Weston-super-Mare 0 Dover Athletic 1

DOVER travelled to Somerset on Saturday looking to gain some revenge on the only visiting side to have beaten Athletic at the Hoverspeed Stadium this season.

Andy Arnott returned to the side to replace the injured Dean Readings. It was the only change from the side that scored a convincing win over Grantham a week earlier.

For most of the first half both defences were on top but three minutes before the interval took the lead. Jimmy Jackson’s in-swinging near-post corner went into the goal off a Weston defender under pressure from Danny Chapman. It seems that the goal has now officially been awarded to Chapman, though it is doubtful as to whether he actually got a touch.

We saw more of the same in the second half, with both sides struggling to make headway against two solid looking defences.

After 65 minutes, Paul Hyde caught the ball, and was then clattered by home central defender Billy Clark. Clark then kicked Danny Chapman, who retaliated. Referee Mr Hawkes, from Gloucester, showed Chapman the red card, but astonishingly allowed Clark to stay on the pitch.

Dover’s defence continued to hold firm, as the home side stepped up their efforts for an equaliser, but Hyde was really only called on to deal with a few crosses. Dover looked dangerous on the break, but home defender Steve Benton was twice allowed to get away with pulling down Dover forwards who had beaten him, and this despite his earlier booking.

Dover held on to win another precious three points without too much trouble, and the club have now risen to 10th. in the League table, just four points behind second-placed Crawley Town.

Dover Ath: Hyde, Browne, Jackson, Crofts, Arnott, Chapman, Day (Davies 77min), Spiller, Wilkins, Tyne, Carruthers.