Report

A late winner from Toby Edser denied 10-man Dover a point against top-of-the-table Woking at Crabble on Bank Holiday Monday.

The midfielder curled in with just two minutes of normal time remaining as Andy Hessenthaler’s men suffered back-to-back home defeats.

With Kurtis Cumberbatch given his marching orders for two successive yellow cards, Whites stunned the eleven men by taking the lead through Ricky Modeste, only to be pegged back by Jake Hyde’s header before the break.

Earlier, Dave Tarpey latched onto Hyde’s Flick to sprint clear of the Dover defence, but home keeper Lee Worgan was able to get the merest touch to divert the ball away for a corner.

In soaring temperatures, Athletic’s task was made tougher when Cumberbatch received two yellow cards in quick succession, following a rash tackle on Tarpey and then an altercation with Shaun Donnellan.

That didn’t stop the 10-men taking the lead midway through the first half.

Michael Woods slipped in Nassim L’Ghoul and the Frenchman’s slid the ball across the face of goal for Modeste to tap in.

Manny Parry flashed a header wide for the visitors but the away side levelled thanks to a striker in form.

Hyde made it four goals in his last three games when he powerfully headed in Tarpey’s cross.

Hyde was almost at it again moments later as he went one-on-one with Worgan, however, Will De Havilland came to the home team’s rescue with an excellent last-ditch challenge.

Hyde almost gave his side the lead on the stroke of half-time.  The striker’s initial shot was well blocked by Kevin Lokko and the rebound was fired straight at Worgan.

Following the restart, Tyreke Johnson’s cross was nodded goalwards by Hyde, only to be plucked out of the air by the alert Worgan.

Johnson blasted into the side netting from the edge of the box and Woods could only slam his cross into the grateful arms of visiting keeper Craig Ross after being set free by substitute Jai Reason.

Reason then went for goal himself, skewing fellow sub Inih Effiong’s pass off target.

However, the visitors grabbed the winner with time running out when Edser curled in a delightful shot past Worgan’s despairing dive.

Ibrahim Meite almost sealed the win, but couldn’t beat Worgan at the crucial moment.  However, it was no matter as Alan Dowson’s Cards retained their spot at the top of the National League.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that started the 2-1 win at Sutton on Saturday. Gobern, Munns, Pavey and L’Ghoul came in for Jai Reason, Steven Rigg, Aaron Simpson and Inih Effiong.

Whites next travel to Harrogate Town on Saturday 31st August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

WOKING REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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