A LATE goal from Jamie Allen saw Whites complete the double over their Kent rivals Maidstone with a narrow win at the Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day.

With the score goalless on 85 minutes, the substitute latched onto Kevin Lokko’s flick-on and buried the ball past the onrushing home keeper Ross Worner.

An early chance for Whites’ saw Alfie Pavey’s drilled cross deflect off a player towards Inih Effiong, with the striker narrowly off target with his low drive.

Jake Cassidy, in his final loan game for Stones before heading back to parent club Hartlepool United on loan, fired straight at visiting keeper Mitch Walker from 25-yards.

Cassidy then turned creator with a ball into Elliott Romain, however, the diminutive forward was unable to connect to his strike partner’s pass.

Loanee Cassidy then volleyed well over after racing onto a ball over the Dover defence.

Will De Havilland headed over Jack Payne’swell placed corner and Maidstone’s captain had to scoop away Brundle’s dangerous ball into the box from underneath his crossbar.

Nortei Nortey’s crossfield ball found Mitch Brundle in space, however, the captain’s lofted finish was not high enough to beat Worner in the home goal.

Walker then had to deny the home side following a swift counter-attack.

A misplaced corner ended with Walker beating away Cassidy’s fierce effort from the edge of the box after Romain had found his fellow forward.

Shortly after the restart, Walker was able to hold onto Jack Powell’s powerful cross from the byline.

It was ball into the Maidstone area that nearly had Andy Hessenthaler’s men ahead.

A flicked on throw-in somehow rolled across goal to Effiong, but the striker saw his shot blocked the home defence.

Effiong went for goal again, beating both Worner and Charlie Wassmer to the ball, but flicked over.

Bedsente Gomis then tried from 20-yards with a deflected shot narrowly wide.

A long throw caused mayhem in the Maidstone penalty area, ending with Brundle seeing his driven effort well blocked.

The away side continued to threaten and sub Jamie Allen volleyed fellow replacement Ricky Modeste’s header straight at Worner following a corner.

But the substitute made no mistake with his next chance and almost doubled his tally for the afternoon, forcing Worner to tip away his low shot.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler kept the same side that started in Saturday’s home match against Leyton Orient.  Ricky Modeste returned from injury to replace Joe Bedford as a substitute.

Whites next travel to Wrexham on Saturday 5th January, kick off 3 pm.

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SUBSTITUTE Joe Anderson’s injury-time strike denied Whites a winning start to the New Year in a Kent thriller at the Gallagher Stadium.

The right-back collected fellow sub Jack Paxman’s clever through ball and slotted past visiting stopper Mitch Walker to ensure the scoreline matched that of the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.

Femi Ilesanmi had stunned the home crowd midway the first half with an unbelievable 30-yard strike, only for Tom Wraight to head in an equaliser after the break.

Nortei Nortey’s brilliant solo goal seemed to have won the match for Athletic, but Anderson struck late on to make it four consecutive draws for Dover.

The hosts fashioned the first chance early on as Walker parried behind Wraight’s swirling free-kick.

From the resulting corner, Joe Pigott powered Wraight’s ball towards goal, but Walker was able to pluck the ball out from underneath his own crossbar.

On ten minutes, Giancarlo Gallifouco headed Dover’s first chance wide from Mitch Pinnock’s set piece.

All the chances were coming from free-kicks and one from Piggot flew into the side-netting.

But the best Stones chance of the half fell the way of Jamar Loza.

Josh Hare’s delivery found the attacker in space, but Walker was equal to his effort and collected the ball at the second attempt.

The home pressure continued as Wraight curled wide via a deflection off Mitch Brundle.

A lightning counter-attack by the away side ended with Pinnock finding Kadell Daniel at the back post, but the home defence were able to block his effort.

Ryan Bird went close to adding to his 12 National League goals this campaign, but headed wide from Pinnock’s accurate cross.

Instead, it was a player yet to register for Whites that opened the scoring with a sensational strike midway through the first half

Ilesanmi picked up a loose ball and after striding forward, unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard effort into the top corner.

There was mayhem in the other box as Pigott’s header from Wraight’s corner was cleared first off the line by Daniel, but rebounded off Piggot and rolled back towards goal, only for the well-placed Connor Essam to hoof clear.

