Dover boss Chris Kinnear put a consoling arm around his Bristol Rovers counterpart Darrell Clarke at the end of the Vanarama Conference clash at Crabble on Saturday.

Kinnear knew the 1-1 draw would play a major part in deciding who won the league title and promotion - he understood how disappointed Clarke would be feeling.

Ricky Modeste's equaliser two minutes from time meant Rovers remained second, a point behind leaders Barnet with one game to go.

And that left Kinnear with mixed emotions.

Kinnear said: "I get on really very well with Darrell - he's one of the nice guys in this game. I would love to see him do well and take his side up and I told him that when we spoke recently.

"Saying that, it didn't mean that we were about to hand over the three points - we wanted to win the game as much as them.

"We wanted to make it tough for them as possible, something we do no differently for any other team we play against.

"And we showed that by refusing to lie down with time running out - my lads kept going and we got rewarded for it.

"There is no doubt Darrell was extremely disappointed at the end of the game and I have no doubt I would be feeling the same too if I was in his shoes.

"I just had a quiet word with him and told him to keep his chin up, just like any friend would do."

The point leaves Kinnear's side eighth ahead of Saturday's trip to another promotion hopeful, fifth-placed Forest Green Rovers.