Dover Athletic 1 Newport County 2
By Tom Howard
Dover Athletic slipped five points behind Blue Square South leaders Newport County after they were beaten by the welsh side in an enthralling game at Crabble.
County took the lead on the half hour through Craig Reid, but Dover were always in the game and levelled the scores shortly after half-time through Shaun Welford.
Reid struck again against the run of play mid-way through the second and despite a battling performance the Whites could not find a second equaliser to salvage a point.
Andy Hessenthaler made changes to his side, who beat Dorchester last week, by adopting an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Adam Birchall, Frannie Collin and Welford up front. There was no place in the side for Lee Brwoning as the midfield was made up of James Rogers, Nicky Southall and Tom Davis.
After a cagey start, it was Dover, who should have opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Welford burst down the right wing and crossed for the unmarked Birchall, but he side-footed his shot wide from six yards.
Four minutes later the Whites supporters thought their side had broken the deadlock. A Nicky Southall cross found Welford and his rebounded effort trickled over the line, but it was ruled out for offside.
The visitors Newport showed the Crabble faithful why they are top of the division, as they dominated the remainder of the half.
Three minutes after the half hour mark, Newport opened the scoring with an impressive finish from Craig Reid. The referee played an advantage for a foul by Tom Davis on Scott Rogers and the ball found Charlie Henry. The midfielder passed to Reid, who cut inside the full back and chipped goalkeeper Dave Wilkinson.
Dover responded, but efforts from Matt Fish and Tom Davis both sailed over Newport goalkeeper Glyn Thompson’s cross bar as the half ended.
The Whites started the second half with renewed vigour and they penned Newport in their own half.
Hessenthaler’s side came close to an equaliser on 52 minutes through Welford. Fish surged down the right wing and crossed for the striker and his header went over the bar.
Dover’s attacks were relentless and on 59 minutes they managed to break through the Newport defence and scored a deserved equaliser. Fish floated a cross into the area and Welford stabbed the ball past Thompson to the delight of the home supporters.
However, the Welsh side regrouped and on 73 minutes they regained the lead against the run of play. Danny Rose passed to Reid on the edge of the area and Reid fired an unstoppable volley passed Wilkinson.
With 20 minutes remaining, Dover piled the pressure on the Newport defence in search of another equaliser.
The Whites kept pushing right up until the whitsle and had chances from Southall and Davis right at the death, but could not find the back of the net.
Dover’s fourth consecutive home defeat leaves the Whites five points adrift of Newport in second place. Hessenthaler’s side are back in action next Saturday with a trip to Weston-super-Mare.
Attendance: 1,680
Dover Athletic: Dave Wilkinson, Matt Fish, Dean Hill, Jake Leberl, Tom Wynter, Nicky Southall, Tom Davis, James Rogers ( Jerahl Hughes 80 mins) ( Lee Browning 90 mins). Shaun Welford, Frannie Collin, Adam Birchall
Subs not used: Danny Walder, Sam Gore, Lee Hook
Newport County: Glyn Thompson, Paul Bignot, Garry Warren, Alton Thelwell, Jamie Collins, Kerry Morgan, Wayne Turk, Scott Rogers ( Ashan Holgate 86 mins) ( Paul Cochlin 93 mins), Danny Rose, Craig Reid, Charlie Henry ( Sam Foley 53 mins)
Subs not used: Martyn Giles, Keiran Blackburn
POSTED: 07/11/2009 19:52:01
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