DOVER’S four-game winning run against Gateshead came to an abrupt end on Tyneside on Saturday.

The hosts, who had failed to score a goal in their previous three home games, finally gave their fans something to cheer about as they sent Whites crashing to a second heavy defeat on the road in a week.

Jack Parkinson put Dover ahead 10 minutes from half-time before the Heed replied twice before the break through Wes York and Sam Jones.

Paddy McLaughlin added a third three minutes into the second half before Ricky Miller threw Dover a lifeline with his 10th goal of the season.

But the joy proved to be short-lived when Jones grabbed his second of the game two minutes later.

Jones, who scored the winner for Gateshead in the 1-0 win at Tranmere on Tuesday, then missed a glorious chance to score a hat-trick from the penalty spot.

His effort crashed into Mitch Walker’s crossbar and was cleared as Whites escaped not conceding five times in consecutive away games.

While the game ended in disappointment for Dover and the 67 travelling fans, it had started brightly enough with Miller hitting the post inside the opening minute.

While that gave home goalkeeper Dan Hanford a scare, Walker gave Whites a huge concern after diving bravely at the feet of an onrushing Jones.

Walker resumed after receiving lengthy treatment from Dover physio Calum Green and his Gateshead counterpart.

He was clearly struggling but Parkinson gave him the perfect tonic after opening the scoring with a sublime strike.

Parkinson, who scored with a header in the corresponding fixture last season, curled home a stunning effort after Gateshead failed to clear Mitch Pinnock’s corner.

Pinnock had earlier replaced the suspended Moses Emmanuel in boss Chris Kinnear’s side.
Dover’s celebrations did not last long – less than 60 seconds to be precise.

Walker did well to save Jones’ close-range shot but York was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Jones got in on the act a minute before half-time after slotting past Walker from McLaughlin’s cross.

Gateshead made it a three-goal advantage after the break after McLaughlin waltzed through the Dover backline and finished past Walker.

Miller saw a shot saved by Hanford before he beat the Gateshead stopper with a clinical finish from just inside the area.

Any hopes of Dover comeback were gone in an instant, with Jones’ powerfully struck shot restoring Gateshead’s two-goal lead in the 59th minute.

Five minutes later, Jones was gifted the chance to complete a hat-trick but his penalty cannoned into the bar.

A limping Walker ensured Gateshead did not score a fifth with smart saves from that man Jones and York.

MATCH GALLERY

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