FC Halifax Town put in an impressive, backs-to-the-wall performance against Dover Athletic to earn a 2-0 victory in front of the BT Sports camera
A brace from Cameron King gave the visitors the win on the south coast, and despite late pressure from the home side, Town held on to take all three points.
King broke the deadlock just 11 minutes into the game. A great cross from Liam McAlinden found him in plenty of space in the box and after a few twists and turns he slotted it under Lee Worgan to make it 1-0.
Doverโs first proper chance came just six minutes after Townโs goal as Ricky Modeste fired over the bar following a blocked shot from Jai Reason and good work from Inih Effiong.
The Shaymen went close to doubling their lead just before the break. King played a perfect chip over the top to Danny Williams and he blasted a first-time shot towards goal, only to see it strike a post (although the referee did then blow for offside).
Dover went close to equalising just before half-time. A well-worked corner routine found Bobby-Joe Taylor on the edge of the box but his powerful shot went just wide of the mark
As the game wore on the home side started to put more pressure on Town. A poor tackle gave Dover a free kick 30 yards from goal which Taylor swung in but the header from Will De Havilland went just over the bar.
De Havilland was proving difficult for the Shaymen as he popped up with another chance. After some good passes it fell to the number six, but his curling effort was always going wide of the mark.
With 15 minutes to go, Dover could easily have pulled level. A dangerous free-kick from Reason needed strong hands from Sam Johnson to push it wide. Taylorโs corner came to nothing, but the hosts won a free-kick in the opposite corner. A dangerous cross was punched clear as the referee blew for a free-kick to Town
Into the last 10 minutes, Dover continued to push. A free-kick from just 25-yards out was taken by LโGhoul. It struck the wall as Town cleared and kept hold of the lead.
With just a minute left on the clock, Town doubled their lead in spectacular fashion.
The ball fell to King towards the left touchline, about midway into the hostsโ half. He fired a powerful, looping shot towards goal, catching Worgan unawares and off his line, as the effort bounced over the stopper and into the back of the net.
The result sees Town regain their second place in the league (after the earlier kick-offs saw them drop to third), level on points with Yeovil.
Match Facts:
Dover Athletic (4-3-3): 13 Lee Worgan; 3 Bobby-Joe Taylor (16 Paul Rooney 86โ); 4 Scott Doe; 6 Will De Havilland; 26 Aaron Simpson; 7 Jai Reason; 8 Michael Woods ยฉ; 15 Kurtis Cumberbatch (10 Nassim LโGhoul 45โ); 9 Inih Effiong; 12 Ricky Modeste; 19 Steven Rigg
Substitutes: 1 Yusuf Mersin; 11 Jack Munns; 21 Anthony Jeffrey
FC Halifax Town (4-2-3-1): 1 Sam Johnson; 2 Michael Duckworth; 3 Jerome Binnom-Williams; 4 Nathan Clarke ยฉ; 6 Liam Nolan; 10 Cameron King; 11 Tobi Sho-Silva (9 Dayle Southwell 78โ); 14 Josh Staunton; 15 Liam McAlinden (20 Jeff King 65โ); 21 Danny Williams (8 Jack Earing 86); 22 Charlie Cooper
Substitutes: 12 Will Appleyard; 16 Jacob Hanson
Officials:
Referee: Daniel Middleton; Assistants: Marcus Carmichael & Ryan Head; 4th Official: Ben Atkinson
Goal sorers: C King (11โ & 90+3โ)
Yellow Cards: Modeste (25โ), Woods (38โ), Doe (44โ), J King (68โ)
Attendance: 1020
Next Up:
Town travel south once again next Saturday as they face Maidenhead United.
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