Home   Dover   Sport   Article

Yeovil Town 3 Dover Athletic 1: Ade Azeez scores for Dover but Joe Quigley (2) and Rhys Murphy reply

Dover's National League survival hopes suffered another major blow on Saturday after they lost at Yeovil.

Whites took the lead through Ade Azeez but conceded on the stroke of half-time before two second-half goals – which included a goalkeeping error – sealed their fate, the visitors even having the luxury of missing a late penalty.

Ade Azeez - scored for Dover at Yeovil on Saturday. Picture: Keith Gillard
Ade Azeez - scored for Dover at Yeovil on Saturday. Picture: Keith Gillard

Dover named an unchanged team after their impressive 3-1 midweek win over Barnet, knowing victory would move them to within four points of safety.

Whites nearly went ahead on 13 minutes when Sam Wood's deep free-kick was nodded down into the path of Oscar Gobern, whose right-foot shot was cleared off the line by Matt Worthington.

But Dover did find the net from the resulting corner. A clever set-piece move saw a short corner worked by Ahkeem Rose to Ryan Hanson, whose first-time shot was parried by keeper Adam Smith. The ball fell perfectly for Azeez who was able to convert his third goal of the season from close range.

Dover were rarely troubled at the other end, Matt Worthington shot well over and Michael Kelly's 20-yard free-kick was deflected to safety while the visitors almost grabbed a second when Travis Gregory's right-foot shot from 25 yards whistled just wide of the upright with Smith beaten.

Yeovil levelled in the last minute of the first half. A long ball into the area found Joe Quigley, who exchanged passes with Reuben Reid before his low shot squirmed beyond keeper Ollie Webber.

The game turned in the home side's favour seven minutes after the break and Dover had only themselves to blame. Keeper Webber never got anywhere near Alex Bradley's long cross into the area and Quigley's header looped into an empty net.

Dover turned to Louis Collins, who scored twice in the FA Cup meeting between the sides earlier in the season, from the bench but it was another player who netted a brace in that tie who was to have the next decisive say.

Yeovil introduced Rhys Murphy and with his first touch the former Gillingham and Chelmsford forward added a third goal. Josh Neufville crossed from the right and Murphy was left unattended at the far post to convert.

With seven minutes left, Dover's Gobern headed wide at the near post against his former club from a right-wing Wood corner.

Webber's afternoon looked like it was going from bad to worse when he fouled Murphy as he burst into the box to concede a penalty. But Webber did well to keep out Quigley's spot-kick, gathering the ball at the second attempt after producing an excellent one-handed diving to his left.

Dover's only consolation on a wet and miserable afternoon at Huish Park was that none of the other teams around them at the bottom of the table claimed three points.

Yeovil: A Smith, Bradley, Hunt, Collins, Kelly, Knowles (Dagnall 88mins), Worthington, Neufville (Warburton 90mins), Skendi, Quigley, Reid (Murphy 78mins). Subs not used: Evans, J Smith.

Dover: Webber, Ekpiteta, De Havilland, Ransom, Gregory (Rigg 67mins), Mussa (Collins 73mins), Hanson, Gobern, Wood, Azeez (Cumberbatch 73mins), Rose. Subs not used: Mersin, Wratten.

Referee: Elliot Swallow.

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More