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Dover Athletic manager Mitch Brundle reacts to their 0-0 draw against Welling United in National League South

Dover boss Mitch Brundle won’t be in a hurry to watch their National League South game against Welling back after Easter Friday’s goalless stalemate.

Whites looked the more likely to score, especially in the first half, but neither side appeared particularly dangerous in front of a crowd of 817 at Crabble as the spoils were shared.

Dover defender Myles Judd - returned from suspension against Welling but came off injured in the first half. Picture: Stuart Brock
Dover defender Myles Judd - returned from suspension against Welling but came off injured in the first half. Picture: Stuart Brock

Brundle said: “I’m glad I don’t have to watch that game again!

“First 20 minutes, I thought we started well and we had certain elements again. If we score, I think we take positives from then [that spell].

“I’m just like a broken record at the minute, but it’s another point in the right direction. We’ll just keep fighting until the end.

“But for 70 minutes of the game, yeah, I think it wasn’t enjoyable.

“We did create some good chances. We got into some good areas again.

“We had enough chances to be able to score in the game at least but Welling came here, fighting for their lives.

“We’ll take the point and just move on.”

Influential right-back Myles Judd was back from a ban against Welling.

He came off in the first half after taking a bang to the head but shouldn’t be sidelined for too long, ahead of Easter Monday’s trip to second-placed Kent rivals Dartford.

“He started fantastically,” Brundle noted. “We were getting out a lot with him.

Dover manager Mitch Brundle
Dover manager Mitch Brundle

“To be fair, he’s fine now so, hopefully, that shouldn’t be a worry.”

Tyrone Sterling was also set to start on his return from suspension but, with the experienced Grenada international struggling for full fitness, Jake Goodman took his place in the heart of defence.

Brundle explained: “Tyrone had a slight problem with his calf.

“We trained on Thursday and we thought it was just a bit of tightness but, today, he wasn’t 100 per cent, so we couldn’t take that risk.

“Then Gooders came in and it’s another clean sheet.

Dover's top scorer, Luke Wanadio, faces an Easter Monday Princes Park return. Picture: Stuart Brock
Dover's top scorer, Luke Wanadio, faces an Easter Monday Princes Park return. Picture: Stuart Brock

"We can pick over the nitty-gritty bits of scoring in the final third but we’ll get there.”

Next up for Whites, 17th and eight points from relegation with only 15 points left to play for, is their trip to Dartford's Princes Park. Alan Dowson’s Darts won 3-1 when they met at Crabble in mid-September.

“It’ll be another tough test,” said Brundle. “Every game we’ve got between now and the end of the season is going to be tough.

“I think, at home, they’re very good. They have got a good team and the manager [Dowson] has got them working.

“But we’ll go there with our plan and, hopefully, I won’t feel as down as I do after that performance!”

Asked if anyone sidelined against Welling would definitely be unavailable, the manager replied: “Not necessarily, although we don’t know yet.

“Tyrone, obviously, we’ll see how his problem settles down over the weekend. Protocol-wise, Juddy’s fine.

“We’ll just move on and start preparing.”

Dover’s 10-goal top scorer Luke Wanadio is among those set for a return to their old stomping ground.

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