Dover Athletic were denied a hard-fought three points deep into stoppage time as Worthing struck late to cancel out a second-half opener in a closely contested encounter at Crabble.

The match began in stop-start fashion with an early Worthing injury inside two minutes, before the Whites settled into possession and attempted to work openings through patient passing. A move on five minutes ended with Soares-Junior straying offside, while the visitors soon responded — Moulton volleying wide after a clever flick from Young.

Worthing enjoyed a brief spell of pressure from successive corners, Cook heading over, but Dover gradually worked their way into the game. Nikaj saw an effort blocked and then drilled narrowly wide, while at the other end Sodje produced an important defensive intervention to deny Worthing.

A worrying moment arrived on 21 minutes when Hanson was involved in a clash of heads but was able to continue, with Cook booked for the aerial challenge. Both sides traded chances in an open first half. Godziemski fired over from a counter-attack and Sheriff tested the goalkeeper, before Soares-Junior saw a header cleared off the line in Dover’s best opportunity before the break. Moments later Nikaj lunged for a teasing cross but couldn’t connect as the sides went in level at half-time.

Dover started the second half brightly. Sheriff forced a smart save from Jeffries, while at the other end Walker stood tall to deny Moulton after Worthing beat the offside trap. The game tightened considerably, with clear chances limited. Calls for a penalty were waved away after Soares-Junior went down in the box, and substitutions followed as Charles-Cook and Coker were introduced to add energy.

The breakthrough finally came on 77 minutes and in spectacular fashion. Sodje curled a corner straight into the net to give the Whites a deserved lead and spark celebrations around Crabble.

Dover looked set to see the game out, but drama followed. Jones was sent off on 85 minutes for denying a goalscoring opportunity after Dolaghan latched onto a loose pass, leaving the Whites to defend deep under sustained pressure.

They battled valiantly, Walker making a save and bodies thrown in front of shots, but deep into stoppage time Worthing found a leveller. Jackson launched forward, Coleman De-Graft delivered, and Dolaghan flicked home from close range to snatch a point for the visitors.

A frustrating end after a committed performance, with Dover forced to settle for a share of the spoils ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Dorking Wanderers.

Dover Athletic: Walker (C), Jallow, Jones, Mensah, Sodje, Cocoracchio, Hanson, Gurung, Sheriff, Soares-Junior, Nikaj. Subs: Charles-Cook, Baptiste, Matthews, Coker, Onu, Wilkinson, Mampolo.

Worthing: Jeffries, Cook, Ransom (C), Jackson, Packham, Young, Odei, Jenks, Moulton, Dolaghan, Godziemski. Subs: Frimpong, Coleman De-Graft, Nkrumah, Spong, Remy, Cox, Byron.