2016-2017 – Page 17 – DOVER ATHLETIC FC

WHITES BEATEN BY WOOD

Miller red card sees Whites crumble at Crabble

RICKY Miller’s red card proved costly for Dover as they were left stunned by Boreham Wood’s second-half revival in Tuesday’s National League clash at Crabble.

Whites led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Miller’s penalty but the striker’s dismissal for a second yellow four minutes after the break led to it all going wrong for boss Chris Kinnear’s side.

The Hertfordshire side, who beat Forest Green Rovers 1-0 in their season opener on Saturday, took full advantage of having the extra man by scoring three times in seven minutes to stun the home faithful.

They added a fourth 13 minutes from time to complete a miserable night for the hosts.

And Kinnear was not about to pull any punches when it came to the red card.

He said: “There was only us going to win it until then and was a matter of by how many and then Ricky Miller did something stupid and that was it.

“He’s got to learn – it’s alright being a good player and scoring goals, but if you start getting sent off it costs the whole team.”

But despite the loss, which was Dover’s heaviest since the 3-0 defeat at, ironically Boreham Wood last March, Kinnear was not going to dwell on it.

He said: “Things like that happen. You just dust yourself off, get on with it and don’t feel sorry for yourself.”

Kinnear’s side had started the as they had finished at Wrexham on Saturday – on the attack.

Miller missed a great chance to give his side a dream start in the third minute but his header from Moses Emmanuel’s cross went over the crossbar instead of under it.

But Miller made amends by winning a penalty and converting it in the 22nd minute after Wood defender Matt Paine sent him tumbling.

A hectic ending to the half saw Wood’s Angelo Balanta, who played for Whites in the pre-season win against Billericay, fire wide from 20 yards.

Seconds later Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold saved low from Bruno Andrade.

Wood goalkeeper Grant Smith saved from Ricky Modeste before Arnold brilliantly saved from Balanta at close range.

Arnold, who was making his home debut, was not to know the Colombian striker had been ruled offside.

Miller saw red after his challenge on visiting captain Mark Ricketts four minutes after the restart – and the game turned on its head.

Wood equalised from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after Sam Magri brought down Andrade and Kenny Davis sent Arnold the wrong way.

The extra man advantage paid off when Andrade turned home substitute Anthony Jeffrey’s pin-point cross five minutes later.

Balanta made it two in a two minutes after he blasted past Arnold from close range.

Andrade added a fourth, and his second, from a free-kick to complete the rout 13 minutes from the end.

MATCH GALLERY

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DOVER earned a point in the National League season opener against Wrexham – it could have easily been three.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side created most of the chances only to be denied by the woodwork, a stunning goal-line clearance and some top-class goalkeeping.

The result remains Dover remain unbeaten against Wrexham, winning three while drawing two.

But it was not through a lack of trying that Whites tried to win their first opening day fixture since joining the top-flight after losing at Barrow last season and at home against FC Halifax Town the previous campaign.

Summer signing Jim Stevenson almost marked his Whites debut with a goal after his 73rd-minute shot crashed into the crossbar.

Tyrone Marsh had earlier seen his goal-bound shot headed off the line while Wrexham goalkeeper Chris Dunn had to be at his best to deny Ricky Miller and Ricky Modeste.

After a quiet opening by both sides, Miller created Dover’s first opportunity, with the striker seeing his shot easily saved by Dunn, one of nine players making their Wrexham debuts, in the 19th minute.

Dunn then produced a stunning double save to keep out Modeste’s shot and Miller’s effort from the rebound.

Wrexham did put the ball in the net just before half-time, but Shaun Harrad’s headed goal was ruled off-side.

Just seconds later, Dover almost scored as Marsh could only watch in disbelief as his shot was headed off the line in spectacular fashion by Reds captain Sean Newton with Dunn well beaten.

The second half started with Dover continuing to ask the questions and Dunn safely gathered another Modeste, who had scored on his previous two trips to North Wales, shot 10 minutes in.

Jack Parkinson’s long-range effort flew over seconds later before Whites debutant goalkeeper Steve Arnold dived low to keep out Wrexham substitute Michael Bakare’s shot in a rare bit of action for him.

Whites continued to press for a winner after Stevenson went close and Richard Orlu tried his luck from distance, but his volley flew high and wide.

Miller almost won it at the death when it needed a finger-tip save from the impressive Dunn to turn his shot away for a corner.

WREXHAM REACTION