Welling Utd 0 Dover Athletic 1

AFTER going over seven months without an away win, Dover made it two in five days with this hard-fought FA Trophy, 2nd round, victory.

Matt Carruthers returned to the side after recovering from a back injury in place of loan signing Jimmy Jackson, whom Dagenham did not want to be cup-tied.

It was never going to be a classic game as drizzle fell throughout and Welling’s long ball style didn’t help matters.

Dover dealt comfortably with Welling’s attacks in the first half and only found themselves under pressure when the ball was given away to the home side.

Whites looked dangerous going forward and forced a number of corners in the first half. Tom Hickman came close to giving Dover the lead after a quarter of an hour but his snapshot was tipped over the bar by Welling ‘keeper Gavin Kelly.

Playing uphill in the second half, Dover were soon on the attack and just over a minute into the second period Carruthers raced down the right wing and sent over a low, hard cross which home defender Lew Watts sliced into his own goal.

Dover could well have incresased their lead but desperate defending by Welling prevented any further goals. Tommy Tyne was brought down by Kelly when chasing a loose ball but play was waved on.

Welling put the Dover defence under some pressure as they tried to save the game, but Paul Hyde made some good saves and the Dover defence was in no mood to give anything away.

Welling’s best chance was blasted wide and high by former Margate forward Phil Collins, and though Dover’s considerable support in a crowd of 502 looked on anxiously as eight minutes of stoppage time were played, Whites held on for another welcome away success.

Dover Ath: Hyde, Browne, Davies (Glover 72), Crofts, Hickman (Readings, 68), Chapman, Day, Spiller, Wilkins, Tyne, Carruthers. Subs not used: Rogers, Wright, Postma.