Report

DOVER failed to score at Crabble for the first time this season after being held to a scoreless draw by Solihull Moors on Saturday.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side remain fifth in the National League with the point but will have to do without striker Ricky Miller for two games now after he was booked for the 10^th time in this campaign.

The National League’s top-scorer cut a frustrated figure as the game wore on and was booked for dissent with seven minutes to go.

And it wasn’t Miller who had Dover’s first effort on goal – it was defender Richard Orlu.

But his long-range effort sailed well over the bar of Nathan Baxter’s goal.

The young on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper showed good hands soon after, claiming a dangerous cross from Nicky Deverdics.

Ashley Sammons tried his luck from range for the visitors, with his effort whistling wide of Steve Arnold’s goal before Joel Kettle headed wide from a free-kick.

Another Deverdics cross was headed wide by Dover captain Jamie Grimes before Joe Healy saw his shot miss the target after his initial effort rebounded back to him off Shepherd Murombedzi

Baxter made his first of the day just after the half-hour mark, tipping Miller’s shot over.

Ricky Modeste then forced Baxter to scramble backwards to stop his cross dropping in.

Baxter was certainly the busier of the goalkeepers and he saved Aswad Thomas’ close-range shot with his legs following another dangerous cross from Deverdics just before half-time.

Ross Lafayette wasted little time in searching for an opener after the break, seeing his shot fly not far wide three minutes after the restart.

Sammons shot was comfortably saved by Arnold before Miller had a penalty claim waved away after he went down.

Grimes’ pass set Miller free, but the National League’s top scorer was unable to take the ball in his stride and Solihull captain Liam Daly cleared the danger.

Lafayette, who is searching for his first goal since the 4-1 win at Maidstone on New Year’s Day, almost ended that drought in stoppage time.

Baxter palmed his towering header over to deny the hard-working frontman.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”185″ gal_title=”DAFC v Solihull Moors 04/03/17″]