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Dover Athletic v Welling United abandoned after 69 minutes (0-0) match report

Dover's National League clash with Welling was abandoned after 69 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday.

Water started to settle in most areas of the pitch during the second half, as heavy rain continued to fall at Crabble.

Referee Craig Hicks consulted both captains, the fourth official and then both managers before finally calling the game off with the match poised at 0-0.

Ricky Miller runs at the Welling defence. Picture: Tony Flashman
Ricky Miller runs at the Welling defence. Picture: Tony Flashman

Welling, beaten 2-1 by Whites in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, had the better of this encounter and should have been out of sight by half-time.

But Loui Fazakerley's goalshy team provided many examples of just why they are the lowest scorers in the division.

After six minutes, the recalled Sahr Kabba saw his deflected right-foot shot turned onto the post and the loose ball was cleared off the line.

Ben Jefford's free-kick four minutes later was then headed well wide by the unmarked Ricky Wellard from close range.

Welling had another change go begging four minutes later when Wellard's shot was parried and Kabba put the rebound wide when he should have scored.

Whites keeper Andy Rafferty did well in the testing conditions and he produced an outstanding one-handed save to turn behind George Porter's close-range header from Wellard's centre.

Dover's Aswad Thomas is tackled by Welling's Reece Harris. Picture: Tony Flashman
Dover's Aswad Thomas is tackled by Welling's Reece Harris. Picture: Tony Flashman

Dover responded before half-time, Toby Ajala took advantage of some indecision in the Wings defence but saw his shot cleared off the line before Ricky Miller's close-range effort was deflected wide of the far post on the stroke of half-time.

Rain continued to fall during the interval and water was visible outside one penalty area when the second half got under way.

Welling continued where they left off as the outstanding Kabba played in Porter, whose low shot was well saved by Rafferty.

Ricky Modeste shot wide from the edge of the area but the game soon started to lose quality as the ball stopped rolling on the surface.

Referee Hicks had seen enough midway through the second half and after two minutes to consult those around him, he took the teams off - with both managers saying it was the right decision afterwards.

Dover: Rafferty, Magri, Raggett, Orlu, Modeste (Murphy 59mins), Miller, Sterling, Deverdics, Parkinson, Thomas, Ajala. Subs not used: Diallo, Grimes, Ofori-Acheampong, Pinnock.

Welling: McEntegart, Jefford, Osborne, Chambers, Porter, Kabba, Wellard, Corne, Harris, Wellard, Vidal. Subs not used: St.Aimie, Gagliardi, Nortey, Taylor, Bakare.

Attendance: 1,036.

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