Colchester United

Dover got the only goal in the second period, in a game that saw a number of players complete their first ninety minute workout.

First half goals from Sammie Szmodics and Josh Thompson gave the U’s a 2-1 half time lead, after the hosts had gone ahead in the first few minutes.

The home side started positively and it only took them three minutes to get a sight of goal, with Payne shooting narrowly wide with the outside of his right foot.

Less than a minute later, Dover hit the target and went ahead, with Stone hitting a rebound in after Sam Walker had made the initial save.

Walker was in the right place on seven minutes, when a strike from distance came in from Deverdics.

It took quarter of an hour for the U’s to cause trouble at the other end, with Gavin Massey having a shot blocked after he cut in from the left.

Another shot went straight at Walker after David Wright lost possession but the U’s were getting more of a foothold midway through the half.

A great seventy yard burst by Moncur on twenty two minutes ended with Drey Wrght being crowded out before he could cross but it was an attack with intent from the West Ham loanee.

And on the half hour mark, the U’s were level.

Massey got a cross in from the right and although his first effort was blocked, Sammie Szmodics regained possession and scored at the second attempt.

The goal spurred the U’s on and they dominated the remainder of the half.

A corner wasn’t cleared properly on thirty seven minutes but Massey’s stinging drive was deflected away for another corner.

Dover again got a slight deflection to a shot three minutes later, this time from Moncur, but it only delayed the U’s for a matter of seconds.

Moncur took the resultant corner and Josh Thompson rose highest to head home off the underside of the crossbar.

Walker made a routine save from a shot from outside the box but when the U's lost possession seconds later, he palmed away a powerful effort. 

Massey almost put the U's further ahead on fifty four minutes, but was at full stretch when the cross came in from David Wright, and his header went wide of the target.

Olufemi was well positioned at the far post to head behind and a header from the corner flew harmlessly wide.

At the start of the second period, the U's had better control of possession but there was some defending to do three minutes in.

The U’s were in complete control and Jabo Ibehre was denied a goal on the stroke of half time, when the home keeper just beat him to a near post cross from Massey. Dover gave the

Dover had a couple of chances in the final few minutes but a scramble didn't fall right for a forward to convert and then sub Murphy couldn't get any power behind his header.

Both players were straight in the action, with Clohessy setting up Vose's shot, which went straight at keeper Mitch Walker.

Sean Clohessy and Dominic Vose came on with seven minutes remaining, replacing Michael O'Donoghue and Drey Wright.

The U's tried to respond immediately, but Massey dragged his shot wide after being found by Szmodics.

Elder made amends on seventy eight minutes though, sidefooting home on the volley from a left wing cross.

A minute later, sub Elder had the chance to level things up but lifted the ball over the bar when he should really have just lifted it over Walker and in.

Massey should have made it 3-1 on seventy one minutes, but headed wide from a great right wing cross from Drey Wright.

Thompson, who had headed the U's ahead, used his height to good effect in defence on sixty eight minutes, heading clear a dangerous cross from Ricky Modeste.

A minute later, Sanchez Watt was in the action for the first time in a couple of weeks, coming on for Jabo Ibehre.

On the hour, Massey collected the ball from Olufemi but hit his shot straight at the home keeper.  U's a tough test and a good number of players got their first ninety minute workout.