Tuesday 23rd November 2004	Ryman League Premier Division	Matthew Gerrard reports from The Hoverspeed Stadium
Dover Athletic	2	Armstrong 14 Grimes 60
Harrow Borough	2	Neilson 30 Marney 90

Dover let victory slip out of their grasp

A last minute equaliser saw the Whites denied a morale boosting victory as they battle to move out of the Ryman Premier League relegation zone. 

In a game that lacked any real quality with both sides wasting the final ball on numerous occasions, boss Steve Browne will be disappointed that his emerging side could not hang on against a Harrow side that only arrived 20 minutes before the kick off.

The opening fifteen minutes of the game saw Dover play some of the best football they have at the Hoverspeed this season as they really took the game to the visitors using the flanks and the intelligent front play of new signing Paul Armstrong who showed he could become a real asset with an assured display.

The marauding Dean Palmer was the first to try his luck when he struck over from 20 yards before only a brave clearance from full back Jesper Nielsen under his own cross bar stopped Armstrong from heading home.

The inevitable goal came in the 14th minute when the dreadlocked Daniel Braithwaite's left wing corner was met by the diminutive Armstrong whose movement off the ball was superb as he spun off his marker to head home.

This should have been the catalyst for Dover to dominate and pick up the big win that Browne believes their recent performances on the travels deserve, but they lacked the conviction when it mattered the most as they started to waste their passes in midfield with particularly Matt Carruthers finding it difficult to find a fellow white shirt.

From another of his wasted corners the visitors showed their pace in getting forward as quickly as possible with Fabio Valenti testing the reflexes of keeper Dominic Jean-Zepharin after some intricate build up play around the box had caught the Dover defence square.

The swiftness of the tricky Abdulal Yoki saw him drive wide after a mazy run before the equaliser came 15 minutes from half time.

Though in recent times the Dover nemesis has been the troublesome left side of defence, this time it was the right that led to the downfall and where the gamble of playing striker Victor Renner in a wing back role back fired.

Exploiting the space behind Renner, Yoki crossed for Valenti who was brought down 25 yards from goal and Nielson struck the free kick through the crowded area and despite getting a hand to it Zepharin could only push it into the corner of the net. 

Both sides then had opportunities to create openings before the break with Craig Wilkins and ex Stevenage man Armstrong going close before on the stroke of half time Stuart Maynard had to clear off the line from Harrow skipper's Dean Marney goal bound effort.

The second period began with both sides having good opportunities with Zepharin saving well from Howard Newton, while Craig Cloke was disappointed to see his header across the goal bring no reaction from the Dover strikers. 

The build up play, however, continued to impressive and a fine ball put Wilkins through but last season's top scorer continues to look woefully short of confidence and instead of going for goal he chose to pass and the ball was cleared.

The goal was not long coming as on the hour mark, Renner showed pace and aggression to get to the by-line and his delicate cross was met by Carruthers whose header was blocked but fell to left wing back Nick Grimes who had the easy opportunity to head home from two yards.

That was as good as it got for the Whites as they failed to take advantage of the lead and continued to let in a spirited Harrow side who used the tactic of getting the ball forward quickly to great affect, as Athletic's defence was continually stretched with Lee Shearer occupying more of a right back role as he was pushed and pulled by Newton in an excellent battle. 

Browne sensing the danger replaced Wilkins with Sam Vallance to go to a flat back four and this seemed to curtail the advances, with the jinking runs being easily dealt before an injury to the impressive Palmer led to another change of formation with Dean Readings being brought on to shore up the defence. 

However, as the clock clicked into injury time it was to be the undoing, Nielsen muscled off Armstrong and played a fine 30 yard cross field ball to Steve Dogbe who was in acres of space down the right as the narrow Dover defence marked space and he his cross whipped in at speed which was finished off from six yards by Marney as his momentum got him ahead of his two static markers. 

A late flurry saw Shearer head wide from a corner but the sense of disappointment from the crowd of 503 was apparent as they wandered off into the mild winter night, thinking that the gap in the relegation zone was still a long way to be clawed back but at least they now have a side with a number of talented individuals who once they fully gel as a side should be able to compete at a high standard and try push up the table.

Dover Athletic: Zepherin, Grimes, Craig Cloke, Palmer (Readings 86), Shearer, Braithwaite, Carruthers, Maynard, Wilkins (Vallance 75), Renner, Armstrong. Subs: Spiller, Rogers, Vallance, Rogers

Dover Express Man of the Match: Paul Armstrong - Excellent movement and link up play.