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Dover Athletic manager Chris Kinnear felt Whites deserved a point from their National League game against Wrexham

07:00, 05 August 2018

updated: 10:14, 05 August 2018

Chris Kinnear felt referee David Rock was wrong to deny Dover a last-gasp equaliser in their National League opener against Wrexham at Crabble on Saturday.

With Whites trailing to Mike Fondop's acrobatic 29th minute strike for the Dragons, and the game deep in injury time, striker Jamie Allen thought he had salvaged a point when he stabbed home after Wrexham keeper Rob Lainton had dropped the ball.

Lainton, making his debut on loan from Port Vale, appeared to have been baulked by his own defender, but Mr Rock felt the player in question had been pushed unfairly by Allen.

Chris Kinnear appeals for a decision against Wrexham, flanked by coach Mark Newson Picture: Tony Flashman
Chris Kinnear appeals for a decision against Wrexham, flanked by coach Mark Newson Picture: Tony Flashman

The decision capped a frustrating afternoon for Whites, who had earlier seen Inih Effiong's penalty saved by Lainton in first-half injury time.

Kinnear said: "We're disappointed but we've come up against a side who are expected to do well this season and there's not been a lot between us.

"Their player (scorer Fondop), he took a chance, just swung his leg at it and it flew in the corner but we've missed a penalty and we've not been given a goal with the last kick of the game when their goalkeeper dropped the ball on their own player.

"All the lads said it wasn't a foul (by Allen), there's no reason why he (Mr Rock) shouldn't have given it. It could have been a draw and given the way the game went it probably would have been fair.

"We created a lot of chances but we didn't really put their keeper under too much pressure and apart from the goal Mitch (Dover keeper Mitch Walker) didn't have a save to make."

Kinnear said defeat was 'not the end of the world', but did feel that Effiong's penalty miss was a turning point.

Dover's Inih Effiong had this penalty saved by Wrexham's Rob Lainton on Saturday Picture: Tony Flashman
Dover's Inih Effiong had this penalty saved by Wrexham's Rob Lainton on Saturday Picture: Tony Flashman

He added: "I think had that gone in it would have given us a bit of a lift, and they (Wrexham) would have gone in a bit disappointed, but it's if, if, if.

"He's gone up a bit slow, but I've seen him score goals for Woking and one in pre-season where he hit it hard and high up into the corner. He made that decision today and it wasn't to be. That's the way it is."

Kinnear was pleased with the contribution of Effiong's strike partner Allen – who was unlucky to be denied by the crossbar in the first 11 minutes.

The Whites boss explained: "That could have wobbled anywhere, and if it had dipped another foot it would have been in.

"Jamie looked very sharp, I wished that goal had gone in for him, but he had good movement and caused them a problem, I was really pleased with him.

"We've got a lot to take from it (the game), more than half the side are new but we created chances, we had lots of corners and free kicks even though they are a big, strong side. We're not far away but we need a few more games to see how good or bad we are."

Dover are away to Bromley on Tuesday.

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