Dover 1 Moor Green 2

DOVER Athletic's slim hopes of returning to the Conference were virtually extinguished after their second poor showing in three days at Crabble last night.

The Whites' main problem this season has been the lack of potency in the final third and the clash against their Birmingham-based visitors was a prime example of this. Manager Clive Walker made three changes from the Forest Green defeat bringing in Andy Arnott, Mark Patterson and Nicky Dent.

The visitors went ahead in the 55th minute when a cross from the left found Guy Sanders who stroked the ball past an exposed Paul Hyde.

With Dover now seemingly running out of ideas as their various long range efforts failed to trouble the keeper, they introduced Paul Sykes - back after a four match ban - and he immediately made his mark.

A cross from the left found Carruthers whose turn and shot was parried by away keeper Adam Rachel, but Sykes with his first touch was on hand to shoot into an empty net, a pleasing return for the hit man after his last appearance against Chippenham saw him receive a red card without touching the ball.

This should have galvanised the Whites but they were rocked again just a minute later when a free kick was needlessly given away on the edge of the box, and Martin stepped up to curl the ball around the wall and into the corner of the net past an unsighted Hyde.

The last 20 minutes was played in the visitor's half, but despite the bombardment of the goal, numerous chances went a begging including a Carruthers' header which flashed across the goal the visitors held firm for a welcome three points.

This was arguably Dover's worst performance of the season against an average side who seemed to be happy just to sit back and soak up the pressure, but their lack of any penetration and guile was once again evident and something that manager Walker will need to sort out.

Dover: Hyde, Browne, Patterson, Arnott, Readings, Chapman, Day, Spiller, Tyne, Dent (Sykes 65), Carruthers. Subs Not Used: Norman, Wietecha (GK), Glover, Dyer.