Dover Athletic were forced to settle for a goalless draw at home to 10-man Havant & Waterlooville in Skrill South on Saturday.

Terrell Forbes came in for central defender Richard Orlu in Chris Kinnear’s only change on a soggy afternoon at Crabble.

Ricky Modeste went close to an opener for the Whites when he lashed wide at the second attempt after seeing his initial shot parried by Havant keeper Scott Bevan.

Sean Raggett had Dover’s other good chance of the opening half but powered a header wide from a James Rogers corner.

At the other end Mitch Walker denied former Gillingham frontman Dennis Oli, Perry Ryan and Nic Ciardini before the break, and the Dover keeper blocked a Ryan free-kick shortly after the turnaround.

Raggett headed a bouncing ball off-target under pressure from Bevan before the visitors were reduced to 10 when Ryan Woodford brought down Nathan Elder on the halfway line to pick up his second booking.

However despite the man advantage, the hosts failed to break down the resilient Hawks with Modeste failing to head Barry Cogan’s cross on target and Rogers seeing one long-range drive saved by Bevan, with another shot flying high and wide.

Walker denied Ciardini on a rare foray forward at the other end but Walker needed to make another fine save to prevent the visitors snatching the points three minutes from time, while an injury-time cross floated onto the frame of the goal.

The point extended Dover’s unbeaten run to six games ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Eastbourne Borough.