Bishop’s Stortford 3 Dover 2

IT was so close but Dover went out of the FA Cup when they were defeated in a 4th qualifying round replay on Tuesday night.

It meant that Clive Walker’s side fell just short of a place in the first round proper.

The home side made a cracking start. They snatched the lead on 17 minutes through full back Dave Collis and went further ahead within a minute when Roy Essendoh headed home.

Whites pulled one back just before the break. Lee Spiller knocked in a free kick from just inside the opposition half, Bryon Walker nodded the ball on and Jimmy Dryden fired home from six yards.

Early in the second half, both Spiller and Nick Humphrey went close before Dover snatched an equaliser on 57 minutes.

Tyne swept the ball out to the right where the overlapping Tony Browne knocked over a first time cross. Craig Wilkins held the ball up before knocking it on. Dryden was the first to react and slotted home.

Whites went in search of victory but their night was ruined when Danny Morgan scored a simple goal on 75 minutes. There was then no way back for the visitors.

Dover Ath: Smith, Browne, Rogers, Bourne, Cloke, Humphrey, Tyne, Spiller, Wilkins, Dryden, Walker (Chase 78). Subs not used: Spice, Vallance, Hamshare, Wright.

FULL REPORT IN THIS WEEK'S DOVER MERCURY