Dover Athletic have moved up to 6th in Conference South with a convincing 2-0 win over playoff rivals Bath City, as two goals in 12 second half minutes sealed a game in which the visitors never really challenged Dover’s dominance after the break.

A goal-less first half saw both sides create chances that they will believe should have been finished, but the deadlock was broken eight minutes into the second period.  Barry Cogan stabbed home his 10th of the season after Bath goalkeeper Jason Mellor had made two good saves in a goalmouth scramble.

Ricky Modeste capped an outstanding performance with the second on 65, his 6th of the season, coolly lifting the ball over Mellor from Cogan’s deft through ball; maintaining Dover’s incredible run which has now reached 10 consecutive matches scoring two or more goals.

For Dover’s manager, Chris Kinnear, this was more than just a victory over a promotion rival.  He explained “Everybody here wants to try to be successful and we can’t afford to get too frustrated if things don’t go our way.  It has been a good week though.  We’re trying to attack and play some good stuff, but it was windy and the pitch was quite heavy.  The lads have done a brilliant job and we could have won by more.  They had some pressure in the first half, but they are a good side and you can see why they are fourth.”

“Some of the players were a little frustrated at the break, but we knew if we kept our heads, we would go on to score goals.  The players were happy at the end because they could give something to the supporters; and we do get a great support.  We just want to try to keep winning and who knows where we’ll end up.  We’ve got a good squad here and need to push on and keep winning our home games.  At the moment the lads have got the bit between their teeth and you could see the spirit in the side today.”

It’s been Dover’s incredible away record that has seen them remain on the edge of the playoff chase, and Kinnear has an explanation for this.  He told Kent Sports News, “The home form has been up and down for about three and a half years now.  I think part of the reason is that most of the lads have to travel for home games, they get stuck in traffic even if they leave a bit early.  For away games, they can travel on the coach, control what time they eat, so that makes a difference.”

Dover started the game well, with Ricky Modeste causing problems on the right wing for Andy Gallinagh, which saw the experienced Bath defender switched to a more central position, with former Gillingham midfielder Aaron Brown being tasked to look after the Dover winger.

The opening chance came for the home side as Mitch Walker’s launched clearance into the breeze deceived Mark Preece.  As Preece tried to head the ball back towards his keeper, Tom Murphy nipped in, but his lob drifted wide of the right post.

Bath showed their threat immediately as Dave Pratt laid in Josh Low, who weaved past Sean Raggett on the left edge of the box.  Low pushed a ball into the centre of the box, where Chris Kinnear’s sliding challenge forced Dan Bowman to slice his effort wide.

Craig Stone and Modeste combined to put the winger free in the Bath area, where Modeste appealed loudly as his cross appeared to hit the arm of Dan Bull.  The rebound fell to Stone, who drilled the ball across the area, where Cogan arrived to side-foot at goal, forcing Mellor into a good save low to his left with Jeff Goulding looking to capitalise on any rebound.

Gallinagh played a ball through Dover’s high defensive line for Dave Pratt to run into the area, but Mitch Walker pulled off a good save to his left.  Then came Bath’s best chance of the match, as the visitors counter attacked from a Dover corner.  Noah Keats picked up the defensive clearance and beat Stone inside his own half.  Keats played the ball out to Low and ran on to collect the return pass inside the Dover area.  With just Walker to beat, Keats somehow managed to put his shot past the right post.

This attack seemed to galvanise Dover’s defence, but also meant the last twenty minutes of the half became a scrappy affair played in the middle of the pitch, which was getting increasingly cut up.

The second half started in the same fashion, with Bath looking to counter-attack, but it took eight minutes for Dover to make the breakthrough.  Stone whipped a deep cross in from the right wing to the back post, where Tom Wynter, fresh from his first goal for the club after 170 appearances, headed goalwards.  Mellor made a block low to his left, and was up quickly to deny Goulding, but the ball fell to Cogan to stab beyond the defenders on the line.

Bath tried to strike back immediately as Low put a dangerous cross in that Jake Reid got to first, but Terrell Forbes slid in to divert the effort round the post.

Wynter attempted a spectacular volley over his shoulder that Mellor parried away from goal, but the pressure told on 65 as Modeste doubled the Dover lead.  Forbes broke up a Bath attack and lofted the ball forward, where Goulding  headed down.  Cogan clipped the ball over the back four for Modeste to run through, and the winger lifted his shot over the advancing Mellor.

With the game virtually won, Dover were able to sit back and soak up any Bath pressure.  It wasn’t until stoppage time that the home side looked as though they could extend their advantage, with Elliott Charles heading into the side netting from a James Rogers cross, and a Charles shot that deflected wide of Gallinagh.

Bath had one final attack as time ran out, but Andy Watkins’ tame bobbling shot was claimed easily by Walker.

Next up, on Tuesday night is another home game against the side immediately ahead of Dover in the league, Sutton United.  Kinnear added “they were probably one of the pre-season favourites for promotion, and have an experienced team.  It will be another big test for us.”

DOVER ATHLETIC: Mitch Walker, Craig Stone, Tom Wynter, Chris Kinnear jr, Sean Raggett, Terrell Forbes, Ricky Modeste (Liam Bellamy 70), James Rogers, Jeff Goulding (Nathan Elder 75), Barry Cogan, Tom Murphy (Elliot Charles 84).

Subs not used: Richard Orlu, Michael Kamara.

Goals: Barry Cogan 53, Ricky Modeste 65.

BATH CITY: Jason Mellor, Dan Bowman, Dan Ball, Aaron Brown, Mark Preece, Andy Gallinagh, Noah Keats, Ben Adelsbury (Chris Allen 46), Dave Pratt (Andy Watkins 64), Jake Reid (Ross Stearn 69), Josh Low.

Subs not used: Adam Connolly, Jim Rollo.

Attendance: 535
Referee: Mr Lee Betts
Assistants: Mr Jonathan Block and Mr Mark Chalkley