LOAN STAR OGIE HITS A GOLDEN WONDER

A FIRST-HALF header from home captain Kevin Lokko and stunning solo goal from Leyton Orient loanee Shadrach Ogie, saw Dover Athletic put in a convincing display against the ten-men of Aldershot, a win that moves Andy Hessenthaler’s men to within three points of the play-offs.

The victory, coupled with six of the top seven sides in the National League failing to win, certainly had Dover first team coach Nicky Southall thinking his side could well gate-crash the promotion picture.

“It wasn’t the greatest of games,” said Southall afterwards. “After the break we went at them and deserved the three points.

“We said beforehand this fixture was massive and now we have a big week ahead with games coming up against Halifax, Stockport and Barrow, teams that are all up there.

“If we can stay consistent, then we can go on a run and there is always one team that comes in late and maybe that will be us this year.”

With his side joint-third bottom of the scoring charts before kick-off, Hessenthaler might have feared his team were going to be firing blanks when Inih Effiong blazed over following a defensive howler from the Shots.

However, Dover’s boss needed not worry as his sharp-shooting captain Lokko stooped low to nod in Jai Reason’s flighted set-piece at the far post.

Hessenthaler might have had his heart in his mouth when Lewis Walker went down under Yusuf Mersin’s challenge as the away striker took the ball around the giant Turk, however referee Sam Barrott saw nothing wrong with the keeper’s challenge.

Home debutant Ogie, only 18, got the better of former Dover stopper Mitch Walker shortly after the restart, picking the ball up in his own half and making a beeline for the Aldershot penalty box, before coolly planting an effort into the bottom corner.

Town’s task was made all the more difficult with 20 minutes to go when Kodi-Lyons Foster was shown a second yellow after bringing down Michael Woods on the edge of the box.

Substitute Ade Yusuff almost sealed the win, only to fire into the side-netting when through on goal late on. Following their first defeat in five league games, Shots boss Danny Searle felt their was only one man to blame for his side’s failure to extend their recent strong run.

“You train and prepare all week and then you get a referee’s performance like that,” he said. “For me, their goalkeeper (Mersin) has taken Lewis Walker out and it is violent conduct – I really don’t know how he has not seen it.

“It doesn’t change the result, but it would have certainly changed the dynamics of the game.”