Corinthian Casuals 0 Dover Athletic 2

Coming into Saturday's match, Dover had won all five previous meetings with Corinthian Casuals at an aggregate score of 18-0.

This record was rarely in doubt as the Kent side produced a thoroughly professional performance to win 2-0 at King George's Field on Saturday.

With the inspirational Lee Browning and Jon Wallis directing midfield traffic it was all Casuals could do just to hang on in the opening period.

Manager Brian Adamson was not helped by the unavailability of his defensive trio of Paul Smith, Dale Hennessey and Matt Smith and the midfield duo Kumle Olusesi and Lee Matthews, all a combination of either injury or work commitments.

The signs were fairly ominous early on with Dover hardly allowing the amateurs a kick. Jimmy Dryden headed a Jon Wallis corner straight at Colin Harris and Shaun Welford saw his header drop just the wrong side of the bar.

It looked odds on that the deadlock would be broken in the 21st minute but desperate defending from Casuals cleared shots from Wallis and Welford off the line in quick succession.

On the half hour Casuals created their only decent opening when Daniel Green timed his run superbly to get on the end of Russell Banyard's cross but his header flew narrowly wide.

Wallis displayed a fine range of passing with Browning tending to use his dribbling skills as Dover spent almost all their time in Casuals territory.

It was Browning's 20 yard charge through the centre and lay off to the right that gave right back Matt Fish the chance to drill a low shot past Harris and into the far corner in the 44th minute.

Dover nearly doubled this up with another chance just before the half time whistle but this time the huge central defensive figure of Craig Cloke looped a header onto the bar and the ball was scrambled clear.

One nil down at the half way stage was rather a let off and Casuals so nearly made Dover pay with a much better second half showing.

Carlton Murray-Price headed a Luke Gay cross wide from close range and then bundled a cross from Green just past the post a minute later as Casuals started to venture forward with more confidence.

New right back Carlos-Cardon Talbot looked a useful signing. It was his cross from the right that was only half cleared to Daniel Green who let fly from 18 yards.

With John Whitehouse well beaten the cross bar came to Dover's rescue and shook violently for several seconds as it took a mighty smack !

Dover were able to make use of the extra space left by the Casuals committing men further forward.

Fish launched a long ball over the top that Wallis latched onto and lobbed fractionally wide. Cloke put a header wide from a corner and with the clock running down, Dover's fine following broke into song cheering their team home.

They were rewarded deep into stoppage time when Luke Gay and Chris Horwood got in each other's way eight yards out. Gay missed his clearance and John Keister had the simplest of tasks to knock in the loose ball.

Dover are now 10 points clear at the top and look a side too good for Ryman Division One, certainly the best side seen at King George's this season.

With the aggregate score now reading 20-0 Casuals will breath a huge sigh of relief when they finally go up!

Casuals: Colin Harris, Carlos-Cardon Talbot, Russell Banyard, Scott Hassell, Chris Horwood, Richard Price (Martin Dunne 78), Luke Gay, Tyrone Myton (Ben Ward 90), Daniel Green, Carlton Murray-Price, Byron Brown (Hinga Amara 65)

Subs not used : Danny Sacha, Ryan Bishop (GK)Booked : Richard Price (24), Tyrone Myton (36),Luke Gay (47), Hinga Amara (68)Sent Off : NoneScorers : NoneDover Athletic line up : John Whitehouse, Matt Fish, James Rogers, Laurence Ball, Craig Cloke, John Keister, Jon Wallis, Alan Pouton, Jimmy Dryden (Andy Hessenthaler 88), Frannie Collin (Shaun Welford 5), Lee Browning (Byron Walker 82)Subs not used : Matt Bourne, Dean RuddyBooked : Alan Pouton (65), John Keister (73)Sent Off : NoneScorers : Matt Fish (45), John Keister (90)Attendance : 216