ALDERSHOT TN 1, DOVER ATH 0

DOVER’s defensive tactics backfired spectacularly and Chris Kinnear’s side have heaped pressure on themselves in the battle to reach the National League play-offs ahead of Aldershot.

Matt McClure’s coolly-taken penalty broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute of a tense encounter played out on Easter Monday in front of 3,857 spectators – easily Aldershot’s biggest gate of the season.

Aldershot clung onto their hard-earned lead and victory enabled them to leapfrog Dover into fifth place

The Shots lead the Kent side by one point and although Dover have a game in hand, Gary Waddock’s men, on paper at least, have much the easier run-in.

Aldershot travel to North Ferriby – already relegated – this Saturday and finish their campaign at home to Braintree, who are fighting to avoid the drop, on April 29.

Dover are home to relegation-threatened Torquay (April 22), host ninth-placed Macclesfield (April 25) and close with the long journey to Barrow, currently seventh, on April 29.

Aldershot are well capable of taking six points from their last two games, judging by the superb form they showed against Dover, and two wins would probably extend their season into the play-offs.

Just that one penalty separated the sides at the EBB Stadium, but Aldershot’s commitment and composed play was outstanding as they strove to break down Dover’s massed defences.

Having said that, when the Whites were forced to abandon their pragmatic approach and chase the game, they could and should have equalised.

Aldershot had to play the last seven minutes with ten men, following a second yellow card for substitute Idris Kanu. In those last dramatic moments, first Aswad Thomas missed with a free header from a corner and then Chris Kinnear Jnr, the manager’s son, scuffed his shot wide of a yawning goal after Ricky Miller’s drive had rebounded straight into his path.

That miss could come back to haunt Dover, a fact no doubt realised by Kinnear who sunk his head to the ground in anguish.

There was still time for Aldershot to break to the other end and for McClure to miss in a one-on-one.

But McClure was Aldershot’s hero with his nerveless penalty. Dover’s five-man defence had repelled everything thrown at them, often more by luck than good judgement. But as the visitors dropped ever deeper in the second half, inviting pressure on themselves, there was always the feeling that something would give.

It duly happened when Jake Gallagher’s darting run across the area induced a clear trip by Connor Essam, who was booked. With regular taker Scott Rendell substituted, the pressure was on his replacement, McClure, to convert. After a lengthy delay, he leathered the ball past a helpless Mitch Walker.

Dover’s willingness to give up possession resulted in Callum Reynolds and Will Evans, Aldershot’s centre-backs, having license to run with the ball and their adventurous forays and accurate distribution did much to keep their side on the front foot.

Lone striker Miller, a prolific goal-scorer for the Whites, cut an increasingly frustrated figure as he was repeatedly muscled out of it by the Shots central pair. Early on, Evans made a vital block when Miller had a rare sight of goal.

Dover’s defensive tactics were effective in the first half and Aldershot, for all their drive and sharp passing, struggled to find a way through.

They needed something different and it came in the shape of Kanu who charged off the bench for the second half and posed a new challenge with his extra pace and bewildering changes of direction.

Dover survived some wild skirmishes inside the area, twice thumping the ball onto the railway lines, and as the pressure became relentless, only luck and sheer numbers kept them on terms.

Walker made a fine save from Shamir Fenelon, while livewire Kanu was booked for simulation after a tackle by Kinnear.

Evans met Cheye Alexander’s corner with a header that drifted just wide and then, after yet another galloping run, struck a hard shot that took a deflection, bringing another excellent save from Walker.

The home fans feared the worst when Miller broke into a scoring position at the other end and howls of derision greeted his final effort – a feeble tap rather than a shot.

The strength of Aldershot’s bench, with Kanu, McClure and Anthony Straker now all in the action, helped wear down Dover’s resolve and Essam’s despairing tackle on Gallagher seemed born of fatigue.

McClure did the business, but Aldershot still had work to do as Dover sent on an extra striker, former Shots loan player Ross Lafayette.

Straker almost doubled the lead with a strong shot that Walker came close to tipping into his own net, but then came Kanu’s second yellow card for a reckless challenge, and then a nerve-racking five minutes of injury time, during which Dover almost grabbed the point that could have been their ticket into the play-offs. It was not to be.

“We had to be patient,” said Gary Waddock. “It was always going to be a game like that – one team wanting to win it, one team wanting to pick up a point. That’s the way it panned out. We had loads of possession, dominated the second half. We played with lots of composure, lots of calmness.

“It was a professional performance, if you like, with a group of young players who are learning every week.

“A draw would have been a very good result for them and we knew they would make it difficult for us. It was a case of waiting for that moment – and that moment came.”

Aldershot: Cole, Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Arnold (Straker 66), Benyu, Kellermann (Kanu 46), Gallagher, Mensah, Fenelon, Rendell (McClure 62). Subs (not used): Oyeleke, Smith. Sent off: Kanu.

Dover: Walker, Magri (Lafayette 75), Sterling, Orlu, Grimes, Essam, Thomas, Modeste, Hurst (Kinnear Jnr 45), Healy (Pinnock 59), Miller. Subs (not used): Emmanuel, Fazakerley. Booked: Essam.

Referee: Neil Hair.

Attendance: 3,857 (265 away).