Report

DOVER were unable to see off a spirited York team after they were twice pegged back at Crabble on Saturday.

Captain Jamie Grimes put Dover ahead early on before Jon Parkin levelled for the visitors.

Ricky Miller’s second-half penalty restored the lead for boss Chris Kinnear’s side before Shaun Rooney’s header earned a point for bottom-of-the-table City.

York, making their first trip to Crabble, almost stunned the home crowd with an early goal, but Rhys Murphy’s heavy touch from Parkin’s through ball allowed Steve Arnold to smother.

Dover hit the lead in the sixth minute after Grimes’ shot went in off the post from Sammy Moore’s free kick.

York replied with Matt Fry blasting Yan Klukowski’s knockdown over the bar from 10 yards before Arnold beat away Simon Heslop’s shot as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

Miller’s angled effort missed the far post by a whisker after he got the better of Klukowski out wide.

Parkin, signed permanently by the Minstermen the day before having previously been on loan from Newport, levelled on 36 minutes from close range, prodding home Simon Lappin’s corner.

Fry’s last-ditch challenge denied Ross Lafayette on the goal line following good work by Miller.

Kinnear made two tactical changes at the break, with Moses Emmanuel and Moore making way for Ricky Modeste and debutant James Hurst.

Lafayette cooly cleared Aarran Racine’s header off the line after the restart and Parkin struck the post with a fierce drive minutes later.

Dover restored their lead when referee Adrian Quelch awarded a penalty in the 72^nd minute after Miller was fouled by Rooney.

The striker picked himself up and calmly slotted in his 25th league goal of the campaign.

Rooney atoned for his error and levelled five minutes later, powerfully heading Sean Newton’s centre into the bottom corner.

Daniel Nti almost took all three points back to Yorkshire after running through in injury time with only the keeper to beat, but Arnold denied the substitute with his foot.

Earlier, Dover had made one change to the starting side that beat Maidstone on New Year’s Day with Jim Stevenson replacing the ill Jack Parkinson.

Hurst, who joined on Wednesday, started on the bench.

The draw kept Dover fifth, three points behind Dagenham but with a game in hand.

Whites travel to Macclesfield on Tuesday night for the second time this season after the initial game on 26th November was abandoned due to fog.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

YORK CITY REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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