The CNG Stadium

A second-half brace from Inih Effiong maintained Dover’s perfect record on the road this season.

The striker headed home Michael Woods’ cross and then curled home with a minute remaining to move him two goals clear at the top of Athletic’s goalscoring charts with five goals.

The victory, Dover’s sixth consecutive away win dating back to April, lifts Andy Hessenthaler’s men up to fifth on the National League ladder.

Earlier, the first shot on target came from the home side as Scott Brown volleyed straight at visiting keeper Lee Worgan.

Moments later home stopper James Belshaw dived to keep out Woods’ low drive, with Jack Munns blasting narrowly wide just seconds after.

Worgan was then called into action in spectacular fashion, tipping away Jack Muldoon’s stunning 25-yard volley on the turn.

Josh Passley went for goal for the visitors after cutting onto his left-foot but curled just over.

Jai Reason also went for glory, this time from an angle, only send his first-time volley narrowly above the crossbar.

Whites went close to opening the scoring two minutes into the second-half through Effiong.

Great interplay saw the forward slipped in, but the striker slid the ball onto the outside of the post and into the surrounding advertising boards.

Belshaw then parried L’Ghoul’s hopeful shot from distance with Effiong blasting the rebound into the side netting from the tightest of angles.

Another long-distance effort, this time from Reason, was almost deflected into the goal by Effiong.

Worgan then denied Harrogate what seemed a certain goal on the hour mark.

After Brown had tricked his way past three Dover players in the box, Athletic’s stopper was out of his goal quickly to deny the Gate midfielder.

That save proved crucial as Whites went ahead with their next attack.

Woods fired in a cross for Effiong to direct a header out of Belshaw’s reach and into the top corner to send the Dover travelling support behind the away goal into wild celebrations.

And the big striker curled in his second with a minute remaining to seal the three points in North Yorkshire.

Earlier boss Hessenthaler made three changes to the side that started against Woking on Bank Holiday Monday.

Attackers Effiong and Rigg replaced the injured duo Alfie Pavey and Ricky Modeste, while Reason replaced the suspended Kurtis Cumberbatch.

Whites next host Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday 3rd September. Kick-off 7:45 pm.

Photo Credit: Harrogate Town FC

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HARROGATE TOWN REACTION

AN INJURY-TIME leveller from Kelvin Langmead denied Andy Hessenthaler a debut win in the first match of his second spell in charge of Dover.

Two second-half strikes from Inih Effiong cancelled out Aaron Williams first-half opener for the home side, but Langmead stooped to head home in the fifth minute of time added on.

And Anthony Jeffrey was sent off a minute later for his part in a confrontation with George Thomson.

Earlier, Dover’s first chance fell to Kevin Lokko, with the defender volleying over Jeffrey’s corner.

And visiting keeper Mitch Walker was needed soon after to keep Liam Kitching at bay.

Walker denied Harrogate’s 19-year old, before palming the ball away before any of the home players could follow up.

But the hosts were ahead on 26 minutes.

A free-kick from Muldoon was headed back across goal by Callum Howe into the path of Aaron Williams to slot his side in front from just a few yards.

Walker fisted away Joe Leesley’s swerving shot as Whites went into the break a goal down.

But that stat changed just after the restart thanks to Effiong’s first goal for Dover.

After Jeffrey had beaten his man out wide, Effiong collected the winger’s pass and fired low past Belford.

The striker then almost put Athletic in front just moments later, cutting inside and striking just wide of the post.

And Effiong also had an impact at the other end of the pitch, heading off the line from a Harrogate corner.

Another chance for Dover saw Jamie Allen strike the crossbar, volleying Effiong’s deep cross into the ground and onto the woodwork.

But striker Effiong was not finished yet.

The forward doubled his tally of the season, running into the penalty area before planting the ball into the bottom corner.

Josh Falkingham forced Walker into a smart save from range, diving onto the home captain’s long-range drive.

And Walker then rescued the away team with a fine stop.

Howe rose highest to meet a corner, only to see the keeper acrobatically tip the ball over the bar.

But Whites were unable to hold out for the three points as Langmead headed in a Kitching’s cross.

And the away team ended the match with ten men after Jeffrey was given his marching orders following a skirmish with Thomson.

However, the red card had little impact with the referee calling for time on an entertaining match just seconds later.

Earlier, Hessenthaler kept just four players from the side that started against Salford last week, including debuts for Stuart Lewis and Josh Debayo, who signed permanently from Maidstone and on loan from Cheltenham respectively.

Whites next travel to Concord Rangers in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifier on Saturday 20th October, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION