Wrexham v Dover Athletic

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Details

Date Time League Season Attendance Dover Star Player
23rd December 2017 3:00 pm National League 2017-2018 4,980 Femi Ilesanmi

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Report

WHITES continued their unbeaten run against Wrexham with a goalless draw at the Racecourse ground on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams led the way in the National League goals conceded column prior to kick off and that trend continued in a match of few opportunities.

The first chance of note fell to George Miller, but the Middlesbrough loanee sliced horribly wide after Connor Essam misjudged a long ball.

Minutes late, home keeper Chris Dunn was at full stretch to turn away Nortei Nortey’s speculative twenty-yard effort.

Dragons fans celebrations were cut short as Scott Boden was unable to connect to Miller’s dangerous cross.

And Miller almost gave the Welsh side the lead on the stroke of half-time with a header, only for Femi Ilesanmi to flick the ball away for a corner before the striker could make contact with the ball.

The resulting set piece saw a clash of heads between Essam and Manny Parry, leaving both defenders sprawled on the floor needing treatment after the referee signalled for half-time.

Both players eventually made their way down the tunnel to join the manager’s teamtalk, but only Parry returned for the restart with Essam unable to continue.  Loui Fazakerley came on to take the place of Dover’s sweeper.

Both Gallifuoco and Shaun Pearson flashed headers wide at the break, with Marcus Kelly curling a free-kick straight into the arms of Mitch Walker shortly afterwards.

And Dover’s stopper was then called into action as Wrexham fashioned their best chance of the match.

James Jennings’ pinpoint cross was directed goalwards by Miller, but his header lacked the power to truly test Walker, who comfortably dived onto the ball.

Athletic’s number one was far more concerned by Jennings’ drive, flinging himself across his goalline as the fullback fizzed a twenty-yard shot narrowly wide.

The home side fashioned one more chance late on, but Walker was well placed to hold onto Paul Rutherford’s volley after Kevin Roberts’ attempted shot cannoned towards the midfielder.

Earlier, boss Kinnear made one change to the side that beat Eastbourne in the FA Trophy last week.  Josh Passley returned in place of Ejiro Okosieme, who is injured.

The point sees Athletic rise one place to third in the table, three points behind current leaders Macclesfield Town.

Dover next host Maidstone on Tuesday 26th December.  Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

WREXHAM REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”235″ gal_title=”Wrexham v DAFC 23/12/2017″]

Wrexham

1Chris Dunn Goalkeeper
18Kevin Roberts Defender
4Manny Smith Defender
5Shaun Pearson Defender
3James Jennings Defender
16Marcus Kelly Midfielder
14Paul Rutherford Midfielder
8Sam Wedgbury Midfielder
10Chris Holroyd Forward
19Scott Boden Forward
11George Miller 9 Forward
2James Hurst Midfielder
7Jack Mackreth Midfielder
9Ntumba Massanka 11 Forward Miller 88'
13Mark Carrington Midfielder
17Christian Dibble Goalkeeper
  1

First Team Manager: Dean Keates

Dover Athletic

1Mitch Walker Goalkeeper
2Josh Passley 7 Defender
4Giancarlo Gallifuoco Defender
6Connor Essam 12 Defender
5Manny Parry Defender
3Femi Ilesanmi Defender
8Private: Mitch Brundle Midfielder
18Nortei Nortey Midfielder
25Anthony Jeffrey 23 Forward
11Mitchell Pinnock Forward
17Ryan Bird Forward
7Kane Richards 2 Forward Passley 84'
12Loui Fazakerley 6 Defender Essam 46'
19James Alabi Forward
23Kadell Daniel 25 Forward Jeffrey 65'
27Aziz Deen-Conteh Defender
  3

First Team Manager: Chris Kinnear

Substitutions
1
3
Goals
0
0
Assists
0
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Officials

RefereeReferee's AssistantsFourth Official
Thomas BramallDavid Hunt
Nik Storey
Richard Woodward

Ground

Racecourse Ground
Racecourse, Wrexham LL11 2AH, UK