Dover captain Keith Scott scored his 11th goal of the season in inury time but it wasn't enough for Dover.

Dover came away with nothing from a bad tempered game at Crabble on Saturday afternoon that suffered from inconsistent refereeing. That only two players were sent off is something that can only be explained by the officials. Several tough challenges went unpunished, including one that led to Dover's Matt Carruthers being carried off the field on a stretcher and another that left goalkeeper Paul Hyde in a heap on the edge of his area, allowing the visitors to post an ultimately unassailable two-goal lead.

There were several heated confrontations throughout the afternoon and Nuneaton could have had no complaints if they had gone in at half-time with less than a full complement of players after a couple of unpleasant moments, including an off-the-ball shove by one of Boro's midfielders that would in most matches have been punished by a red card.

Matt Carruthers with an effort on Nuneaton's goal. Carruthers was later stretchered off.

The first half was not much of a spectacle. Colin Vowden went within inches of giving Dover a very early lead when his header skimmed past the upright. It was the visitors however that went ahead when Kelly and MacGregor combined to set up Lee Charles who beat Hyde from six yards.

MacGregor only lasted another half-an-hour before limping off injured. The score was 1-0 at the break and was about right on the balance of play. Dover created some pressure but only really tested the well organised Boro defence on a couple of occassions. The closest was Keith Scott who's shot from 12 yards that went just over.

The second period was much more eventful. The visitors, playing some excellent football, doubled their lead on 56 minutes with a big slice of luck. As Hyde came out to the edge of the area he was bundled over by Kelly's heavy challenge, allowing Wright to shoot into an unguarded net.

Clive Walker introduced Chris Allen in place of Darren Davies as Dover attempted to find a way back into the match. Tommy Tyne worked tirelessly up front all afternoon but despite getting into good positions was unable to trouble MacKenzie.

Lee Shearer very nearly pulled a goal back for the Whites on 71 minutes when his header beat the keeper but was unwittingly deflected over the bar by the back of Michael Love's head, such was Dover's luck.

The incident that caused the game to boil over came 16 minutes from time when Matt Carruthers was sent flying by a reckless two-footed challenge on the edge of the Dover area. Carruthers left the pitch on a stretcher and as tempers frayed there were angry words exchanged between both sides as the officials struggled to keep control of the match.

Dover defender Lee Shearer was dismissed five minutes after Carruthers was carried off for clattering Kelly with an ugly challenge.

Tommy Tyne collected a needless booking for obstructing MacKenzie, with whom he had been having a running battle all afternoon. Tyne was replaced by prolific Reserve Team forward John Ovard for the final few minutes. It was the teenager's first senior appearance for the Whites.

Kelly was dismissed late on for elbowing Keith Scott. Scott gave Dover a brief glimmer of hope with a consolation goal in the fifth minute of inury time, converting Norman's through ball to beat MacKenzie easily for his eleventh goal of the season.

Most Dover supporters would concede that the better side won but it was a match from which neither side emerged with much credit.

Dover midfielder Darren Davies.

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