Bill Robinson reports from The Crabble Stadium………..
Dover Ath 1 Thurrock 0
A twentieth minute penalty was all that divided the two teams, but neither manager will be 100% happy with their team’s performance. Chances were created by both sides but it never looked like being a match full of goals.
Thurrock are now without a league win in six attempts and although there was some positive signs it must be a worrying time for the Fleet management team.
The penalty came when Aaron Waters lost possession to Harry Baker just inside his own half, Baker ran at speed though the Thurrock midfield and was only stopped inside the penalty area by Rob Swaine illegally, there was little protest from the Thurrock players when referee Mr Phil Knight pointed to the spot.
Adam Birchall stepped up to take the spot kick and despite going the right way keeper Andre Charles-Foster was beaten as the ball creped in at his right hand post.
The game was being played end to end but it was the attacks rather than the defences that lacked the initiative or creativity to penetrate.
HT 1-0
Inside the first two minutes of the restart Thurrock produced to good chances, first Leon Lalite struck a shot that was deflected away for a corner, then another run by Matt Bodkin and together with Leon Lalite produced another corner. From the kick the tall figure of Paul Olima rose to head the ball just wide.
Dover then had a purple patch and came close on more than one occasion to adding to the score line. Joe Tabiri made a run into the box before firing inches over the bar, both Baker and Birchall had the Thurrock back four scrambling about and it was Kenny Clark who cleared the efforts of the line.
Just after the hour Thurrock Manager made some tactical substitutions, Aaron Waters and Reiss Gilbey were replaced by Lee Roache and Michael Bakare. The changes did help as Thurrock started pushing forward looking for the elusive equaliser.
On 74 minutes Leon Lalite made a run down the left passing the ball inside for Lee Roache who struck a firm shot that was saved by Ross Flitney but the ball ran loose and Paul Olima tried to flick a shot towards goal but just couldn’t get enough power behind it to make it pay, that was the nearest Thurrock came to scoring.
On 77 minutes Paul Olima was replaced by Florin Pelecaci making his Thurrock debut, with The Fleet charging forward there was always a danger of being caught out at the back, on one such occasion Dovers Nicky Nicolau smashed the ball against the post.
On the final whistle the three points went to Dover and for Thurrock another defeat and with only just three points gained they drop into the bottom three of the table.
