SALISBURY CITY 0 DOVER 0

By KEVIN HARRIS

Whites picked up a vital point after a very hard working performance kept the scores level, especially when their goal came under threat towards the end of the match. However, this was a match that the Whites probably edged, and so will be slightly disappointed that they were unable to put away the number of chances that came their way, especially after a strong first half performance.

The side was very similar to the one that was unlucky to lose at Worthing the week before. Dean Readings had to be replaced in defence as he was suspended, which meant that Rob Smidmore was given a rare chance to shine in the left back role.

Whites started the game brightly, and with only two minutes on the clock, a long ball forward fell to Craig Wilkins. He lobbed the keeper, but the ball unfortunately fell just wide of the far post. Then, only five minutes later, Skelton crossed from the right touchline, and Smissen headed marginally wide, as the Whites took control of the game.

These near misses seemed to create confidence in the side, and more chances were created. Smissen was having a good game, and shot wide from a Wilkins pass. He then had one of the chances of the match after 26 minutes. A long throw from Cloke was cleared back to the defender, who headed the ball into the 6-yard box. Smissen flicked the ball goalwards, but keeper Arron Hedges made a fine point blank save to deny him.

Wilkins had another chance when he headed a Lee Scott corner over, before Salisbury made their first chance. Sam Vallance was down injured, leaving a gap in the centre of the defence, and as Craig Davis broke away down the right wing, Sean Cook was free in the centre. However, although he had loads of time, he snatched at the shot, and sliced it wide.

This woke the home side up, and they could have taken an undeserved lead just before halftime. Glenn Howes found himself free in the area, but miss hit his shot, which failed to trouble Kevin Readings. Then Scott Bartlett crossed from the right, and Sean Cook, free at the near post, saw his shot well saved by the Dover keeper.

A bit of fortune almost gave the Whites the lead that they deserved, moments before the interval. Lee Scott’s inswinging corner got some extra force from the strong driving wind, and it evaded everyone in the box and hit the face of the bar.

As the teams went in at halftime level, Salisbury were probably the happier as they had weathered the storm from the Whites, but it was the home side who had the better of the second period. Ten minutes in, Robbie Matthews was put through, but his lob went just over the bar when he should have scored.

The introduction of Leigh Phillips with twenty minutes to go almost had an immediate effect. He ran straight from the bench into the area for the awaiting corner, and his first touch was a well-directed header that Kevin Readings did well to save.

Whites were not out of the game though, and Wilkins went close to breaking the deadlock. He headed a Lee Scott corner inches wide, before the best chance of the match fell to Chris Wright. The ball was played through from midfield to the young striker, and he outmuscled the defender to get his shot on target, but the keeper got a touch on it to tip it wide.

Just as the Whites were unlucky not to take the lead, they almost sacrificed the well-earned point when Salisbury put the goal under sustained pressure in the final minutes. Scott Bartlett volleyed marginally over, and then Kevin Readings was forced to save a strong free kick, and the rebound as well, which fell to Leigh Phillips.

Dover keeper Readings excelled himself in the final ten minutes, when he came to the rescue again. He made a great one-handed tip over from Glenn Howes, and then when a Nick Humphrey backwards header hit the bar, he saved the rebound as well.

However, the game remained a draw, which was probably the fairest result. Whites had the better of the first half, whilst the home side had the chances in the second period, which probably had a lot to do with the strong wind that was forcing the ball one way. But there were a lot of positives that Gary Whittle can take from the game, as a number of chances were created throughout the game, and once our strikers get their confidence back we should be able to turn these chances into goals, and subsequently points.

Salisbury City:
Arron Hedges, Scott Bartlett, Mark Lisk, Aaron Cook, Andy Cook, Mat Davies, Glenn Howes, Craig Davis, Robbie Matthews, Sean Cook (Leigh Phillips, 71mins), Matt Holmes (Wayne Turk, 51mins).
Subs:
Wayne Turk, Leigh Phillips.

Dover Athletic:
Kevin Readings, Lee Scott, Rob Smidmore, Nick Humphrey, Craig Cloke, Sam Vallance, Kevin Lott (Tom Hickman, 79mins), Shane Hamshare, Craig Wilkins, Dale Skelton, Michael Smissen (Chris Wright, 61mins).
Subs:
Tom Hickman, Dave Clifford, Chris Wright, Gary Wood, Pat Mullin.
Bookings:
Nick Humphrey (85mins)