Tonbridge Angels 2 Dover Athletic 1
Dover suffered their first away defeat of 2012 in their final
game of the year, a 2-1 derby defeat at 10-man Tonbridge Angels on
Boxing Day.
Looking to go top of Blue Square Bet South, Dover fell 2-0
behind and, although Ben May, pictured, pulled one back
four minutes from time to set up a frantic finale, Whites suffered
their first away league reverse since a 1-0 loss at Dartford
on December 3, 2011 - a run of 21 games.
Angels ended a run of three straight defeats after taking the
lead against the run of play on 21 minutes through Sonny Miles.
Miles lashed home a rebound amid a goalmouth
scramble from a Rory Hill corner.
Keeper Lee Worgan was the star for Angels, denying Ricky Modeste
early on and May soon after the opening goal, while ex-Dover man
Ollie Schulz headed over and former Whites Frannie Collin and Mark
Lovell also went close to adding to the Angels tally.
Another former Dover man, George Purcell, quietened the visiting
fans with a second on 65 minutes, latching on to Lovell's flick and
prodding past Whites keeper Lee Hook.
Chris Sessegnon denied Tonbridge a third, blocking Lee
Browning's drive, before the hosts were reduced to 10 on 76 minutes
when Henry Muggeridge saw red after picking up cautions for
handball and time wasting.
Sub Calum Willock had already seen a goal ruled out for offside
when May's 12th goal of the season gave Whites hope, rifling home
the loose ball after Worgan blocked a Dean Rance drive, but soon
after Worgan made amends with a fine diving save to deny Willock a
dramatic equaliser.
The two teams meet in the rematch at Crabble on New Year's Day,
though Tonbridge - who rose six places to 12th - will first
host Bromley on Saturday.
27/12/12
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