The FA Trophy – Page 4 – DOVER ATHLETIC FC

WHITES were knocked out of the Buildbase Trophy second round at Crabble on Saturday afternoon by their Yorkshire opponents.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men had taken an early lead through Inih Effiong, though Jack Muldoon equalised just minutes later.

Harrogate’s top scorer grabbed a second-half winner to end Dover’s six-game unbeaten run at home.

Earlier, Josh Falkingham and Lloyd Kerry tested Mitch Walker early on with 25-yard efforts.

Dover’s stopper then had to face a free shot from 12 yards when Joe Bedford tripped Mark Beck in the area.

Town’s big striker was unable to convert his spot-kick, with Mitch Walker saving with his legs.

Instead, it was Athletic’s in-form striker who gave Whites the lead on 13 minutes.

Effiong controlled Anthony Jeffrey’s volley with his chest and unleashed a volley past a statuesque James Belshaw in the visiting net.

However, Harrogate were level just two minutes later thanks to their own top scorer.

Muldoon slotted Callum Howe’s knock-down past Walker to restore instant parity.

Dover almost retook the lead when Moussa Diarra headed over Mitch Brundle’s looping cross.

Any claims for a foul against Stuart Lewis in the penalty area were waved away and Effiong placed an effort straight down Belshaw’s throat.

Joshua Debayo flashed a free-kick just wide of the mark and at the other end, Beck somehow misdirected his header from Muldoon’s pinpoint cross.

The away team then created their best chance of the half so far, with Ryan Hallowfield crossing for the onrushing Muldoon, but the visiting striker somehow missed the target from a few yards out.

Brundle’s last-ditch defensive header denied Beck from close range but Simon Weaver’s men converted their next chance on 63 minutes.

Muldoon nipped in ahead of his marker to fire home his second of the afternoon from George Thomson’s cross at Walker’s near post.

It was almost 3-1 to the visitors, but Walker bravely blocked Liam Kitching’s close-range shot and Dover’s keeper dived onto Thomson’s curling effort.

The Yorkshire side continued to create and Kitching volleyed over when well placed at a corner.

Earlier, Andy Hessenthaler made two changes to the side that started at Havant in the FA Trophy first round in midweek. Mitch Walker and Inih Effiong replaced Lee Worgan and Kadell Daniel.

Whites next host Bromley in the National League on Saturday 19th January. Kick off 3 pm

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HARROGATE TOWN REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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ALFIE Pavey’s first-half goal was enough to send Dover into the second round of the FA Trophy.

The striker, playing against his former side, outmuscled Ryan Woodford and rolled the ball past home stopper Ben Dudzinski.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men will now host Harrogate town in the next round on Saturday 12th January.

Earlier, Ibra Sekajja found himself one on one with Lee Worgan, but slipped at the crucial moment, allowing the visiting keeper the close down the striker’s shot.

Wes Tarbuck then volleyed Moussa Diarra’s defensive header back towards goal with interest but saw his effort bounce narrowly wide.

It was Whites who went ahead on 19 minutes, though Havant had chances to level.

Wes Fogden dragged a shot wide and Sekajja went even closer from an angle, but Worgan safely watched the ball fly past his far post.

Prior to the half-time whistle, Kadell Daniel’s thunderous strike whizzed by Dudzinski’s side netting.

Following the restart, the linesman flag denied Dover a second goal.

Dudzinski let Daniel’s curler slip through his fingers and though Pavey tapped in, his goal was ruled out for offside.

Worgan then came to Whites’ rescue, diving low to hold onto Sekajja’s low drive.

At the other end, Jamie Allen ran through, but Dudzinski beat the attacker to the ball.

The Hawks stopper faced a similar situation with substitute Effiong bearing down on goal, but the keeper was out quickly once more to clear the danger just in time.

And the centre forward had two more opportunities to confirm Dover’s spot in the second round.

After Dudzinski dropped a corner, Effiong saw his volley blocked on the line by Jordan Rose and then after sprinting clear, placed his shot just off target.

The away side looked to seal the win but Anthony Jeffrey sent a 20-yard shot wide and Effiong struck the foot of the post from a similar distance.

Earlier, boss Andy Hessenthaler rotated his squad, handing starts to Diarra, Jeffrey, Worgan, Daniel and Joe Bedford.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION