Report

DOVER ended a 378-minute goal drought and three-game winless run after beating Kent rivals Bromley at Crabble on Saturday.

Midfielder Joe Healy’s scrappy 60th-minute goal was enough to secure the double over Bromley and a vital three points for boss Chris Kinnear’s side, who remain sixth on the National League ladder.

Dover needed to respond following Tuesday’s 5-0 loss at Boreham Wood, but it was a slow start to the game.

It wasn’t until the 16^th minute that there was an attempt on either goal – and it came from Dover after Ricky Modeste hit James Hurst’s cross well over former Dover goalkeeper Ross Flitney’s bar.

Flitney made his first save of the day moments later, pushing Moses Emmanuel’s shot onto the post after the winger had jinked his way past two defenders.

Emmanuel was proving to be a threat to his former club and saw an attempted lob and header both go over Flitney’s bar.

Recalled Dover goalkeeper Mitch Walker made his first real save of the day just after the half-hour mark when he came a long way to claim Alan Dunne’s free-kick.

The next chance to break the stalemate fell to Connor Essam two minutes after half-time, but the big defender headed Healy’s corner wide.

Flitney kept out Ross Lafayette’s half volley before that man Emmanuel headed the rebound over.

Dover continued to press and a Bromley clearance cannoned into Modeste and ended up going inches wide before the visitors replied with Louis Dennis’ 20-yarder going just wide of Walker’s goal.

Walker’s counterpart Flitney produced a superb save to keep out Healy’s powerful strike from distance but he couldn’t deny the midfielder on the hour mark.

Flitney failed to deal with Modeste’s cross and Healy was there to scramble the ball home, later saying it had come off his heel.

Emmanuel went close to doubling the lead four minutes later, seeing his curling effort beat Flitney and his goal by inches.

Match-winner Healy saved his side at the other end five minutes from time, heading Dunn’s header off the line before Lafayette saw a shot deflected wide in the closing minutes.

But there was still time for more drama with Dover substitute Aswad Thomas shown a second yellow for dissent after the full-time whistle.

Earlier, Thomas was one of three changes Kinnear made to his starting side with Walker, Sterling and Hurst all coming in to replace Steve Arnold, Thomas and Bondz N’Gala.

N’Gala missed the game through personal reasons.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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