National League – Page 17 – DOVER ATHLETIC FC

Two second-half goals condemned Dover to defeat at Crabble on Saturday.

Headed goals from Asa Hall and Jamie Reid set the Gulls up for three points, though Dover halved the deficit late on via an Inih Effiong penalty six minutes from time after Hall was sent off for a handball.

Whites were almost punished for an early defensive error when Jamie Reid pounced on Will De Havilland’s misplaced pass. However, the recipient of Reid’s ball, Kalvin Kalala, skewed wide from an angle.

Home stopper Lee Worgan was at his agile best to touch over Armani Little’s swirling free-kick with his fingers.

Dover’s first shot on target came from their Alfie Pavey, however, the host’s top scorer saw his volley well saved by visiting goalie Lucas Covolan.

Jai Reason lobbed just over from Jack Munns ball into the area and Athletic’s midfielder went for goal again minutes later, firing inches wide.

Pavey then leapt above the Torquay defence to meet Aaron Simpson’s deep cross, however, Kyle Cameron was well-placed to stop the ball crossing the line at the back post for his side.

Bilel Hinchiri’s mazy run and shot just lacked the finish as the ball trickled past the wrong side of the post.

Reason volleyed from 20-yards straight at Covolan and Kevin Lokko was almost left red-faced at the other end.

Athletic’s captain missed a ball over the top and in challenging the lying-in-wait Reid, prodded the ball just wide.

The Gulls went ahead from the resultant corner.

Asa Hall headed in Jake Andrew’s corner and the visitors inflicted more damage on the home side just two minutes later.

Dover’s shell-shocked defence could only watch as Reid headed in Andrew’s cross.

Da Havilland almost reduced the arrears, somehow heading Reason’s curling cross off target.

Effiong then latched onto sub Nassim L’Ghoul’s sumptuous flick, only to blast wide.

But there was late drama as Effiong pulled one back from the penalty spot with six minutes remaining.

Hall was sent off after Pavey’s header bounced down off the underside and onto the Torquay skipper’s arm, leaving striker Effiong to blast into the top corner from 12 yards.

The final chance fell to De Havilland, who headed Munn’s corner off target as Andy Hessenthaler’s men were unable to make it three straight wins.

Earlier boss Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that started at Barnet on Tuesday night. Inih Effiong, Oscar Gobern, Munns, Simpson and Reason came in for Michael Woods, Ricky Modeste, Josh Passley, Kurtis Cumberbatch and Steven Rigg.

Dover next travel to Sutton on Saturday 24th August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

TORQUAY UNITED REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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A stoppage-time header from Inih Effiong gave Dover a first-ever win against Barnet on Tuesday evening.

The substitute headed in after home keeper Scott Loach had parried Jai Reason’s long-range strike.

The victory sees Andy Hessenthaler’s side extend their unbeaten league run on the road to six matches.

Early on, Jack Taylor peeled off his man from a corner, only to send his effort from the penalty spot high into the stand containing 143 visiting fans.

At the other end, Steven Rigg headed Kevin Lokko’s centre off-target following a free kick.

The first shot of the match came from Kurtis Cumberbatch’s curling effort from the edge of the area, only for home goalie Scott Loach to punch the shot away.

Barnet’s top scorer Simeon Akinola sprinted onto a long ball, however man-of-the-match Will De Havilland arrived in the nick of time to head back to visiting stopper Lee Worgan.

Jack Taylor blazed high over the bar from 20-yards seconds after the restart and Akinola couldn’t quite connect to Ephron Mason-Clark’s fizzed ball across the penalty area.

Worgan was then called into action to save Barnet’s first shot on target.

Dover’s stopper stuck out a strong arm to stop Medy Elito’s bullet header at the back post, with James Dunne off target with his follow-up header.

Worgan wasn’t finished there, flinging himself across goal to palm away Dunne’s curling effort.

Bobby-Joe Taylor went closest to scoring, clipping the top of the crossbar with a fierce 25-yard drive.

Sub Effiong sprinted clear with five minutes remaining, however, Bees captain Callum Reynolds saved his side with a last-ditch challenge.

But Effiong was not to be denied and netted his first goal of the campaign in the third minute of stoppage-time to lift Dover to fourth on the National League table, one point behind current leaders Solihull Moors.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that started the 2-1 win against Wrexham on Saturday. Cumberbatch, Taylor, Ricky Modeste and Bilal Hinchiri replaced Effiong, Aaron Simpson, Oscar Gobern and Jack Munns.

Whites next host Torquay United on Saturday 17th August, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION