Dover Athletic 3-0 Tonbridge Angels - Dover are unstoppable at fortress Crabble

It had been a pretty even first half with chances at both ends, but rampant Dover broke the deadlock just 76 seconds into the second half through Frannie Collin’s fourteenth goal of the season before goals from Sammy Moore and Lawrence Ball swiftly followed to end the game as a contest.

The win, Dover Athletic’s seventh on the bounce at the fortress Perrys Crabble, leaves them eight points clear of Carshalton Athletic at the summit, although Tonbridge Angels, their second defeat in thirteen games, sees them drop to fifth - the last play-off berth.

Both sides made changes going into this big Kent showdown; Dover making four and the Angels making half that figure.

James Rogers, Moore, Collin and Lee Browning all came in for John Keister, Ollie Schulz, Giuliano Grazioli and boss Andy Hessenthaler.

Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, drafted in Simon Glover and Fraser Logan for Phil Starkey and John Westcott, who were relegated to the substitutes bench.

And it was the visiting Angels that had the first chance of the game, following their first corner, with only 142 seconds into the game.

Logan’s left-footed corner from the left was met by Leon Legg’s towering bullet header, which cleared the crossbar from six-yards.

Dover Athletic’s first chance, however, arrived after six minutes when full-back Matt Fish joined an attack and his driven curling effort flew past the near posts.

Angels goalkeeper Lee Worgan was called into action when he made a comfortable save from Collin’s deflected right-footed drive from 25-yards.

And giant central defender Legge was in the right place at the right time, stabbing Welford’s scuffed shot off the line after Collin’s drilled in a dangerous cross from the left.

Backed by their vocal fans, Dover Athletic dominated proceedings early on and another chance went begging with 18 minutes on the clock.

Moore, under pressure, released Collin in behind the Angels’ back-four but the former Gillingham striker saw Worgan had advanced off his line but the right-footed lob drifted towards goal but bounced past the far post.

Tonbridge’s second chance of the game arrived courtesy of Logan’s second corner of the game just two minutes later.

Logan’s flag kick dropped nicely to striker Ade Olorunda, but his right-footed shot from six-yards was blocked by Whites’ play-maker, Jon Wallis.

With the game entering into a hard-fought battle, Wallis’ left-footed drive deflected past the right-hand post on the half-hour mark and then Welford’s right-footed shot was comfortably dealt with by visiting goalkeeper Worgan.

However, the best chance of the game arrived with 36 minutes on the clock when Dover Athletic went very close.

A Tonbridge attack broke down when Carl Rook’s cross from the right was plucked out of the air by goalkeeper John Whitehouse and defence swiftly turned to attack.

Wallis rolled the ball to the unmarked Browning and his right-footed shot flashed agonisingly past the foot of the left-hand post.

The hosts had two good penalty claims turned down just before the break, both involving Browning, who was first pushed by Lewis Hamilton and then Scott Gooding appeared to have handled the ball.

Despite an even first half, Dover Athletic drew first blood, opening the scoring with just 76 seconds of the second half elapsed.

After Logan wasted possession, Wallis released Collin through on goal down the left hand side and the striker decided not to shoot with his left foot, but instead cut inside on his right boot and drove his shot underneath the diving Worgan to find the bottom far corner.

The turning point of the game was when Browning - who was booked - slid in to make contact with Worgan’s knee, following Collins’ teasing low cross and play was held up for five minutes as the former Hastings United received treatment.

Worgan refused to leave the pitch, despite a steward walking onto the pitch with a stretcher, but his mobility was in question when Dover Athletic doubled their lead with just ten minutes and five seconds into the half.

Man-of-the-match Welford did brilliantly down the right hand side when he rode a couple of challenges before delivering a peach of a cross for the unmarked Moore to thump his header into the net from just six-yards.

Ball swiftly scored his first goal of the season just 158 seconds later, leaving Tonbridge Angels shell-shocked.

Wallis’ driven free-kick from the left wasn’t dealt with by the Angels defence and Ball bundled the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from six-yards.

Apart from a couple of crosses, the only time the Angels called Whitehouse into action was from Logan’s whipped in free-kick from the right, which went through the goalkeeper’s hands before he caught the ball at the second attempt.

The injured Worgan made comfortable saves from Wallis and Welford before former White, Tommy Tyne, drilled a shot past the right-hand post following Logan’s cross at the other end.

Worgan made a smart low save in the 82^nd minute, getting down low to his left, to prevent Moore from adding a fourth.

And hard-worker Welford, left unmarked, planted a header agonisingly past the far post as classy Dover proved why they’re the team that no-one can beat in White Cliffs Country.

Dover Athletic: John Whitehouse, Matt Fish, James Rogers, Dean Hill, Sammy Moore (Sam Jones 86), Jon Wallis, Alan Pouton (John Keister 81), Shaun Welford, Frannie Collin (Jerahl Hughes 76), Lee Browning.
Subs: Nathan Bailey, Sam Gore.

Goals: Frannie Collin 47, Sammy Moore 56, Lawrence Ball 58

Booked: Lee Browning 50

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton, Simon Glover, Tommy Tyne, Leon Legge, Scott Gooding, Jamie Cade, Anthony Storey, Ade Olorunda (John Westcott 62), Carl Rook, Fraser Logan.
Subs: Phil Starkey, Michael Phillips, Tim Olorunda.

Booked: Tommy Tyne 65

Attendance: 1,105
Referee: Mr Grant Smith (Polegate, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Colwell (Eastbourne, East Sussex) & Mr Mark Tasker (Lewes, East Sussex)