Dover 1 Staines Town 1

Steve Cordery made two changes to the starting XI he had fielded in the opening games, as Marien Ifura returned to fitness and Marc Charles-Smith were recalled, with René Steer and Scott Taylor moved to bench duties.

Dominic Sterling continued to be unavailable, despite his improving injury situation - because he was getting married!

Dover included Joe Tabiri in midfield, a player who had a short spell at Staines, whilst Gareth Risbridger once has a spell on loan with Dover.

The game got off to an explosive start, with Tabiri cautioned before four minutes were up for a shuddering challenge on Jackson, which led to a lengthy delay.

Staines seemed somewhat unnerved after this, and endured a spell of wayward passes whilst Birchall threatened for the home side, his neat turn in the box being followed by a shot that was close enough for Wells to take comfortably.

As Staines started to come back out of their shells, Charles-Smith played a great ball towards Griffiths, but as it dropped he nisjudged it fractionally and sent his shot wide.

Wells had to save with an outstretched foot after Birchill’s good ball to I’Anson, leaving Gordon to complete the clearance.

However, the opening goal came in the 20th minute, as Charles-Smith drilled the ball goalwards and past keeper Flitney, only for Schulz to scuff it off the line.

While supporters appealed that it had crossed, Richard Butler left nothing to chance and forced the loose ball into the net from close range.

This was the first goal between these sides for some while, as the last three encounters had all ended 0-0.

Staines now began to assert their superiority on proceedings, and eight minutes later, Griffiths almost doubled the lead, turning smartly but seeing his shot saved by a sprawling Flitney, to give the visitors their first corner of the game.

Butler was then yellow carded for a crunching challenge on Wynter, who after treatment was not fit to resume.

Griffiths saw another driven effort saved by Flitney, and there was another substantial delay as a clash of heads saw Charles-Smith coming off worse, but when the game restarted Birchill shot tamely at Wells.

In the six additional minutes, Staines endured a scramble in which both Schulz and Charles squandered half chances, but they then broke away with a swift Gordon, Scarlett and Griffiths move that ended in Charles-Smith shooting just over.

As Dover tried to clear their deficit before the interval, Jackson got a vital toe in to divert a Charles shot round the post.

The second half began more slowly, but 10 minutes in a Gordon back-pass worried Wells but slid just past the upright.

As Dover racked up the pressure, Schulz headed just wide from a corner, before his team mate Wallis collected a yellow card for a foul.

Wells saved at the dangerous Birchill’s feet, and then dealt with a Gillman stab from Wallis’s corner.

A crazy moment ensued in the 69th minute, when Staines conceded a free kick in their own ‘D’.

Attention was diverted because it seemed that a sub was about to come on, but referee Ian Crouch allowed Dover to take the kick quickly, only for the ball to be booted straight at Butler, who almost capitalised by getting off a shot on target.

Fortunately for Dover, keeper Flitney was attentive enough to touch it over for a corner, but he too was cautioned for dissent.

Chaaban was brought on for Charles-Smith (who was still nursing his facial injury) and within a minute he tested Flitney after a good pass by Butler.

Another mad minute began with the 73rd minute dismissal of Darty Brown, who was adjudged to be the last defender when fouling Dover sub Hunt a yard outside the box.

Dover’s free kick was smashed into the wall, and Risbridger set Butler away, only for the Staines man to be brought down by Tabiri who – having used up his final warning – was shown a second yellow card and dismissed.

The Whites continued to press, Wells making a super save to deny sub Hill, and Wallis fired just over.

Ifura had to be withdrawn with 8 minutes to go, allowing young James King to enter the fray, and the defence was reshuffled with Jackson moving into the centre and Scarlett dropping back to right-back.

Attack was the best form of defence for Staines, however, and they threatened a second goal, while Dover had to leave gaps at the back.

Chaaban saw a quickly taken free kick deflect just wide, and Butler went close with a header from Scarlett’s cross.

But 10 v 10 left gaps all over the field, and in the last of the three additional minutes, Staines were finally caught dithering at the back, twice failing to clear their lines, to allow I’Anson space to get in a cross to which Ben Hunt supplied a powerful close range header to equalise.

Only seconds remained, and Dover streamed forwards in search of a winner, but in the end both clubs had to be content with a point from a breathless encounter.

Staines’ point sees them 10th in the table.

A Gomez, Dover’s match sponsor, selected the skilful Adam Birchill as their man of the match, while Swans’ keeper Louis Wells garnered the equivalent Non-League Paper accolade.

Staines: Wells; Jackson; Kamara, Gordon ©, Ifura (King 82); Risbridger, Charles-Smith (Chaaban 69), D Brown [SO 73], Griffiths, Scarlett, Butler; unused Harris, Taylor, Steer.

Dover: Flitney, Fish, Wynter (Hill 36), Wallis, Schulz, Gillman ©, I’Anson, Tabiri [SO 74], Charles (Hunt 57), Birchall, Nicolau (Baker 69); unused Rice, Humphrey.

R: Ian Crouch (St Paul’s Cray); ARs Andrew Massey (Bognor), Mark Lucie (Havant);

Att 812.