Jack Bates struck deep into stoppage time as Dover Athletic rescued a point against Dorking Wanderers in a closely contested 1-1 draw at Crabble.

The Whites looked set for defeat after Alfie Rutherford had put the visitors ahead shortly before the hour mark, but Bates reacted quickest to convert the rebound from his own saved penalty in the 91st minute, ensuring the points were shared in front of 985 supporters.

The result extended Dover’s unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions, with the two sides now preparing to meet again at Crabble next Saturday in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Dorking made the brighter start, enjoying much of the possession during the opening exchanges and creating the first opportunity after just two minutes. Pybus played a firm pass into Wood, who controlled the ball before George Nikaj collected possession and curled a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the far post.

Dover responded with some aggressive pressing, almost catching goalkeeper Morris in possession when Luke Baptiste closed him down inside his own penalty area. The Whites continued to disrupt Dorking’s attempts to play out from the back, with De-Carrey Sheriff and Ruben Soares-Junior both finding opportunities to advance into dangerous positions, although neither could deliver the final ball.

Nikaj remained a threat at the other end, forcing Mitch Walker into a comfortable save with a strike following a clever pass from Pinchard. Dover then fashioned their first meaningful opening in the 12th minute, breaking forward at pace and working the ball around the edge of the area before Euan Williams saw his effort blocked.

The action continued to flow from end to end, with Nazir Bakrin producing an important block to deny Nikaj moments later. Dorking thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute when Camp turned home Rutherford’s inswinging delivery, but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside to keep the scores level.

As the half progressed, Dover began to enjoy their best spell of the afternoon. Their high press continued to trouble the visitors, while Jack Bates increasingly found space to influence proceedings in midfield.

Harry Beadle glanced a header narrowly wide before Bates produced Dover’s clearest opportunity of the opening period in the 26th minute. Collecting possession around 25 yards from goal, the midfielder unleashed an effort that required an excellent reflex save from Morris to prevent the Whites from taking the lead.

Despite Dover’s growing influence, Dorking continued to threaten whenever they advanced into the final third. Nikaj lifted another effort over the crossbar before creating an opportunity for Rutherford, flashing a dangerous ball across the face of goal that the striker was unable to connect with.

The visitors came even closer in the 35th minute when Wood produced a clever piece of individual play on the right, cutting inside and bending an effort towards the far corner. His strike looked destined for the top corner but drifted narrowly over Walker’s crossbar.

Dorking captain Pybus received the first yellow card of the afternoon after bringing down Bates as the Dover midfielder prepared to shoot, with neither side able to find a breakthrough before the interval.

The second half began with Dover looking to establish themselves in attacking areas. Soares-Junior showed quick feet to weave his way into the penalty area shortly after the restart, only to go to ground under a challenge. Appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Zachary Cunningham.

However, it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. A corner delivered by Pybus found Camp inside the penalty area, and although his initial contact failed to produce a clean effort on goal, the loose ball fell invitingly to Rutherford. The Dorking forward reacted quickest, driving a powerful finish through a crowd of bodies and beyond Walker to give the Wanderers a 1-0 advantage.

Manager Jake Leberl responded with a triple substitution in the 64th minute, introducing Corie Andrews, Jalen Jones and Sak Hassan in place of Soares-Junior, Beadle and Baptiste as Dover searched for a route back into the contest.

Sheriff almost provided an immediate response, finding space inside the penalty area before firing into the side-netting, but Dorking continued to look dangerous on the counterattack.

Sonny Fish replaced Sheriff with 20 minutes remaining, while Dover’s frustrations grew when Hassan was brought down as the Whites attempted to break forward. Despite appeals from the home side for a second yellow card, Pybus escaped further punishment.

With ten minutes remaining, Nikaj threatened to double Dorking’s advantage. The former Dover forward worked his way into the penalty area from the right, skipping past several defenders before directing a low effort towards goal. Walker got down to make the stop, although the ball almost slipped through his grasp before he gathered it safely.

Dover made their final change in the 85th minute, with Fuad Sesay replacing Eny Ezenwanne, as the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

The Whites began to apply greater pressure in the closing stages, moving the ball with more urgency as Dorking looked to protect their narrow advantage. A promising attacking move in the 87th minute created an opening for Williams, but the midfielder was unable to find the finishing touch.

With the contest entering its final moments, Dover were handed a lifeline when referee Cunningham pointed to the penalty spot in the 90th minute.

Bates stepped forward with the responsibility of rescuing a point for the Whites, but his initial effort was kept out by Morris. The midfielder was quickest to react, however, following up the rebound and firing home to spark celebrations around Crabble.

The dramatic equaliser ensured Dover avoided defeat and claimed a point from an entertaining encounter in which both sides had enjoyed spells of superiority.

Attention now turns to a second meeting with Dorking Wanderers in the space of seven days, with a place in the First Round Proper of the Emirates FA Cup at stake when the Surrey side return to Crabble next Saturday.

Attendance: 985

Dover Athletic

Starting XI: 1. Walker, 23. Charles-Cook, 4. Beadle, 6. Bakrin, 12. Ezenwanne, 24. Wilson-Braithwaite, 11. Williams, 20. Bates, 7. Baptiste, 9. Sheriff, 10. Soares-Junior.

Substitutes: Wilkinson, Jones, Jallow, Fish, Andrews, Sesay, Hassan.

Dorking Wanderers

Starting XI: 1. Morris, 2. Camp, 5. Philpot, 21. Ilesanmi, 4. Pybus (C), 6. Pinchard, 11. McShane, 8. Lewis, 18. Wood, 9. Nikaj, 10. Rutherford.

Substitutes: Pike, Francomb, Annesley, McIntyre, Vincent, Sayers, Tauta-Caballero.