DOVER maintained their quest for a play-off spot, and extended their unbeaten run to eight games, with a single-goal victory over visitors Bromley at the Crabble Ground on Tuesday evening.

The home side enjoyed the majority of the play throughout, and Billy Bricknell and Ricky Modeste went close in the opening minutes, before Louie Theophanous responded by shooting wide while under pressure from Tom Wynter.

Modeste and Moses Ademola both shot over from good positions for the hosts, whilst Elliott Buchanan wastefully did likewise at the other end, following a penetrating run by Ishmael Welsh.

Bromley goalkeeper Joe Welch – who was later red-carded – kept his side in the game with an excellent tip over from Modeste, after the winger received the ball from a poor defensive clearance, while Steven Thompson shot wide of an exposed goal following good work from Bircknell and Modeste.

As the half-time interval approached, Sanchez Ming did well to get across and block Bricknell’s effort, after Daryl McMahon had sent a defence-splitting pass into the path of the Dover attacker.

Bromley enjoyed their best spell of the game in the opening period of the second half, but could not find the vital breakthrough.

Welsh saw his goal-bound shot charged down by Michael Kamara, before his cross-cum-shot was inches wide of the far post.

Danny Waldren’s volley from the edge of the area was only just over the crossbar, and Dover’s goalkeeper, Mitch Walker, spilled a cross from the left at the expense of a corner.

However, Dover came back and Modeste was allowed a free run across goal before Marlon Patterson blocked his goal-bound strike, and the rebound was put wide of a gaping goal.

A long deep cross picked out substitute Ben May at the far post and Dover’s leading scorer was denied by Welch with a point-blank save.

The goal that had been threatening came on 62 minutes when Lloyd Harrington hooked home a shot from 20 yards which gave Welch no chance.

Bromley’s goalkeeper was at his best a few minutes later as he denied Ademola with a full-length save, and from the resultant corner Tyrone Sterling fizzed a shot wide following a poor headed clearance.

Bromley substitute Mike Jones might have done better on 74 minutes. After taking on three defenders, he put his shot wide when it seemed easier to hit the target, and a minute later Buchanan saw his stinging volley parried by Walker, but there was no-one around to take advantage of the loose ball.

Welch’s evening came to an abrupt end on 79 minutes when he was adjusted to have brought down Ademola outside the penalty area. The Dover striker had broken clear and was bearing down on goal when Welch advanced from his area, only for Ademola to crumple to the ground under what appeared to be the slightest of challenges. With Welch being the last man in defence, the referee deemed he had denied a goal-scoring opportunity and sent the goalkeeper off.

Bromley may have a case to appeal against the sending-off if they can obtain video evidence from Dover, who were filming the proceedings. There appears to be some doubt as to whether Welch actually made contact with Ademola or whether the Dover player dived.

Waldren took over the gloves and McMahon shot wide from the free-kick.

Waldren did not have a save to make in the remaining minutes, as the home side settled for the points with what appeared to be blatant time-wasting tactics.

Bromley: Welch, Ming, Patterson (Rhule, 63), Fuseini, Swaibu, Holland, Joseph-Dubois, Waldren, Theophanous, Buchanan (Noble, 80), Welsh (Jones, 63), SUBs (not used): Orome, Finn

Gate: 715