Stuart Munday and Lee Shearer were instrumental in denying Doncaster's forwards.
| Nationwide Football Conference - Saturday 22 April 2000 - Belle Vue | ||
| Doncaster Rovers | 0 - 1 | Dover Athletic |
|---|---|---|
| Att: 1976 | Le Bihan (22) | |
| Dover Team: Hyde, Munday, Norman, Leberl, Shearer, Beard (Strouts 86), D.Clarke, Browne, Vansittart, Brown, Le Bihan |
| Substitutes Not Used: Hynes, Virgo |
| Booked: Leberl |
| Sent Off: D.Clarke |
| DAFC Website Man-Of-The-Match: Lee Shearer |
Despite finishing the game with 10 men, Dover held out to snatch three points against Doncaster with an excellent defensive performance. The Whites were under pressure for most of the match in an encounter that was reminiscent of the Trophy battle between these two sides in February.
The story of the match is best told by the statistics. Doncaster had 22 attempts on goal to Dover's three. But, as has been said many times in football, it's the ones you put away that count, and the only statistic that mattered in the end was the scoreline, no goals to Rovers and one for Athletic. It was a combination of wasteful finishing and excellent defending that kept Paul Hyde's cleansheet intact and left Rovers glancing nervously at the relegation zone.
Bill Williams kept faith with the side that earned a point at Crabble on Tuesday, with Tony Browne continuing on the righthand side.
Rovers started brightly and went close after just 3 minutes through Penney's 20-yard effort after good work from Atkins and Campbell. Glenn Kirkwood headed over a minute later and then put a volley wide after six minutes. Doncaster went close again in the 8th minute, Barnard's well-hit shot went just inches over.
Veteran winger Tommy Wright forced Paul Hyde into a full-stretch save following a skilfull move on the edge of the area.
Despite all the pressure from Rovers, it was Athletic who took the lead in the 22nd minute. Tony Browne's cross from the right was met by a spectacular volley from Neil Le Bihan. It was the ex-Peterborough man's second goal of the season and equalled Dover's highest ever goals tally in the Conference.
Doncaster responded with more chances. Campbell had a shot blocked and Kirkwood's follow-up was cleared off the line.
Le Bihan could have grabbed a second on 33 minutes but lost his footing on the edge of the box.
After the interval Dover had another chance to double their lead but Joff Vansittart failed to connect with an inviting chance that had been set-up for him by Lee Shearer.
For the rest of the game Doncaster piled on relentless pressure but their efforts when unrewarded, thanks largely to a magnificent performance at the back by Lee Shearer in one of his best games for Dover.
Minett went close for Rovers in the 76th minute but was denied by a fine save from Hyde. Campbell's follow-up was hit over the bar.
Athletic were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Dave Clarke was shown a straight red card seven minutes from time for kicking out at Ian Duerden following a foul on the Dover player. It was Clarke's third dismissal of the season. Despite their numerical disadvantage and seven minutes of added time, the Whites held out for an excellent win and in the process exceeded their highest ever points total for a Conference season.
