This is getting depressing now

The Harriers slumped to yet another defeat to make it eight games without a win and only one goal of their own in that time.  Our previous goal came at home to Woking exactly a month ago today when Lee Hughes scored on his second debut for us.  Today he found himself pushed down onto the bench to make way for Jamie Spencer, a player who has never scored for us and on todays example never will.

Back in the side following illness was Aman Verma along with Ahmed Obeng in for his first start since our last win at Aldershot at the beginning of February.  There was no sign of the youngsters that had been promoted from the Academy even though the anger from the management, following the home defeat to Eastleigh on Tuesday, promised that there would be changes made with under performing senior players told to sling their hooks.

Craig Reid was no where to be seen following his non performing appearance against Eastleigh so maybe he was the one left carrying the can.

As usual the game started scrappily with both sides guilty of hoofing the ball and misplaced passes.  It took Dover less time than us to adjust to the, somewhat, frantic pace of the opening period and within seven minutes they had taken a lead that they were never going to relinquish.  For reasons known only to himself, on his two hundredth appearance for the club, he rushed off his line to collect yet another high ball from the Dover defenders and then, as it fell at Tom Murphys feet, watched the ball loop over his head as Murphy saw the chance of an easy goal.  The Dover striker swooped past him and took the ball onwards and into the net.

We replied with chances for Danny Wright and Spencer but Dannys shot was skied over the bar while Spencers header was so weak it was meat and drink for Andy Rafferty in the Dover goal.  Dover could have doubled the lead a minute before the break when Murphy, again, spotted some more more defending to capitalise on but his shot was saved well by Danny Lewis.

As in the last ruck of games since we got really bad the fans were hoping for some kind of improvement in the second half.  It came for the first ten minutes following Callum Gittings introduction to the game in place of Jack Byrne but Cal has lost what he previously had and struggled to impose himself on the game.  Our general play was better that that, again, awful first half.

Danny Wright had the best, possibly the only chance of the second half when he managed to get into the box and also take the ball with him at the same time.  From just a few feet out he tried to squeeze the ball past Rafferty but the visiting keeper saved well by getting down and smothering the ball.

That was it in attacking endeavours for the Harriers as Dover began to regain control.  We sent on Lee Hughes for Spencer and then soon after Keyon Reffell for Jake Green but they were never going to change the game.

Tom Murphy put the game to bed ten minutes from the end.  in an almost replay of his first goal the ball landed well for him to spot Lewis slightly off his line again but this time he didn't need to run around the Harriers keeper to ensure the ball went into the net.  He just lobbed it over his head to drop into the goal just below the crossbar.

The deathly run continues and so does Gary Whilds cameo of the Green Mile scene when that nasty warder leads the hapless John Coffey to his cell.

 Goals for Dover: Murphy 7, 79

REFEREE:

Mr M Pottage Dorset