Dover Athletic 1 Dorchester 2

A DEVASTATING late collapse robbed Whites of three crucial points on Saturday and killed off their automatic promotion hopes.

But if they produce this level of performance in their final two games they do have a fighting chance of gaining the three points needed to secure a play-off place.

A combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping meant Richard Langley’s men failed to ram home their superiority and the match should have been out of reach by the time the visitors staged their late fightback.

Whites began brightly and Craig Wilkins had already drawn a good save out of Bradshaw with a powerful far post header from Craig Cloke’s cross when Dover went ahead from the spot after 13 minutes.

Simon Glover chased Rogers’ long ball down the left and went down in the area after some pushing by Magpies’ skipper Alex Browne. The decision may have been marginal but given Whites’ luck with penalty decisions lately they will feel justice was served. Cloke confidently smashed the kick home, sending Bradshaw the wrong way.

It was just the boost Whites needed and they went on to dominate most of the game, creating numerous chances.

The first half was all Dover with chances aplenty. Matt Carruthers fired a 20-yard free kick just wide, while Bradshaw saved a Jamie Day drive and kept out Glover’s header.

On the half hour Arnott was almost scythed in two by Matt Holmes’ wild two-footed lunge but lenient referee Mr Linnington awarded only a yellow card when it should have been red. What a difference a braver decision might have made to the outcome.

Whites ended the half on top and soon after the interval Wilkins blazed a powerful rising drive just over.

Dorchester then enjoyed a brief good spell but Whites regained the initiative and spurned a fantastic chance on 68 minutes when Glover headed Rogers’ excellent left wing cross against the bar from just four yards out, when it seemed easier to score. Yet Dover drove relentessly forward and Tom Hickman stabbed another great opening wide, before Hickman and Cloke had efforts blocked. Cloke then teed up a decent strike for himself from 25 yards.

Teams which miss golden chances usually have to pay and, sure enough, Dorchester staged an unlikely late fightback to stun the Crabble faithful.

After 79 minutes Wood was allowed to track across to the right edge of the Dover box and David Laws rose highest at the far post to meet Wood’s delicate cross and head powerfully past Wietecha.

Shaken Whites streamed forward in search of another goal with Bradshaw saving shots from Wilkins and substitute Danny Welch.

If Dover fans in the 741 crowd thought the equaliser was bad enough, even worse was to follow in the second minute of stoppage time.

Whites lost possession after a corner and Dorchester broke with devastating effect, Mark Jermyn weaving past two defenders and firing the winner in off the post from the edge of the area.

The defeat was as devastating to Whites’ play off hopes as it was unfair and morale sapping and, after their best home performance for some time, Langley’s men must now pick themselves up to claim a play-off spot.

Dover Athletic: Wietecha, Browne, Rogers, Hickman, Arnott, Cloke, Day, Spiller, Wilkins, Carruthers, Glover (Welch 83).