Report

Dover ended their barren run at Crabble on Tuesday night, but home fans were given a few nervy moments.

Tyrone Barnett halved Easteigh’s deficit following the hour mark after Oscar Gobern and Inih Effiong had given Athletic a two-goal lead at the break.

However striker Effiong sealed the win from the penalty spot to giveAndy Hessenthaler’s men their first in eight attempts at Crabble, a run stretching back to August.

Earlier, Whites almost drew first blood through Paul Rooney.  The Irishman latched onto Jai Reason’s free-kick into the area, only to divert the ball wide of the target.

Effiong bundled his way through to goal, only for Andrew Boyce to make a brave last-ditch challenge on the striker.

Jack Munns’ fizzing corner evaded every shirt in the box as Dover looked to make amend for their loss against Stockport on Saturday.

And Gobern, starting for the first time since September, bought some much-needed cheer to the home fans by opening the scoring.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball 25-yards from goal and arrowed an effort into the bottom corner, his first competitive goal for Dover.

Barnett deflected Jack McKnight’s volley into the side netting and another careless by Eastleigh let in Reason, however the playmaker was unable to find a way past visiting keeper Max Stryjek.

The Polish keeper then denied Reason again, pushing away his firm header from Passley’s pinpoint cross.

But Stryjek’s heroics were soon forgotten as he gifted Athletic a second goal.

The keeper dropped the ball as he rushed off his goalline, leaving Steven Rigg to lay the ball off for Effiong to pass the ball into an empty net.

Effiong nearly profited from Stryjek once again after the keeper punched the ball to his path, however Dover’s forward volleyed over the bar.

Striker Effiong blasted wide from the edge of the area following the restart and home stopper Yusuf Mersin just managed to keep out substitute Ben Williamson’s angled lob.

But the Spitfires reduced the arrears midway through the second half.

Barnett rose highest to power in Jack Payne’s corner, though Dover nearly instantly restored their two-goal cushion, only for Stryjek to deny Effiong.

There was no denying Effiong the next opportunity to score after Whites were awarded a penalty after Andrew Boyce fouled Gobern in the area.

The forward slotted home his ninth National League goal of the season, sending Stryjek the wrong way from 12 yards.

Now on a hat-trick, Effiong saw Stryjek palm away his fierce drive.

And Simpson tried his luck from distance, but Eastleigh’s goalie was equal to his effort.

Mersin’s late slip almost let Williamson in, however the substitute was unable to find the target as Whites ended a run of four league games without a win.

Earlier Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that started against Stockport County.  Aaron Simpson, Scott Doe, Michael Woods, Oscar Gobern and Steven Rigg coming into the team with Kevin Lokko, Will De Havilland and Ricky Modeste missing through injury and Kurtis Cumberbatch and Bobby-Joe Taylor named as substitutes.

Dover next travel to AFC Fylde in the National League, kick off 7:45 pm

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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