by Martin Jefferies

Dover Athletic's hopes of reaching the first round of the FA Trophy are over, after they lost 2-1 at home to Woking on Saturday.

Two goals inside the opening 20 minutes from Cards winger Jerome Federico ultimately sealed the Whites' fate, although Dover pulled one back mid-way through the second half when Jon Wallis was fouled inside the box and Ben Hunt scored from the penalty spot.

Federico's first came from a delicate through ball, which was smashed past Ross Flitney in the 16th minute. The former Wycombe Wanderers winger added a second just two minutes later, drifting in from the left after carving through the Whites' defence.

Chances were few and far between for Dover in the first half, with Joe Tabiri and Adam Birchall coming closest but barely troubling ex-AFC Wimbledon keeper Andy Little in the Woking goal.

The second half started more brightly for the home side and they could have scored their first of the afternoon when Tabiri and Birchall linked up superbly, only for the linesman to flag for offside.

New signing Barry Cogan came on for Sam Long with around half an hour to go and had a promising debut for the Whites. His beautiful through ball played Birchall in on goal in the 76th minute but the striker's shot was straight at Little.

Hunt's 69th minute penalty deservedly saw Dover halve the deficit but the home side were unable to find a second. Birchall came close but saw his shot four minutes from time pushed onto the post by Little.

The 2-1 scoreline was a repeat of Woking's aggregate win over Dover in the Conference play-offs last season.