Chris Kinnear said in the week that his side’s defeat in the quarter finals of last year’s FA Trophy was one of his biggest disappointments.

Well, Dover battled their way to a first ever win over Southport in a match that was definitely not one for the purists.

There were few clear cut chances in the 90 minutes, but it was Southport who hit the front in the 25th minute as Jack Ryan showed a deft touch for a powerful forward to get away from Sean Raggett, and beat Andy Rafferty from the edge of the area.  Raggett then levelled matters three minutes before the interval with a glancing header from one of a number of well-placed freekicks by Nicky Deverdics.

Jake Leberl, Dover’s assistant manager, said that the management team had made a few tactical changes at the interval, and one of these, committing more men forward for set pieces, led to the winner.  Deverdics’ corner was flicked goalwards by Ricky Modeste, with Ricky Miller applying the final touch to ensure the ball crossed the line.

Leberl added “I thought we did alright for the whole game; we’ve been playing good halves recently.  The lads did what we wanted and we are delighted with the result against a side who were seven undefeated.  We said before the game and at half-time that no-one wants to go to Southport on Tuesday night.”

“We deserved the victory as they’ve been limited to two shots on target.  But the goal has come from our mistake, just when we thought we needed a goal.  We’d been on top for the first 20, and when you are on top, you need to score, and when they did with their only shot on target, you start to think “here we go”.  We got ourselves back in, and thoroughly deserved the victory.”

The match was exactly what was expected between two sides who had drawn their only 3 previous meetings, and neither appeared to favour the chance of a replay here.  Dover have only lost twice at home in the league this season, while Southport’s recovery under Dino Maamria showed six wins in their last 7 games, and both teams seemed happy to look to move the ball forward quickly, and direct.

Although Dover looked the more likely side going forward early on, with Ricky Miller and Tom Murphy linking up well on the left wing, they only had an off-target Jack Parkinson volley from Murphy’s knockdown to show for their pressure.

Southport were hardly being stretched at the back and had shown one or two glimpses of a threat in the wide areas, but took the lead against the run of play on 25 through Preston-loanee Jack Ryan.  Sean Raggett was turned too easily, as Ryan flicked the ball over the defender’s head and hit a half-volley that bounced awkwardly in front of Andy Rafferty.  The keeper will be disappointed that his touch only sent the ball into the back of the net, instead of clear of goal.

Dover had appeals for a penalty waved away as Miller was upended in the area, and Southport wasted little time in countering down the left wing through Ryan.  The forward held off Tyrone Sterling’s challenge and squared a pass into the run of Mike Phenix, only for the recovering Parkinson to slide the ball clear.

Aswad Thomas sent a dipping shot over the Southport bar, before Miller tested the handling of goalkeeper Max Crocombe with a sharp shot from the angle, as Dover finally started to assert themselves on a defence happy to sit back on their lead.

The equaliser came on 42 after Ricky Modeste was brought down on the left corner of the area.  Nicky Deverdics whipped a vicious ball into the middle, where Sean Raggett was running across the line of the keeper to apply a glancing touch.

Richard Orlu had the first chance of the second half, sending a header over from a Deverdics corner, and Miller continued to be a physical threat to the two centre-backs, turning Luke Foster, before curling his shot over.

And it was Miller who got the rewards his performance deserved, applying the final touch to what turned out to be the winner.  Deverdics’ near post corner was flicked on by Modeste, who had made a dart away from the goalline.  The header seemed to be dropping inside the back post, but Miller was on hand to turn the ball over the line for his fifth goal in the last 3 games.

Despite throwing on more attack-minded players, Southport were being denied time and space to truly threaten Rafferty’s goal.  Although Thompson had a header blocked by Raggett, and both Louis Almond and Liam Nolan had shots blocked by Parkinson, Rafferty didn’t have a shot to save in the last 20 minutes.

Miller had the last chance for Dover, pulling a shot wide after a good advantage played by the referee, and had the last laugh as Thompson, with whom he’d had a running battle all game, was finally cautioned for hauling down the forward one time too many.

So Dover are the highest ranked side definitely through to the Third Round draw, and will be desperate for a run to supplement their current playoff place in the National League.

DOVER ATHLETIC: Andy Rafferty, Sam Magri, Sean Raggett, Tyrone Sterling, Richard Orlu, Aswad Thomas, Nicky Deverdics, Jack Parkinson, Ricky Modeste (Liam Bellamy 80), Ricky Miller, Tom Murphy (Jamie Grimes 86).

Subs not used: Mitch Walker, Naby Diallo, Mitchell Pinnock.

Goals: Sean Raggett 42, Ricky Miller 64.

Caution: Ricky Miller 76.

SOUTHPORT: Max Crocombe, Matthew Challoner, Josh Thompson, Luke Foster, Andy Wright, Gary Jones (Liam Nolan 67), Adam Blakeman, Paul Rutterford (Andy Bishop 84), Louis Almond, Michael Phenix, Jack Ryan (Connor McCarthy 73).

Subs not used: Andrai Jones, Jon Viscosi.

Goals: Jack Ryan 25.

Caution: Josh Thompson 89.

Attendance: 629

Referee: Mr Nigel Lugg
Assistants: Mr Gregory Read and Mr George Warren
Fourth Official: Mr Jack Packman