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Dover Athletic 0 Welling United 0 match report: No goals from National League South game at Crabble

There was nothing to separate Dover and Welling who played out a goalless National League South draw on Easter Friday.

Whites looked the more likely to find a winner, although a point apiece does inch both teams another step closer towards avoiding relegation this season.

Dover boss Mitch Brundle
Dover boss Mitch Brundle

The hosts had the first chance at Crabble with five minutes played in front of a crowd of 817. Young centre-back Andi Janjeva nodded skipper Lee Martin's corner straight at Wings goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

Five minutes later, things briefly threatened to heat up in the April sunshine after a shove by Welling's Christie Pattisson on Luke Wanadio. But referee Samuel Read was quickly on the scene.

Whites then had two opportunities in quick succession. A short-corner routine caught the visitors napping and teenage midfielder Freddie Oliver tested McKenzie-Lyle from distance before right-back Myles Judd found space but couldn’t poke past the visitors keeper.

That home pressure continued on the half-hour mark when Martin was next to try his luck for Mitch Brundle’s troops with a rasping drive while centre-back Jake Goodman - who had remained up front after a set-piece - headed wide from yards out.

Whites made an enforced change in the 35th minute. Judd took a bang to the head and came off for David Boateng.

Welling manager Warren Feeney. Picture: Dave Budden
Welling manager Warren Feeney. Picture: Dave Budden

More good work by Wanadio saw the wideman cut inside on the stroke of half-time as he unleashed a curling shot.

Yet again, however, Guyana international McKenzie-Lyle wasn’t to be beaten. He parried away for a corner which, again, he stopped from crossing his line after a goal-bound header.

Warren Feeney’s Wings made their first substitution in the 51st minute, with Oliver down for the home side. Medy Elito replaced Daniel Nkrumah.

Jordan Higgs won Dover a free-kick, six minutes later, only for midfield partner Martin to curl narrowly over.

Away skipper James Dunne was cautioned on the hour for a late challenge on Wanadio, who was trying to drive forward up the wing.

Another Whites opening in the 65th minute saw Josh Ajayi turn inside the area, only for his strike to be deflected wide.

But seven minutes later, the visitors thought they should have been awarded a penalty amid a rare clear-cut chance for them. They felt Higgs handled ex-Maidstone man Pattisson's effort, although their appeals were waved away.

The next few minutes saw a few more Welling players cautioned, as they started to lose their discipline slightly.

Visiting frontman Ade Azeez’s Crabble return proved a not especially fruitful one and he came off for Kyrell Lisbie - the son of Kevin Lisbie - in the latter stages.

Dover continued to push forward amid five minutes of stoppage-time but were forced to settle for a draw.

It leaves 17th-placed Whites eight points clear of the relegation zone, with the Wings two positions and two points further back.

Whites made three changes from the side which won 3-1 at Braintree on Saturday, which saw Judd return from a ban.

Will Moses and on-loan Crystal Palace player Boateng dropped to the bench, where they were joined by George Nikaj.

Forward Ajayi was re-introduced to the home team’s line-up by boss Mitch Brundle while Tyrone Sterling appeared set to start, only for Goodman to instead take his spot in a late switch.

The visiting side included ex-Dover players in defender Manny Parry and top scorer Azeez.

The teams had drawn at Park View Road in September, too, drawing 1-1.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Paxman, Janjeva, Judd (Boateng 35mins), Higgs, Goodman, Martin, Oliver, Wanadio, Pierrick, Ajayi (Nikaj 69mins). Subs not used: Baptiste, Moses, Sterling.

Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, Howard, Parry, Nkrumah (Elito 51mins), Lyons-Foster, Azeez (Lisbie 85mins), Dunne, Sendles-White, Pattisson, Barnes, Gavin (Papadopoulos 90mins). Subs not used: Cox, Andrews.

Referee: Samuel Read.

Attendance: 817.

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