An own goal helped Dover battle for a point from their National League South home match against Chippenham on Saturday.

Whites fell behind when a Luke Spokes effort, somehow, deflected off Craig Fasanmade and into their net after the restart before the home side grabbed a deserved leveller during the 1-1 draw through an own goal.

Both teams had chances to win it at the death but had to settle for a share of the spoils.

After a cagey start at Crabble, the visitors had penalty appeals turned down by referee Robert Ablitt as Dover defender Chevron McLean appeared to block Fasanmade’s right-wing cross with his hand in the 16th minute.

Five minutes later, another Chippenham right-wing ball caused problems. It looked to have struck Billy Terrell’s left-hand post, although a corner was awarded so the Bournemouth loanee, potentially, might have been ruled to have tipped the ball wide.

The hosts created their first opportunity in the 25th minute when McLean blazed over in front of a crowd of 596.

Chippenham goalkeeper Will Henry twice was called into action just before the half-hour mark. He blocked from McLean after teenage midfielder Henry Young’s through ball before he parried striker Zidan Sutherland’s fierce first-time drive.

As Whites began to dominate, Dontai Stewart turned and shot at Henry from captain James Dunne’s lofted free-kick on 35 minutes while Iffy Allen and centre-back Peter Ojemen twice went close.

There were more openings for Mitch Brundle’s men shortly before the break.

Right-back John Oyenuga forced a fingertip save from the Wiltshire club’s keeper and, after good play between Allen and Young, the former blazed over.

Six minutes after the restart, Young squandered a great chance for Dover. Roman Charles-Cook twisted and turned before his left-wing cross found Young, only for the 17-year-old to fire over from yards out.

But the away team broke the deadlock totally against the run of play. Spokes’ long-range drive took a deflection off Fasanmade which wrong-footed Terrell. Dover’s keeper thought the goal should have been ruled out but it stood.

On the hour mark, home substitute George Nikaj got the first caution of the afternoon for striking keeper Henry after a melee broke out as he attempted to scramble a loose ball home.

The same player found space and had Henry at full stretch four minutes later, but there was still no way through for the hosts.

But, midway through the half, Whites finally got a deserved equaliser. Sutherland’s left-wing cross took a nick off centre-back Luke Haines to leave impressive Henry stranded.

Sutherland turned and saw his 72nd-minute effort flash narrowly wide of Henry’s left-hand post before, three minutes later, the Chippenham keeper denied the same player amid a frantic finish.

With nine minutes to go, Dover substitute Luke Baptiste cut inside well from the left, only to fail to hit the target.

Fasanmade sprung the offside trap for the away team, seconds after Whites boss Brundle had been booked on the sideline, but his effort was straight at Terrell.

Nikaj then shot down Henry’s throat in the third of seven minutes of stoppage time.

At the other end, however, Chippenham were not done and Terrell denied substitute Marcel Lewis before midfielder Jake Evans’ looping effort cracked against the crossbar during a breathless finale.

The result leaves Dover in the relegation zone while 10th-placed Chippenham are only a point off the play-offs.

Manager Brundle had rang the changes again as he made five from his starting line-up which were beaten 2-0 at Dartford five days earlier.

Charles-Cook, Allen, McLean, Sutherland and Young came in for Baptiste, Nikaj, Fuad Sesay, Josh Anifowse and Michael Olarewaju.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Charles-Cook (Dembele 82mins), Ojemen, Dunne, Sutherland, Allen (Baptiste 68mins), McLean, Naylor, Young, Stewart (Nikaj 56mins), Oyenuga. Subs not used: Olarewaju, Anifowse.

Chippenham Town: Henry, Jones, Grant, Fasanmade, Haines, Evans, McClure, Windsor (Lewis 67mins), Nicholls (Amadi-Holloway 80mins), Spokes, Williams. Subs not used: Tuodolo, Heal, King.

Referee: Robert Ablitt.

Attendance: 596.