Dover Athletics’ home form is becoming a big problem for boss Andy Hessenthaler as he watched his side concede two poor defensive goals that propelled AFC Halifax Town to within a point of leaders Bromley under the BT Sport cameras at Crabble.
Two goals from Cameron King sends Hessenthaler yet again back to the drawing board at Crabble – only one win from their seven games at home now and yet Dover still find themselves sixth in the table thanks to taking eighteen points out of twenty-one on the road!
The Crabble faithful probably began to fear the worse when the visitors took the lead in the tenth minute as Dover were caught on the classic counterattack from one of their own free kicks.
The Shaymen broke three on three and when the ball fell to King he squeezed the ball in at Dover keeper’s Lee Worgan’s near post – not one of Worgan’s greatest moments in front of the TV cameras as Dover’s depressing run of failing to keep a clean sheet at home this season continued!
Effiong could have levelled for Dover ten minutes later as he muscled his way past two defenders but just could direct the ball into the next as the shot went wide of the right post.
Indeed, shortly after the home side thought they had a penalty as Ricky Modeste went down under a challenge for Halifax keeper Johnson – referee Middleton had other ideas and booked the Dover man for simulation!
As a tight first half wore on, King forced Worgan into a smart low save to the Dover keepers left, before Jai Reason couldn’t get a shot at the other end to dip just enough and the Halifax goal stayed intact.
Reason drilled a free kick into the side netting (after a smart routine with Bobby Joe-Taylor) as the home side started the second half with much more intension and belief going forward – de Havilliand was agonisingly close with a header from another Taylor free-kick; substitute L’Ghoul then created another chance but the Halifax back line just about held on.
De Havilliand then let fly from distance only for the ball to fizz into the crowd as the home side just couldn’t force the good chance that their pressure warranted, before with twenty minutes left, loud Dover penalty appeals were again waved away as Liam Nolan appeared to handle a Modeste knock down from another Taylor free-kick.
Johnson then pulled off a magnificent save from Reason’s free kick as the ball flew through the defensive wall – the Halifax keeper can’t have seen the ball until it was almost on top of him but still managed to fist the ball behind.
Dover’s efforts were sadly summed up when L’Ghoul and Effiong combined for Taylor only for the left back to fire in a tremendous shot which sadly was rising when it cleared the bar to such and extent it also cleared the stand.
Indeed, proof it wasn’t the home side’s night came deep into stoppage time when King scored a second from fully forty yards – a real hit and hope from the Halifax man flew over a startled Worgan and into the Dover net.
Dover’s hot and cold home season continues then and is something that Andy Hessenthaler must resolve soon if the Whites are going to stay in contention for the Play Off places – one home win from seven games at home sadly speak for itself! Things for Hessenthaler to consider most definitely and all that before Notts County come calling next Saturday!
DOVER ATHLETIC – Worgan, Taylor (Rooney 87), Doe, de Havilland, Reason, Woods, Effiong, Modeste (Jeffrey 59), Cumberbatch (L’Ghoul 46), Rigg, Simpson
Subs – Mersin, Munns
AFC HALIFAX TOWN – Johnson, Nolan, Duckworth, Clarke, Cameron King, Sho-Silva (Southwell 79), Staunton, Williams, Cooper, McAlinden (Jeff King 65), Binnom-Williams (Earing 87)
Subs – Appleyard, Hanson
REFEREE – Middleton