Chelmsford City 5 Dover Athletic 2

CHELMFORD'S three-pronged attack ripped Whites apart in the first half and the Kent club failed to recover.

Defeat at the New Lodge on Monday night might not prove as important as many supporters will doubtless fear.

How the club react to it, with an eight-day break in which to regroup and lick a few wounds, will certainly be crucial.

After making a bright start, City went ahead after 15 minutes from the penalty spot after Shane Hamshare handled a free kick that 'keeper Kev Readings had punched away from goal. After muted protests, keeper Paul Nicholls opted for sheer power to beat his opposite number.

Dover equalised courtesy of a tremendous goal that was to prove the highlight of a disappointing night. As Lee Scott's corner from the right was only partially cleared, Kevin Lott smacked home a powerful half-volley from fully 30 yards.

For the next ten minutes, Whites played as well as they have at any time this season. Had Craig Wilkins' header counted, after Craig Cloke's free kick was deflected, it might have been a different story.

But as Ross Edwards reacted smartly to clear off the line, the tide turned emphatically in City's favour.

First, Gary Answell and Steve Butterworth sweetly exchanged passes to send George Lay clear in the inside left channel. Lay, having returned to the Clarets from a spell at Welling United, fired firmly across Readings to restore their lead. It got worse for Whites before the break when, after a collection of comedy defensive errors, Gary Cross rounded Readings before stroking the ball into an unguarded net.

At the start of the second half, the introduction of Dave Clifford enabled Whites to switch from 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation that, while bolting the stable door too late, did at least ensure that City didn't always look likely to score every time they crossed the half way line.

Although Dover had arguably the better of the second half and created a few chances, it was Chelmsford who tucked theirs away.

It was 4-1 when Sammy Cooper crept unnoticed behind three defenders to roll in a goal of worrying simplicity. And when Cooper provided the assist with a peach of a cross from the right-hand touchline, Ansell's powerful close range header ensured that the rest of the contest, from Whites perspective at least, would be one of damage limitation.

Athletic did at least have the final word when Wilkins looped a near post header over Nicholls and into the far corner.

Dover: Readings, Vallance, Cloke, Humphrey, Scott, Lott, Skelton (Clifford-46), Hamshare (Hickman-75), Smidmore, Smissen (Wright-70), Wilkins. Subs not used: Wood, Mullin.