Report

Whites were on the wrong end of four goals in cold conditions at the MBi Shay Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men had twice fought back to level through a Jerome Binnom-Williams own goal and Michael Woods’ fine second half finish after Town had gone ahead through Devante Rodney and Binnom-Williams’ bullet header.

A comical Dover own goal by Will De Havilland handed the hosts the advantage and the win was sealed when Rodney grabbed his second.

Inih Effiong went close with the game just three minutes old, sending Woods’ ball fizzing narrowly past the wrong side of the post.

Dover’s top marksmen was not far off again minutes later, stabbing into the side netting following Jai Reason’s corner.

Bobby-Joe Taylor’s loose pass nearly resulted in the opener for the hosts, however Jack Redshaw could only fire his first-time volley into the side of the goalmouth.

The visitors were punished by the Shaymen’s next attack.

Away keeper Yusuf Mersin parried Rodney’s shot, after Redshaw’s next effort was blocked by the away backline, Rodney did not turn down a second invite to put his side ahead, slotting into the bottom corner.

However Athletic only had to wait seven minutes to level the scores.

Shadrach Ogie sent a swirling cross into the Halifax box, a ball that Binnom-Williams could only slot into his own net to level the scores.

With the game evenly matched, De Havilland flicked Reason’s free-kick narrowly off-target.

The away side then went close to taking the lead just before the restart.

Taylor started a counter-attack and after exchanging passes with Reason, fired at Sam Johnson, with Effiong unable to poke the ball past the home stopper.

Instead it the was Town who were ahead at the break.

A corner from Redshaw was met by Binnom-Williams as the big defender atoned for this earlier error by heading past Mersin.

Hessenthaler’s men game out firing in the second half and equalised within four minutes of kick-off.

Taylor passed to Reason and the midfielder spotted the run of Woods, who ran onto his teammate’s pass and slotted underneath Johnson.

Mersin then saved Jeff King’s fizzing shot at this near post and Rodney went close to getting his second, running clear and blasting narrowly over.

The Shaymen were back ahead in comical circumstances.

Cameron King’s dangerous ball across the goalmouth was cleared by Josh Passley, only to cannon off De Havilland and into the back of the net.

Jamie Allen was denied when Mersin’s fingertips stopped his cornerbound shot, but the substitute played a key role in Halifax’s fourth moments later.

The substitute evaded his marker and laid the ball for Rodney to slot in his second of the game.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler named the same side that started the 2-0 home win against Aldershot Town on Saturday.

Whites next travel to Stockport County on Saturday 1st February, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION