Matt Carruthers in action against Worthing.

Dover Athletic's FA Cup jinx struck for the seventeenth consecutive year at Crabble. The Whites once more failing to qualify for the most famous domestic cup competition in the World.

While we could argue about penalties that should have been given, chances that should have been taken and poor refereeing the fact remains that Dover had two matches against a spirited but limited Worthing side, two divisions below them in the pyramid, and failed to win either.

Dover manager Bill Williams chose to drop both of the strikers who were so ineffective in Sussex on Saturday. Mark Hynes and Steve Brown making way for Matt Carruthers and Joff Vansittart. Vansittart was making his first start since breaking his nose against Northwich a month ago. In defence Stuart Munday replaced Scott Daniels and Joe Dunne continued to fill-in at right back.

For much of the first half both sides played aerial football, not a clever tactic given the strong wind. Dover really should have been awarded a penalty in the first five minutes when Vansittart was shoved in the area as he was about to latch onto a cross from the left. The referee was well-placed to see the incident but declined to award a spot-kick, much to the disgust of the home fans.

The first half was largely devoid of chances, Worthing keeper Lee Bray wasn't tested and their hero from Saturday, Ben Carrington, troubled the Dover defence with his pace but failed to create any real danger.

The second half, like the first, was not much of a spectacle, partly because of poor quality by both teams and partly because the referee would not let the game flow.

Dover looked to have won the match when Simon Wormull hit a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Bray in the Worthing goal did brilliantly to get his fingertips to the ball, it still looked to be a goal but Bray had got just enough on the ball to deflect it onto the post. A magnificent save that in the end proved to be a match-winner for Worthing. For Wormull it was his only shot in the match that did not leave the stadium.

As the match approached extra-time the tension grew. Steve Norman replaced Neil Le Bihan just before the final whistle and Mark Hynes replaced Matt Carruthers at the start of extra-time.

In the second period of extra-time Hynes squandered Dover's best chance of the match when a brilliant cross from the left picked him out at the back post. It was a header that nine times out of ten Hynes would have powered into the net but this time it spun of his head and out for a goal kick.

A minute later Worthing could have wrapped up the match but for an excellent fingertip save by Paul Hyde to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

With penalties looming Holden was put through one-on-one with Paul Hyde. The Dover keeper came out to narrow the angle and Holden lifted the ball cooly over his head and into the net to give Worthing the lead with only six minutes remaining. The ecstatic Worthing fans invaded the pitch and had to be escorted off by stewards.

Bill Williams threw on Steve Brown in place of Joe Dunne for the last five minutes and Lee Shearer came up from the back to join the attack. Dover attacked relentlessly in the dying minutes of the game but created little. With everyone pushed up for Dover, Carrington broke for Worthing and only a fine save from Hyde prevented him making it 2-0.

The final whistle blew and whilst the Worthing players and fans celebrated, Bill Williams and his team made their way back to the changing room to a chorus of boos from the home fans. The only players to escape the fans' wrath were Dave Clarke, who had battled hard all night, and Paul Hyde, whose excellent goalkeeping had prevented an even more embarrassing scoreline. When the Worthing team left the pitch those Dover fans that remained gave them a generous round of applause, although Worthing had not been outstanding in either game they were able to match the efforts of a supposedly superior side and had won the tie fair and square. We can only wish them luck in the next round against Rotherham and concentrate our efforts on improving our position in the Conference. As for the FA Cup, well there's always next year.

There was a sizeable crowd at Crabble for this match but after the performance how many of them will return on Saturday for the game against Hednesford?

Simon Wormull in action against Worthing.

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