Dover fall foul in St Albans.

It was a first half that turned on an incident in the 17th minute.

The hosts had started the brightest with their attacking intent as they kicked down the Clarence Park hill. Skipper Ryan Blackman warmed the hands of Nelson in the 5th minute when a ball dropping just outside the penalty area was driven into the hands of the Dover stopper.

In the 12th minute, Luke Wanadio spooned a shot up into the St Albans sky, only for it to fall agonisingly over the home sides crossbar.

Just a minute later and the hosts took the lead. Dover were opened up down their left hand side and a low cross from Stanley was turned home by Mitchell Weiss, giving Nelson absolutely no chance.

Five minutes later and with Chay Cooper seemingly through on goal, Sterling came across and clumsily clipped the forward who fell just outside the penalty area. The referee gave a direct free kick and then flashed the Dover centre back a red card. It was quite harsh with covering defenders In the middle of the area.

Despite the setback, Dover had a couple of half chances with first Carney and then Jake Goodman firing low shots into the hands of Dylan Berry, who had largely been a spectator in the first period.

Weiss looked to be in the clear and with only the keeper to beat, shot straight at the body of Nelson who rushed from his line to block well. Dover were hanging by a thread and some desperate defending ensured that the half time score stayed at 1-0.

First Goodman slid across the six yard box to stop a goal bound shot before Myles Judd defied physics to make a slide tackle with his head, when it looked like St Albans were about to double their lead.

In the opening moments of the second half, Myles Judd went into the referee’s note book with a nothing challenge. It would later come back to haunt the full back.

St Albans huffed and puffed but could not force a second breakthrough, even managing to hit both the crossbar and post in on movement with absolutely no idea how the ball managed to stay out.

Dover battled hard and dug in to stay in the tie but lacked the attacking threat to worry the hosts.

In the 87th minute, a robust challenge by Judd was punished by the referee with a yellow card, ensuring the number 2 was given his marching orders. It was a ridiculous decision with the Dover defender winning the ball.

It was tough break for Brundle who made an appearance with 15 minutes to go. The Gaffer will now be without both Sterling and Judd now, although Higgs and Martin will be back next game.

A 1-0 defeat on the road is never easy to take, but the referee killed the contest in the 17th minute.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Sterling, Goodman, Moses, Oliver, Wanadio, Pierrick, Carney, Boateng

Subs: Brundle, Wilkinson, Baptiste, Janjeva

St Albans City: Berry, Stanley, Francis-Clarke, Adebiyi, Blackman, Banton, Weiss, Mukena, Moore, Smith, Cooper

Subs: Wiltshire, Jeffers, Di Trolio, McConnell, Neal

Attendance: 2079