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Heroics from goalkeeper Andy Rafferty cannot save Dover Athletic from Kent Senior Cup exit against Bromley

Not even a stunning performance from goalkeeper Andy Rafferty could prevent Dover from bowing out of the Kent Senior Cup, losing 2-0 against Bromley in the first round at Crabble on Tuesday.

Rafferty, making his first appearance of the season, kept the visitors at bay with a string of quality saves, including an unbelievable one just 11 minutes in.

Francis Joseph-Dubois’ downward header from inside the six-yard box looked destined to put the visitors ahead before a diving Rafferty somehow managed to scoop it up and over the bar.

Andy Rafferty
Andy Rafferty

It was reminiscent of the way England goalkeeper Gordon Banks defied Pele at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Rafferty was finally beaten in the 64th minute when Bradley Goldberg, who scored Bromley’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw in the Vanarama National League clash at Hayes Lane in August, fired home from the edge of the box.

Joseph-Dubois sealed the win in stoppage time for a Bromley side whose line-up included former Dover captain Sean Francis.

Francis, who left during the off-season, didn't finish the game after a clash of heads late in the second half left him with a nasty gash which needed to be glued.

The game also marked the return of Jack Parkinson after his three-match ban following his red card against Braintree while Tyrone Sterling was also back in action after missing last Friday's televised clash against Woking due to his wife going into labour.

Dover: Rafferty, Gibbs (Heffernan 79mins) , Jack Paxman, Parkinson, Holmes, Sterling, Carlton (Wilkins 66mins), Diallo, Ofari-Acheampong, Murphy (Nynuara 53mins), Alfie Paxman. Subs not used: De Grout, Lightfoot.

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