Heybridge Swifts 2 Dover Athletic 1

CLIVE WALKER’S 100 per cent record as Dover manager came to an end on Saturday as his side went down 2-1 at Heybridge Swifts in the Ryman Premier Division.

An early goal after five minutes set the home side on their way, but Whites were incensed by the nature of it.

As Dover cleared off the goalline the ball struck Dean Readings on the arm as he was lying on the ground. He knew nothing about it and the referee initially waved play on, but then gave a penalty after his assistant had flagged.

Carl Griffiths did the rest from 12 yards after Dover’s protests had been waved away.

The home side doubled their lead nine minutes before the break, and again it came in bizarre circumstances.

Dwayne Edwards attempted a cross from the right flank, which Paul Hyde in the Dover goal seemed to have covered. But he misjudged the flight of the ball and it ended up floating over his head and into the far corner.

It was an error reminiscent of David Seaman’s blunder against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup and gave Whites a mountain to climb in the second half.

They got themselves back into the game with 20 minutes to go. A long through ball from Jude Sterling was taken down well by Chris Wright, who shot into the corner on the turn.

But it was Heybridge who looked the more likely side to score near the end and the home side have now won three times in the league in the last eight days to drag themselves away from the relegation zone.

It was not an unfair result, but Dover will be annoyed at the manner of the goals they conceded to lose the game.

In other results, Tonbridge Angels slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Chelmsford City while Folkestone Invicta played out a 2-2 draw against Eastleigh.