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Dover Athletic 1 Woking 0 FA Trophy third round replay match report

Dover reached the last eight of the FA Trophy for the first time since 1998 after beating Vanarama Conference rivals Woking 1-0 in the third round replay at Crabble on Tuesday.

minute.Midfielder Nicky Deverdics scored the all-important goal with a stunning 25-yard free kick in the 60

Deverdics said of his goal: "I knew I'd caught it sweet but not that sweet."

The reward for manager Chris Kinnear’s side is a home clash, Whites first of their FA Trophy campaign, against Conference South side Bath City on February 7.

Nicky Deverdics scored Dover's first goal of the season
Nicky Deverdics scored Dover's first goal of the season

Dover beat Bath three times last season, doing the double in the league and also beating them in the FA Trophy.

But it was Woking who started the replay the better side, just liked they did in the 3-3 draw at Kingfield on Saturday.

And the Crabble faithful had to wait until 25 minutes in before their side created an opening when Stefan Payne shot wide after Barry Cogan's effort had been saved by goalkeeper Jake Cole.

Cole then saved from Tom Murphy, who looked lively all game, and captain Connor Essam before Solomon Taiwo, who replaced the injured Liam Bellamy in the starting side, saw his shot deflected wide just before the break.

Woking again started the second half strongly and Andy Rafferty saved well from Chris Arthur before Deverdics responded for Dover with a header that glanced off the post.

He beat Cole with that effort and he gave him no chance when he struck what proved to be the winner five minutes later when the ball thundered past him.

Kevin Betsy really should have equalised but somehow headed over when unmarked and just six yards out.

Murphy then missed a great chance to double the lead with 10 to go but his effort was saved by Cole when he only had the goalkeeper to beat.

It didn't matter in the end - Dover won and are now just two wins away from Wembley.

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