Goal-scorers Joff Vansittart and Simon Beard cause more aerial trouble for Morecambe's defence.
| Nationwide Conference Saturday 14 October 2000 Crabble Athletic Ground | ||
| Dover Athletic | 2 - 2 | Morecambe |
|---|---|---|
| Beard (35), Vansittart (63) | Att: 847 | Black (20), Thompson (82) |
| Dover Team: Hyde, Munday, Norman, Browne, Shearer, Beard (Strouts 46), Darcy, Hogg (Pinnock 46), Vansittart, Brown (Carruthers 84), McRobert |
| Substitutes Not Used: Moore, Hudson |
| DAFC Website Man-Of-The-Match: Paul Hyde |
| Dover Players Booked: Browne |
| Dover Players Sent Off: None |
Dover earned a point at home to Morecambe with a disappointing and scrappy performance. They could have taken all three as they lead with less than 10 minutes to go, but if they had it would have been unfair on a Morecambe side that looked the more dangerous of the two teams for most of the match.
Dover's cause was not helped by the absence of key players. Dave Clarke, Jake Leberl and James Virgo are all still some way off a return to full first team action, and the team was further weakened by the absence of Neil Le Bihan, the only Dover player who has looked convincing in midfield this season, through flu. Steve Brown and Lee Shearer had also been ill this week but they were passed fit to start. There were also starts for Lee McRobert and Tony Browne as well as Joff Vansittart who had been suffering with an ankle injury.
Dover started brightly but Morecambe came back at them and took the lead after 20 minutes. The ball rebounded off Shearer and Eastwood crossed for Ryan Zico Black to hook the ball into the net from close range, via the underside of the bar.
Morecambe's inability to defend corners was to cost them this afternoon though, and Dover levelled the scores on 36 minutes. In Matt Carruthers' absence, Steve Brown assumed the corner-taking responsibility and his cross was met by the faintest of touches by Vansittart at the near post and was thumped over the line by the head of unmarked centre-back Simon Beard, his second goal for Dover and his first ever in the Conference.
The Whites did enough to keep Morecambe out for most of the rest of the game, with some considerable help from some poor finishing from the Northerners.
On 63 minutes Dover took the lead against the run of play. Good work from Tony Browne down the right forced a corner and once more Morecambe were unable to defend it. Steve Norman's cross from the Dover right was dropped by keeper Smith and Joff Vansittart bundled the ball over the line for his fifth goal of the season.
Dover lacked shape and balance but it appeared they might hold on for all three points. However Morecambe got a deserved equaliser eight minutes from time when Thompson headed home Fensome's cross.
