A rough night in Hertfordshire as Whites fall to defeat.

It was a balmy night at Clarence Park as the two sides took to the field in 20 odd degree heat. The hosts were looking to win only for the second time this campaign while the visitors were in the same boat.

It was a lively start for the Whites and in particular new signing Johl Powell, who had an early left footed shot well saved by Johnson, who palmed away with no Dover player following in. Shooting down the slope looked to be another tool in Dover’s armoury as the Whites found both wingers with ease, although the final ball was always a little off key.

 

In the 16th minute, Weiss broke down the Dover right following a long throw by Brown, and by getting the wrong side of Naylor, was able to cut back across goal for Georgiou to smash the ball into the net for the hosts. Moments later and the energetic Powell drove through the midfield, rounding the last defender and when it looked like the St Albans net was going to bulge, a defender in yellow made a last gasp block to keep the scores at 1-0. It was a lead that St Albans held until the interval.

Dover came out from the break with their tails up but despite a flurry of crosses and corners into the box, never quite got the x-factor in front of goal. It was something that would come back to haunt them in the 71st minute. Rasulo’s slide rule pass into the feet of Mitchell Weiss had just enough weight on it for the forward to take a touch, shift the ball past his marker and fire a low shot under the body of Terrell. 2-0.

Dover looked to have reduced the deficit with around 10 minutes remaining but Sutherlands neat finish was adjudged to have hit his arm. The travelling fans said different but it was the man in the middle who cut short any celebrations and when he brought the game to a halt, it was only the home end who would sing into the night.

Consistency is the one thing that’s killing us at the moment – Mitch Brundle

 

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, McLean, Naylor, Ojemen, Dunne, Baptiste, Powell, Charles-Cook, Allen, Sutherland

Subs: Nikaj, Olarewaju, Stewart, Anifowose, Hatcher

St Albans City: Johnson, James, Brown, Smith, Clark, Blackman, Rasulo, Weiss, Georgiou, Carlyle, Wyatt

Subs: Jeffers, Dunn, Fage, Da Silva, Lawal