Dover were condemned to the foot of the table at Kingfield on Tuesday night when nothing went their way and they were beaten fairly comfortably by a Woking side that looked impressive but were slightly flattered by the margin of their victory. The match followed a similar pattern to Dover's last trip to Woking, a game which they lost 4-1.

Gary Bellamy kept faith with the side that were narrowly beaten at Morecambe on Saturday as the Whites chased their first away points since April. This meant no place in the starting line-up for goalkeeper Paul Hyde and another start in midfield for the impressive Chris Allen.

As they had done on their previous visit to Kingfield, the Whites started brightly and looked the more dangerous side in the opening stages with Chris Allen the biggest cause for concern for the home defence.

However, it was the Cards that took the lead when Perkins, who very nearly signed for the Whites last month, hit a low shot from outside the area that beat Smith.

Woking were soon 2-0 up when Lee Shearer played himself into trouble in the area and then fouled Sharpling in an attempt to retrieve the situation. Phil Smith dived the right way but was unable to get a touch on Patmore's well taken spot-kick.

Dover would have pulled a goal back before half-time but for an outstanding save by Tony Tucker in the Woking goal. Keith Scott's downward header back across the goal seemed certain to find the bottom corner but Tucker reacted instinctively to dive and get the faintest touch to divert the ball just wide of the post.

At the start of the second period Dover again went close to reducing the defecit and were again foiled by Tucker. This time it was Tommy Tyne with Dover's effort, a shot from inside the six-yard box that somehow Tucker got in the way of.

Any hope of an Athletic fight-back evaporated moments later when Woking put the result beyond doubt with a lucky goal. Colin Vowden was left for dead by Chris Sharpling who hit a shot that was going well wide until it hit the retreating Matt Carruthers and flew into the net.

By this time Woking were enjoying themselves and knocking the ball around neatly in midfield and, despite the hard work of Neil Le Bihan and Chris Allen, they were dominating the middle of the park.

Typically, it was John Elliott who provided Dover's best second-half attempts on goal. His curling lob from outside the box beat Tucker but landed on the crossbar, then later another effort from a similar range went six inches wide of Tucker's lefthand post.

Dover's miserable evening was completed in injury time when Woking scored their fourth from the best move of the match. Several passes were exchanged before Piper's cross found Sharpling. His shot was saved by Phil Smith but Patmore reacted first to grab his second of the night. Tommy Tyne was dismissed for a second bookable offence before the final whistle blew to end another Kingfield nightmare.

[ Home ]