WHITES WIN BUT MISS OUT ON PLAY-OFFS

WOKING 1-2 DOVER

(Carter 38)

(Gallifouco 26), (Marsh-Brown 90)

DOVER missed out on the top seven by goal difference despite Keanu Marsh-Brown’s injury time winner.

The substitute fired in Anthony Jeffrey’s pass to confirm Woking’s relegation to the National South, but the three points were not enough as Dover finished the season eighth in the table.

In a game the hosts needed to win to stand a chance of avoiding relegation, Chris Kinnear’s men had taken the lead through Giancarlo Gallifuoco, but Woking were level shortly before half time through Charlie Carter.

Earlier, Kevin Lokko headed a corner goalwards, with the defender’s shot was blocked and Nortei Nortey’s follow up from the edge of the area was easily dealt with by home stopper Nathan Baxter.

And only a stunning save from Mitch Walker kept the scoreline level.

The stopper flung himself across his goal to deny Carter from a yard out following some pinball in the penalty area.

Mitch Pinnock then tried to chip Baxter from range, but was off target.

19 year-old Baxter tipped away Mitch Brundle’s curling 20-yarder, but there was nothing the Cards keeper could do from the following corner.

Australian Gallifuoco took advantage of hesitant home defending to nod the ball into the bottom corner.

Carter and Reece Grego-Cox went close for Woking, both shooting off target when well placed.

But midfielder Carter did restore parity on 38 minutes.

The 21-year old fired in at the second attempt after Grego-Cox escaped out wide and fired in a ball to his teammate.

Josh Staunton almost gave the hosts a lead, forcing Walker to tip over his header.

And Dover supporter’s player of the season then denied Cook following Parry’s misjudgement and Carter was denied by the woodwork from the resulting corner.

Woking’s goalscorer rose high to meet a corner, but saw his header bounce off the underside off the bar and down onto the goalline.

Following the restart, Joey Jones blazed well over after bursting forward from the back.

Walker then tipped away Grego-Cox’s teasing cross and Staunton’s bullet header fizzed wide from a corner

Pinnock’s right-footed effort from the edge of the area sailed into the stand, whilst at the other end Carter could only slide Grego-Cox’s ball wide and Staunton blocked Pinnock’s fierce drive.

And with time running out, Kevin Lokko almost grabbed a winner.

The big defender met sub Keanu-Marsh-Brown’s cross, but the ball curled agonisingly past the angle of post and bar.

And Baxter frustrated the visitors once more, tipping away Jeffrey’s low drive in a frantic finish.

But Marsh-Brown and Dover had the final say in a game were both sides ended up being disappointed come the final whistle.

Earlier, boss Kinnear named the same line-up that started in last week’s 3-2 win against Gateshead.

Woking:  Baxter, Ramsay, Ralph, Wynter, Staunton, Jones (Theophanous), Isaac (c) Bawling 80), Ferdinand, Cook (Charles-Cook 74), Carter, Grego-Cox.

Subs not used:  Orlu, Theophanous, Mason.

Dover:  Walker, Gallifuoco, Ilesanmi, Parry (Bellamy 45), Essam, Lokko, Brundle (c), Nortey (Marsh-Brown 66), Pinnock, Bird (Azeez 45), Jeffrey.

Subs not used:  Passley, Daniel.

Attendance:  2,593