Chris Kinnear praised his Dover team after a disappointing single goal defeat to MK Dons in the FA Cup Second Round on Saturday.

He said that the club should be proud to have reached this stage in the competition.

In front of 1,086 passionate travelling fans Kinnear’s side, captained by Craig Stone, gave a passionate display of traditional FA Cup football. Liam Bellamy didn’t travel to Buckinghamshire with his team mates after picking up a sickness the previous day.

Because of this, the Dover starting line-up was unchanged from their 3-1 victory over East Thurrock in the FA trophy replay in midweek whilst MK Dons also fielded a strong team including ex Manchester United, Newcastle and England midfielder Alan Smith.

There are 72 places in the football pyramid between the two teams, but Dover still thought they had a chance after only losing one of their last 14 games as well as being unbeaten in knockout competitions so far this season.

It took the Whites about 15 minutes to adjust with playing against the League One promotion contenders, in that time the hosts were, despite their chances, unable to take advantage of the visitors slow start. At first Samir Carruthers’ cross was unable to find any supporting attackers before Patrick Bamford forced two very good saves out of Mitchell Walker in the Dover goal.

Dover were soon back in the game and it wasn’t long until they threatened to score first. James Rodgers’ great work to find a pass into the box for Ricky Moodeste, but the winger was soon surrounded by white shirts who were able to gather the ball back and clear it away.

Despite that Dover attack, it was obvious that the Dons were on top, Bamford continued to create chances, but Dover’s defence stayed tight and gave very little space to the Dons’ difference makers.

MK Dons noticed the lack of space in the middle and attempted another way of pushing forward, by putting Carruthers onto the left wing they were able to put the ball out wide before Carruthers cut inside to give the hosts more chances. Karl Robinson’s tactics seemed to be working, with the majority of the Dons’ attacks coming from the left wing, he wasn’t afraid to shoot either as two of his efforts curled just past Walker’s goal.

The visitors weren’t going to go down without a fight, and they had two opportunities in very quick succession. First, after some good strength and pace on the right wing from Ricky Modeste, but his cross was too close to David Martin who came off his line to collect the ball. The second chance came from a cleared corner, but Barry Cogan’s half-volley grazed the crossbar to keep the scores level.

Chris Kinnear’s side should have scored soon after; after Dover won possession back in midfield, the ball fell for Cogan again, but the ball bobbled on the pitch, leaving a weakened shot to trickle away for a goal kick.

At half time, Milton Keynes Dons made a substitution that changed the game, in bringing off Jason Banton and bringing on George Baldock, they had even more width, meaning that the White’s defence needed to stretch into both sides of the pitch, leaving more space in the middle.

It took five minutes before MK Dons found a way to break the tough Dover defence, after some good work on the right wing, a pass was cut back to Ben Reeves who struck a powerful shot to Walker’s bottom left side. The goalkeeper got a hand to it, but was unable to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.

Baldock continued to be influential, after cutting inside onto his favoured left foot, but his curling shot across goal flew wide of the post.

It took a long time for another chance to fall to either team, but when an opportunity came, they were wasted. MK Dons had two chances to double their lead in quick succession, but after Gleeson missed from a corner from 3 yards out and Brendan Galloway failed to convert from 6 yards out with no goalkeeper, Dover thought it was their chance to push forward.

Nathan Elder had two big opportunities in the final few minutes, first he was left wide open in the penalty area but was unable to take advantage of a cross that fell onto his chest. It wasn’t long until full time, and from the final corner kick of the game, Elder headed inches over the bar, leaving MK Dons to go into the Third Round draw on Sunday.

Dover can come back to Kent proud, after being disappointed to come back without the result they deserved they can focus on their other competitions.

They face Bromley at home in the league on Tuesday, before Leamington come to Crabble on Saturday as their FA Trophy campaign continues.

 

 

MK Dons: Martin (McLoughlin 77), Lewington, Hodson, Williams, Gleeson, Smith, Reeves, Bamford, Banton (Baldock 45), Carruthers (Galloway 77), Spence.

Subs not used: Flanagan, Rasulo.

Goal: Reeves (51).

Booked: Hodson (31), Williams (84).

Dover Athletic: Walker, Stone, Wynter, Kinnear Jnr (Orlu 90), Raggett, Forbes, Modeste (Bakare 57), Rodgers, Elder, Cogan, Murphy (Charles 86)

Subs not used: Hook, Kamara, Woodall, Carew.

Referee: Mr Lee Collins

Attendance: 4.060 (1,086 Dover).