Chelmsford City 0 Dover Athletic 1

ANDY ARNOTT'S late goal enabled Dover to continue their recent good run with victory in the Dr Martens, premier division, game at Chelmsford on Saturday.

With Paul Hyde having an excellent game in goal, one goal was enough to see off the Essex side who still have relegation worries.

Chelmsford are now ground-sharing at Billericay Town and the ground would seem more appropriate for the Kent League than a Conference feeder League.

Both sides found it difficult to play good football on a hard, bumpy and dusty pitch, and the wind and the slope certainly didn't help.

There was little goalmouth action of note in the first 45 minutes and the closest Dover came to registering a goal was a Tommy Tyne cross-cum-shot from the byline that missed the far post by inches.

The home side forced a couple of good saves from but it was no surprise when half-time arrived without any goals.

Both sides looked more likely to score after the interval, and Dean Readings almost put Dover in front when a corner reached him at the far post, but the ball hit the side-netting.

Hyde was again forced into action when he raced out of his goal to block Dale Watkins shot, and he then acrobatically saved Phil Dean's shot from the rebound.

Simon Glover replaced Mark Patterson, who felt a twinge in his hamstring in his first game back since injuring it at Hastings on March 1. Glover kept the City defence on their toes with some mazy runs. Tyne found himself in the referee's book for a foul, and City's Mike Rutherford and Danny Slatter were also yellow-carded.

Then, just as the match was about to go into stoppage time, Dover were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. Matt Carruthers shot for goal and City goalie Paul Nicholls failed to hold the ball. In the ensuing scramble the ball trickled towards the City goal, with Arnott getting the last touch.

Dover threatened to increase their lead in the five minutes added on, but one goal was enough to give the Whites and send their band of travelling supporters home in happy mood.