Ilesanmi picked up a loose ball and after striding forward, unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard effort into the top corner.

There was mayhem in the other box as Pigott’s header from Wraight’s corner was cleared first off the line by Daniel, but rebounded off Piggot and rolled back towards goal, only for the well-placed Connor Essam to hoof clear.

Pinnock tried his luck with a long range shot soon after, but Lee Worgan punched his effort clear for a throw in.

And Manny Parry was inches away from doubling the visitors lead, however Reece Prestedge flicked away Daniel’s ball before the defender could score.

Walker confirmed Dover’s lead at the break, diving low to turn Stuart Lewis’ firm header around the post.

Following a quiet fifteen minutes after the restart, Loza almost lit up the game with a curling effort that flew wide of Walker’s far post.

But Maidstone did not have to wait long for their leveller.

Pigott swung in a ball from the right for the unmarked Wraight to bury a header past Walker.

Substitute Liam Bellamy almost had Athletic back in control.  The midfielder smashed well wide from Bird’s header back across the goalface.

However fellow midfielder Nortey did put Dover ahead with a fine individual finish.

Starting from his own half, some great skill saw the 23-year old beat three defenders before firing in off the post from the edge of the area.

Parity was almost restored instantly, but sub Delano-Yorke flicked Loza’s driven pass wide from a mere inches out.

But Anderson had the final say, rounding off a slick Maidstone move.

The drama was not over just yet as Whites almost won the game at the death.

Worgan reacted well to stop Parry’s point-blank header from Pinnock’s ball and then tipped behind a downward header from the centre back moments later.

But neither side were unable to force a late winner and the result keeps Athletic fourth in the standings, one point behind third-placed Sutton.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the side that started against Halifax.  Daniel replaced the injured Anthony Jeffrey, with the fit-again Kane Richards amongst the substitutes.

Dover next host Aldershot on Saturday 6th January, kick off 3pm.

Maidstone: Worgan (c), Twumasi, Wynter, Okuonghae, Hare (Anderson 81), Wraight (Paxman 81), Lewis, Prestedge, Ter Horst (Sam-Yorke 64), Pigott, Loza.

Subs not used: Reason, McKorkell.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Essam, Gallifuoco, Parry, Ilesanmi, Brundle (c), Nortey, Pinnock, Bird (Alabi 86), Daniel (Bellamy 68).

Subs not used: Richards, Deen-Conteh, Fazakerley.

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 2,502