Chippenham Town 0Dover Athletic 0

DOVER’S first-ever visit to Hardenhuish Park on Saturday ended in a goalless draw, making it three in a row for Dover.

Chippenham fixture against Welling a week earlier was postponed just before kick-off due to the state of the pitch, and it was still bumpy.

The Whites had the better of the play going down the slope in the first half. After only two minutes they had strong claims for a penalty waved away when Lee Spiller was clattered by home goalkeeper Liam Bull after the Dover midfielder had clearly won the ball.

Chippenham committed about half a dozen late challenges in the first half, most of which referee Farries from Bicester ignored. Dover forced a number of corners in the half, but didn't trouble Bull.

Chippenham obviously fancied their chances of winning the game playing down the slope in the second half, but their shooting was frequently wayward and Paul Hyde in the Dover goal was rarely troubled.

Much of the second period was played in light rain, but if anything it helped with the bounce of the ball.

Dover continued to look menacing when attacking but just couldn't find the killer touch in front of goal. Simon Glover replaced Nicky Dent with 25 minutes left and immediately the Whites started to dominate the game.

Spiller ran through on goal but delayed his shot and he was tripped from behind in the penalty area. A clear-cut penalty kick, or so it seemed, but amazingly the referee once again saw nothing wrong.

Steve Norman hit a low shot straight at Bull and Jamie Day volleyed straight into the goalie’s arms when both should have done better.

Spiller was booked for a foul challenge, but seconds earlier the referee had ignored an obvious foul on the Dover midfielder. That just about summed up the afternoon.

So in the end two points were lost, but it wasn't for the want of trying as Dover created a fair number of chances in front of goal, and the defence looked watertight as ever.

The final whistle came 10 seconds early, even though there were a few minutes of injury time to be added, and the Whites fans were left wondering just where the Dr Martens League finds some of its referees.

* Dover Athletic: Hyde, Browne, Norman, Arnott, Readings, Chapman, Day, Spiller, Dyer, Dent (Glover, 65mins), Patterson.