Pinnock tried his luck with a long-range shot soon after, but Lee Worgan punched his effort clear for a throw-in.

And Manny Parry was inches away from doubling the visitors lead, however, Reece Prestedge flicked away Daniel’s ball before the defender could score.

Walker confirmed Dover’s lead at the break, diving low to turn Stuart Lewis’ firm header around the post.

Following a quiet fifteen minutes after the restart, Loza almost lit up the game with a curling effort that flew wide of Walker’s far post.

But Maidstone did not have to wait long for their leveller.

Pigott swung in a ball from the right for the unmarked Wraight to bury a header past Walker.

Substitute Liam Bellamy almost had Athletic back in control.  The midfielder smashed well wide from Bird’s header back across the goal face.

However fellow midfielder Nortey did put Dover ahead with a fine individual finish.

Starting from his own half, some great skill saw the 23-year old beat three defenders before firing in off the post from the edge of the area.

Parity was almost restored instantly, but sub Delano-Yorke flicked Loza’s driven pass wide from mere inches out.

But Anderson had the final say, rounding off a slick Maidstone move.

The drama was not over just yet as Whites almost won the game at the death.

Worgan reacted well to stop Parry’s point-blank header from Pinnock’s ball and then tipped behind a downward header from the centre back moments later.

But neither side were unable to force a late winner and the result keeps Athletic fourth in the standings, one point behind third-placed Sutton.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the side that started against Halifax.  Daniel replaced the injured Anthony Jeffrey, with the fit-again Kane Richards amongst the substitutes.

Dover next host Aldershot on Saturday 6th January, kick off 3 pm.

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CLINICAL finishing saw Dover climb two places into fourth in the National League after a 4-1 win against Maidstone United at a cold and wet Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Moses Emmanuel’s double set Whites on their way and though Vas Karagiannis pulled one back for the hosts, Ross Lafayette and Ricky Miller ensured boss Chris Kinnear’s side came away with the three points.

Maidstone made the stronger start to the game, Alex Flisher pulled the ball back for Jamar Loza to slot home, but skipper Jamie Grimes blocked bravely with a last-ditch tackle.

Yemi Odubade then stole a march on Aswad Thomas out wide and passed infield to Karagiannis, but goalkeeper Steve Arnold parried the fierce drive.

Stones had a glorious chance through Odubade as he only had Arnold to beat following neat interplay with Jack Paxman, but Dover’s stopper proved a formidable barrier for the former Eastleigh man.

Dover’s first chance saw Sam Magri race onto Miller’s pass and fire just wide of the far post.

Emmanuel broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion with his 10^th league goal of the season in the 28^th minute.

Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan brilliantly saved Emmanuel’s first effort from the edge of the area after a clever pass from Miller, but the rebound fell straight back for the forward to fire into the top corner.

Loza almost capitalized on Tyrone Sterling’s error, but his volley through a crowded box went straight at Arnold.

Emmanuel shot straight at Worgan when put through by Richard Orlu, but he did not have to wait long for his second as he smashed home Lafayette’s cross from an angle on 54 minutes to double Dover’s lead.

Maidstone searched for a way back into the game and Magri was well positioned to clear away Flisher’s drive.

The home side did pull a goal back on 58 minutes as Odubade’s low cross was slid home by Karagiannis.

Worgan kept Maidstone in the game, diving low to his right to deny Miller’s first time attempt after nice work from Emmanuel.

Arnold’s challenge on Odubade had Maidstone calling for a penalty, but referee Constantine Hatzidakis waved the claims away.

The resulting corner from Karagiannis was heading straight in, but Arnold was able to fist the ball to safety.

Lafayette’s deadly strike on 74 ended any hopes of a comeback as he collected a ball from Orlu and fired across Worgan to take his league goal tally into double figures for the campaign.

Worgan denied Sammy Moore his first of the season after saving his curling effort and Lafayette’s follow up shot was blocked.

Arnold’s fingertips denied Loza from close range and Tom Mills somehow missed the target after Dover’s goalie missed Flisher’s cross as Maidstone were unable to set up a grandstand finish.

Miller, who was feeling under the weather, sealed the win after he ran onto Lafayette’s through ball to slot home in injury time.

Earlier, Whites made one change from the reverse clash on Boxing Day, Moore came in for Ricky Modeste who dropped to the bench.

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