Dag & Red Tony Roberts Lee Goodwin Ashley Vickers Mark Smith Dean Hooper Paul Terry Steve McGavin Steve Heffer Ken Charlery Junior McDougald Jason Broom Substitutes Danny Hayzelden Mark Rooney Danny Shipp Mark Brennan Paul Gothard

Goals McGavin   Stats 12 Goal Attempts 7 3 On Target 2 8 Off Target 4 1 Hit Woodwork 1 5 Corners 7 Cards Yellow Vickers Strouts Red None Carruthers

Dover Paul Hyde Steve Norman Darren Davies Kevin Seabury Tony Browne Scott Ramsey Leon Kelly Jake Leberl Jimmy Strouts Keith Scott Jimmy Aggrey Substitutes Phil Stant Jamie Day Christian James Matt Carruthers Phil Smith

The Daggers rested Stein, Jones, Hill, Shipp and West from the team that played at Yeovil, disjointing the team, and Vickers, Charlery, McGavin and Broom came into the side. The Daggers still could not find the key to a good home performance, although in the first half they did create many chances without playing particularly good football. Dover started with numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11 at the back, which included top scorer Keith Scott and midfielder Strouts.

The Daggers started quickly and carved out a chance within seconds. Broom crossed from the left, Charlery flicked it on, and Terry came in and stooped to head wide of the goal from 8 yards. McGavin hit a shot from 20 yards with his left foot that forced Hyde into a save early on as well. The Daggers had an early penalty appeal when Hyde rushed out of his goal and flattened Charlery, and he ended up hurting himself more than Charlery, the penalty not given.

Dean Hooper had a great chance on 13 minutes. McDougald chased a long ball, and as Aggrey tried to shepherd it out, he stole the ball and passed to McGavin. He then brushed off a challenge and pulled it back for Hooper to smash against the bar from 10 yards. McDougald had a good chance when he was put through on the edge of the box but didn't take the ball on and scuffed the shot wide with his left foot.

Jason Broom hit a shot straight at the keeper after he cut in from the left wing, but still most of the Daggers shooting was off target. Heffer, Terry, and McGavin all cleared the netting behind the goal with shots that were about 20 feet over.

The Daggers were virtually camped in Dover's half for the first period, although Aggrey did head over from a corner for the away side. The Daggers still had more chances though, and two fell to Charlery. The first came after a neat chest down, swivel and volley that Hyde saved relatively easily, and another as he slid onto a cross but put it wide. The Daggers did break the deadlock befre the break though.

Aggrey attempted a clearance as McGavin closed him down, but he only succeeded in smashing into McGavin's midriff, and the midfielder, getting a rare start, went on and slotted the ball past the keeper.

The second half was devoid of any goalmouth action as far as home attacks were concerned, but at the other end the Daggers could easily have let the game slip. Up until the last 20 minutes there was little action, but then the game exploded into life.

Tony Roberts had to make a good save as Vickers chased a long ball back. Roberts had positioned himself to receive the backpass, but Vickers was beaten to the ball by Kelly who slammed it goalwards from an acute angle, and Roberts had to stretch to tip it onto the bar and out for a corner.

Within a couple of minutes, Roberts was involved again. As Ramsey chased another long ball, Roberts came out to get it as well. Roberts made the challenge and flattened Ramsey, the penalty was given but Roberts stayed on as the ball was probably going out, defenders had got back to cover and it was an acute angle to score from. Roberts got up, so did Ramsey to take the kick, but Roberts went to his left and pushed away the penalty.

Dover started to concede more fouls as the half went on and their frustration mounted, and Carruthers went several steps further and got himself sent off. As Smith dribbled out from the back, Carruthers came in with an awful high tackle from behind, and was given his marching orders, but not before a brawl in which Hyde ran half the length of the pitch to get involved in.

In fact, Hyde spent a fair amount of time outside his box when the ball was out of play, remonstrating with officials at every opportunity. He was also in possession of the ball for much of the game, mostly because he was holding the ball for up to 15 seconds at times, and also taking forever over his goal kicks when it was still 0-0.

Despite the red card, Dover kept going and had some decent efforts on goal, including a long shot that went over, a header that went wide and a shot that Roberts easily saved. But they could have snatched a point at the death as they broke and powered a shot across goal that threatened the far top corner, but went wide.