2019-2020 – Page 12 – DOVER ATHLETIC FC

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

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MATCH GALLERY

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Frank Mulhern’s spectacular first-half goal saw Dover lose for the fifth time at Crabble this season.

The Hatter’s forward volleyed in from 35-yards in wet and windy conditions to leave Andy Hessenthaler’s men without a win in four league matches.

Ash Palmer tried to put the visitors ahead early on with a diving header, however the defender slipped as he made contact with the ball with home stopper Yusuf Mersin saving easily.

Another defender then had an effort for County. Sam Minihan was teed up by Mulhern, only for Mersin to dive onto the ball.

Kevin Lokko then volleyed Jack Munns’ corrner goalwards, only to see his shot bounce inches past the wrong side of the post.

Dover’s skipper was unable to try and add to his goal tally for the afternoon, hobbling off following a challenge and replaced by Anthony Jeffrey.

Tom Walker then unleashed a spectacular 30-yard dipping volley that the visiting support thought had flown in, however the cheers soon evaporated when it was known the attempt had been off-target.

But Stockport and Mulhern had better luck with an effort from an even further distance than the last.

The Hatters’ forward went for goal from 40-yards and the ball flew over Mersin and bounced into the roof of the net.

Athletic’s stopper was called into action again five minutes before the break, stopper Tom Walker’s shot with his legs after the midfielder had been played in by Mulhern.

Walkers namesake Sam then sent a volley the wrong side of the post and following the restart, Inih Effiong headed sub Jeffrey’s swirling cross at Hinchcliffe.

County’s keeper then pushed away Bobby-Joe Taylor’s swirling free-kick and at the other end, Mersin grabbed onto Festus Arthur’s header from a corner.

Jai Reason sent an effort whizzing past the top left-hand corner of Hinchcliffe’s goal.

Things went from bad to worse for Whites’ when Will De Havilland went off injured nine minutes from time.

And Dover’s misery was nearly compounded two minutes from time when Arthur headed towards goal, only for Taylor to kick the ball off the line.

Mersin made a late double save to deny both subs Nyal Bell and Elliott Osborne, however Athletic were unable to muster a late equaliser.

Hessenthaler had made two changes to the side that started at Weymouth last week in the FA Cup, with Kurtis Cumberbatch and Jack Munns replacing the injured duo Joe Bedford and Nassim L’Ghoul.

Whites next host Eastleigh on Tuesday 29th October, kick off 7:45 pm.

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