Dover Athletic must wait to secure their place in the Vanarama National League play-offs after a pulsating 1-1 draw against Grimsby Town at Crabble.

Infront of a crowd of almost 2,000 third-placed Dover fell behind early-on when they conceded a penalty while temporarily down to 10-men through injury, however Jack Parkinson headed them level 10 minutes into the second-half and the hosts spurned several good chances to win it.

The point apiece left Whites two ahead of Grimsby and five clear of sixth-placed Eastleigh - who both have a game in hand.

Town began with leading scorer and dangerman Padraig Amond on the bench after a knock in midweek while Liam Bellamy came in for the suspended Richard Orlu in Chris Kinnear's only change, with Connor Essam reverting to centre-back.

After a cagey start the visitors broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Omar Bogle sent Mitch Walker the wrong way from the spot after Ricky Miller had bundled over Evan Horwood in the box.

The attack had come down the left flank and Whites were left to rue Ricky Modeste being in the dressing room receiving treatment for a facial injury at the time after an aerial challenge moments before.

It might have been 2-0 five minutes later when Jon Nolan jinked his way past two defenders and drew a low save from Mitch Walker, with Bogle screaming for a square pass yards away.

Dover began to get a foothold in the game with Miller sending a dipping volley straight at McKeown from 20 yards and seeing appeals for a penalty waved away.

The subsequent corner on 39 minutes did however see Jack Parkinson's goalbound effort scrambled behind, while Connor Essam's flick from the third straight corner was stabbed over the bar by Liam Bellamy.

Seconds later Nicky Deverdics saw a stinging drive destined for the bottom corner deflected wide and then drew a stunning save with a swirling left-foot volley across goal which the keeper flung himself to his left to claw away, and then smothered the close-range follow-up from Sean Raggett.

Despite their period of dominance Dover could not find a goal before the break, though moments after the restart Deverdics clipped the bar with an inswinging corner.

Andy Monkhouse saw a low drive deflected wide at the other end before Walker superbly denied Bogle's acrobatic volley, while Jon-Paul Pittman somehow fired the rebound into the post from three yards.

Crabble erupted 10 minutes into the second half when Parkinson rose highest to head down a delicious Deverdics free-kick from the right flank into the bottom corner.

Horwood slotted Bogle through at the other end moments later, only for Walker to rush out to block low down.

Midway through the half Payne and Miller combined superbly to see Miler drive into the box and fire in a drive which was tipped-over and soon after Deverdics' free-kick, destined for the top-corner, was glanced over his own bar by Monkhouse.

Deverdics continued his quest for a goal with a thunderous strike off the inside of the post nine minutes from time, while sub Jamie Grimes' headed follow-up was blocked, though appeals for handball were dismissed.

Bellamy blazed over from 12 yards with the goal gaping but Bogle went even closer at the other end with three minutes remaining, seeing his cross from the byline deflected across the face of goal.

Three minutes into stoppage-time sub Tyrone Marsh swung a cross across the face of goal which led to a series of corners from one of which Marsh stung the palms of McKeown after cutting in from the left, however the hosts could not find a winner they arguably deserved.

The point ensures Dover can finish no lower than sixth, but they need one win from their final two games to ensure a play-off place.

Dover: Walker, Magri, Raggett (Grimes 76mins), Modeste (Marsh 60mins), Bellamy, Miller, Deverdics, Parkinson, Payne, Braham-Barrett, Essam. Subs not used: Ofori-Acheampong, Grimes, Sterling, Rafferty.

Grimsby: McKeown, Tait, Gowling, Disley, Bogle, Monkhouse, Clay, Pittman (East 84mins), Nsiala, Nolan, Horwood. Subs not used: Robertson, Pearson, Amond, Jennings.

Attendance: 1,957.