|
Terrors will be
disappointed that they did not grab all the points
from this low key game against the champions elect in
front of a smaller than expected crowd. Alan
McLeod returned to make his first start in over a
month, replacing the injured Craig Pitterson, while
Billy Marshall swapped places with Kirk Watts on the
bench.
In a first half of limited endeavor
from both sides, Tootings only serious chance came
after twenty five minutes when Alan McLeod cut in from
the right flank and forced Edwards to parry his firm
shot straight back to him for a second chance, which
flew way over the bar. Earlier Paul Vines had put a
tame header wide, but it took almost half an hour
before Terrors' earned their first corner, which
swerved in wickedly and was gratefully grabbed at the
back post by the keeper.
Dover almost went ahead after thirty
four minutes when a freakish low free kick from around
twenty five yards eluded all and bounced off the foot
of the post before being scrambled away for a
corner. In stoppage time Jason Pinnock hit a
fine volley goalwards which was well blocked by a
defender.
Half Time: Terrors 0-0 Dover
Clearly determined to inject a bit
of passion into proceedings Andy Hessenthaler
restarted by making all three substitutions and for a
while it looked like the visitors were slowly turning
up the gas. But with Joe Vines and Aaron Goode
putting on another rock like performance, the threat
never really materialised, apart from one attempt
after 62 minutes that eluded the post. Kirk
Watts finally burst into life midway through the
period, sending in a fine cross which Paul Vines could
only tamely direct towards Edwards. But by now the
early impetus of the triple substitution had faded as
Tooting seemed to sense that the match was there for
the taking and, eleven minutes from time, Paul Vines
broke away from two defenders and calmly beat the
keeper to send the home fans wild. Sadly
the joy was not to last as Matt York lazily failed to
take his arm out of the way of a low cross and
conceded a penalty which was duly dispatched by
Collin. Dover had a chance to clinch victory in
the last minute with a header that Dave King tipped
over, but it would have been very harsh on a Tooting
side that worked hard and deserved their share of the
spoils. |
