Exacta Stadium

WHITES continued their playoff push with a win at struggling Chester on Tuesday night.

A header from Kevin Lokko and an own goal from home skipper Ryan Astles after the restart saw Dover win their second consecutive league game as they rose one place to sixth in the National League ladder.

Chris Kinnear’s men almost made the ideal start as Adebayo Azeez skewed an effort wide after turning his marker in the box.

The host’s first meaningful attack came from Andy Halls. Femi Ilesanmi’s tackle on Gary Roberts fell into the path of the defender, who could only stab wide of the far post.

Athletic then tried their luck on goal twice in quick succession. Firstly, Cambridge loanee Azeez scooped Mitch Brundle’s fiercely struck free-kick into the grateful arms of home keeper Andrew Firth.

Moments later, Ryan Bird sliced wide after Mitch Pinnock played in the forward.

At the other end, Roberts curled a wicked free-kick onto the roof of Mitch Walker’s net and Dover’s keeper saved well from the head of Shaun Hobson.

Kevin Lokko twice went close from corners for the away team, but it was Chester who went closest just before the half time whistle.

Harry White run onto Jordan Archer’s flick-on, but the striker could not get the better of a sprawling Walker, with Dover’s stopper able to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Following the restart, Azeez blasted over from the edge of the box and Mitch Brundle tested Firth with a low 20-yard drive minutes later.

Walker was out quickly to grab the ball from Matty Waters after the attacker got the better of two Dover defenders.

And Whites’ stopper produced an even finer piece of goalkeeping to deny
Tom Crawford.

Walker athletically beat away the midfielder’s deflected volley before the ball could reach the top corner.

White then blazed wide after a run from deep and Marcus Bignot’s side were punished for their missed chances.

Brundle’s accurate corner was met by the head of Lokko and the defender, signed on-loan from Stevenage last month, guided the ball into the top corner to open his account for the club.

And seven minutes later the visitors lead was doubled.

Jeffrey outpaced Halls to reach Brundle’s through ball and though Astles was first to the winger’s ball into the box, Chester’s big defender was only able to divert the ball past a stunned Firth and into his own net.

And the drama was not over as another defensive mix-up almost handed Kinnear’s side a third goal.

Azeez headed Jeffrey’s cross towards Hobson standing on the goal line, but hesitation from the centre back almost allowed Azeez to steal in before the ball was finally cleared.

And Dominic Vose had one final chance for Chester in injury time but lashed his free-kick well over.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made two changes to the side that started against Leyton Orient on Saturday. Manny Parry and Liam Bellamy replaced Nortei Nortey and Josh Passley, who started as substitutes.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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Away day Blues

Chester bring Dover’s winning run to crashing end

DOVER conceded five second-half goals as they crashed to their heaviest National League defeat in two years on Saturday.

Johnny Hunt, James Alabi, Elliott Durrell, Craig Mahon and James Akintunde were all on target as the Blues blew away Whites in what ultimately proved to really be a game of two halves.

Dover created enough opportunities in the opening half to head into the break in front – those chances were not taken and Chester made them pay.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side started brightly and Jim Stevenson saw his effort from distance go wide after 10 minutes.

Four minutes later, Ricky Miller’s first shot of the day failed to hit the target and trouble Chester keeper Liam Roberts.

Ross Lafayette headed wide before Roberts then dived bravely at the feet of the charging forward.

Miller curled another shot wide before Chester threatened with Jamie Grimes blocking a shot from Durrell and the goal-bound rebound.

Dover continued to press, and it needed a smart save from Roberts to keep Aswad Thomas’ 18-yarder out on the stroke of half-time.

Whites finished the half on top and no one could imagine what was about to unfold.

Hunt opened the scoring six minutes after the restart, firing past Dover goalkeeper Steve Arnold, who was restricted for movement after injuring himself while making a save in the opening half.

The Chester fans were still celebrating Hunt’s strike when Alabi doubled the lead less than a minute later following a fine run and finish.

Dover were down, but still not out of it.
Miller sent a free-kick wide before Moses Emmanuel saw his effort cleared off the line after the winger had rounded keeper Liam Roberts.

A surging run and cross by Grimes ended with Miller volleying over Roberts’ bar.

But there was to be no comeback as Durrell made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after he’d been fouled by Grimes.

The impressive Mahon added a fourth after his 25-yarder squirmed under Arnold and substitute Akintunde completed the rout after heading home Durrell’s cross in stoppage time.

The emphatic win extended Chester’s unbeaten run to five games and they have also done it without conceding a goal.

It also means Dover, who host Sutton United on Tuesday night, are now winless in six visits to Chester.

MATCH GALLERY

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