Vanarama Conference

Dover 0

Forest Green 0

DOVER supporters staged a boycott of the club's home fixture with Forest Green after political party UKIP sponsored the game, but the political football saw the spoils shared in a dour 0-0 draw, writes Richard Joyce.

And for a tenth time this season, Forest Green were made to settle for a point against a robust Dover side at the Crabble.

“It wasn’t a classic. It’s a difficult place to come here – they’ve won their last six games on the spin here,” said Forest Green boss Ady  Pennock.

“They are saying it is a fortress and everything else but I’ll take a 0-0 away from home all day long.

“We have been conceding a few goals in the last three games. We have been working on that in the last week and the back four have done really well.

“Collectively it was better. It is a funny old game football.

“You think you’re scoring goals and then you’re conceding goals.

“If you get that right then it is happy days but I’m happy with a point.”

A poor first half entertainment wise improved slightly after the interval, as FGR made it four league draws in a row, and extended their unbeaten run.

However, it was still lacking in quality, and talking points, although the home side offered a threat towards the finish.

Chris Stokes returned to the fold in the back four, which allowed Marcus Kelly the opportunity to return to the left side of midfield.

Lee Hughes and Kurtis Guthrie were meanwhile partnered up front once again.

The closest either side came to forcing an opening occurred ten minutes before the break, and it was the home side again who were involved.

A clever looped through ball was latched onto by former Gillingham forward Stefan Payne, and his scooped effort ended up rolling wide, past the post.

The first half proved to be limited in action, and the 45 minutes that followed only just illustrated a slight improvement.

Chris Kinnear’s early header failed to threaten Sam Russell’s goal, while there were two good opportunities midway through the half.

Liam Bellamy did well to cut inside and power off a left footed effort that Russell was equal to.

And then Payne tried his luck with a well-crafted effort with his right foot that edged past the post.

Rovers had struggled to test Dover’s goalkeeper Andy Rafferty but did have the ball in the back of the net on 75 minutes.

Guthrie rose highest to nod in from a set piece, however referee Dean Treleaven blew his whistle for what he judged to be a misdemeanour in the box, and the home side survived.

As the game entered its final ten minutes, it looked as though a single goal would be enough to seal the tie, and both sides nearly went close.

A terrific low cross from the left hand side was almost forced home at the back post after Norwood had guided a threatening ball in.

While Rovers nerves were left jangling at the death as Dover were afforded the opportunity to launch a ball into the FGR danger zone.

Russell was called upon to produce a strong hand to turn away Taiwo’s deep free kick, which looked as though it may have had enough on it to find a way into the back of the net.

Forest Green: S Russell, D Bennett, C Stokes, D Coles, E Oshodi, J Norwood, C Kamdjo, R Sinclair, M Kelly (S Wedgbury 55), L Hughes (J Parkin 71), K Guthrie.

Subs not used: P White, D Pipe, L Oliver.

DOVER: A Rafferty, L Bellamy, T Wynter, R Orlu, C Essam, S Francis, S Taiwo, N Deverdics, C Kinnear, T Murphy (C Nanetti 87), S Payne (J Reid 86).

Subs not used: N Elder, B Cogan, G Rutherford.

Referee: Dean Treleaven.

Attendance: 916.

Next-up: Forest Green v Dartford, Saturday, November 29, 3pm.