IMPS NEXT TO SUFFER IN HANDS OF DOVER
DOVER ATHLETIC once again justified their status as National League giantkillers as they overcame full-time opposition for a second week running.
Fresh from last Saturday’s victory at York City, the Whites impressively saw off a Lincoln side who could have gone top of the table with victory here at Crabble.
Excellent strikes either side of the break from Jamie Grimes and Moses Emmanuel proved the difference and capped a nightmare return for former Dover favourite Sean Raggett, who was forced off after a head injury inside the opening ten minutes.
Chris Kinnear’s Dover made their intentions known early with top scorer Ricky Miller firing an effort over the bar from ten yards out inside just 18 seconds.
But it didn’t take long for Dover to make their early possession count – just four minutes in fact when Grimes, pictured celebrating with Miller inset, rose highest to glance a perfect header into the top corner from a Sammy Moore corner.
Raggett, returning to Crabble for the first time since his summer switch to Sincil Bank, lasted just seven minutes before he had to be helped off, following a collision with his own goalkeeper, Paul Farman, walking off to a warm reception from the home fans.
Dover, however, were in ruthless mood and continued their assault on the Lincoln goal – Jim Stevenson firing a fierce 30yard volley marginally over.
Slowly, however, Lincoln began to work their way back into the game with keeper Steve Arnold thwarting namesake striker Nathan after a fine through ball from Matt Rhead. Strangely, the second half started more subdued until the game sprung to life with a devastating break on 54 minutes. Picking up a clearance from Grimes, Ross Lafayette played a fine one-two with Emmanuel before sending his teammate into the left of the area to dink superbly over the outrushing Farman and into the corner. This sparked a rally from Danny Cowley’s Lincoln but it was Dover who came closest to adding a third – Grimes inches away from his second with another towering header. City’s best chance came with eight minutes to go when Macauley Bonne headed straight at Arnold from eight yards out.