Dover Athletic v FC Halifax Town

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Details

Date Time League Season Attendance Dover Star Player Red Cards
30th December 2017 3:00 pm National League 2017-2018 1,127 Connor Essam Clarke (90) (Halifax)

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WHITES could not end 2017 with a win after being unable to break down ten-man Halifax Town at Crabble on Saturday.

Visiting keeper Sam Johnson pulled off two stunning first-half saves, denying both Mitch Brundle and Ryan Bird in succession.

And Athletic were not able to capitalise after Jake Hibbs received his marching orders late on following a second bookable offence.

The home side went close early on as Mitchell Pinnock’s searching ball almost found substitute Kadell Daniel at the far post, but Josh Wilde cleared the ball behind for a corner.

And Connor Essam would have blasted the hosts ahead from the resulting set-piece had it not been for Scott Garner’s brave block to deny the defender a second league goal of the season.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Sam Johnson brilliantly palmed away Brundle’s dipping 25-yard volley and though Ryan Bird pounced on the rebound, the giant goalkeeper was up quickly to deny Dover’s top scorer.

Brundle then spotted Bird had peeled off the visiting defence, however, the forward was unable to stretch his legs enough to reach his skipper’s diagonal ball.

Danny Clarke seemed to be in disbelief after Essam’s mistake left him one-on-one with home stopper Mitch Walker, giving Giancarlo Gallifuoco enough time to track back and tackle the midfielder.

Australian Gallifuoco almost had Dover ahead just after the break but powered Brundle’s corner just wide of the far post.

And the away side had their first shot on target on the hour mark as Josh MacDonald crossed for Tom Denton, but the tall striker could only direct his header straight into the arms of Walker.

Daniel also tried with his head minutes later, nodding Pinnock’s searching ball over the bar.

And Bird thought he had won the game late on, but fired wide after latching onto Jake Hibbs’ headed clearance.

Earlier boss Chris Kinnear kept with the same side that drew with Maidstone on Boxing Day. New signing Liam Bellamy was named on the bench, replacing the ill Kane Richards.

The draw sees Dover rise one place to fourth in the table, seven points of leaders Macclesfield Town.

Whites next travel to Maidstone on New Year’s Day. Kick off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”237″ gal_title=”DAFC v FC Halifax 30/12/17″]

Dover Athletic

1Mitch Walker Goalkeeper
2Josh Passley Defender
4Giancarlo Gallifuoco Defender
6Connor Essam Defender
5Manny Parry Defender 58'
3Femi Ilesanmi Defender 39'
8Private: Mitch Brundle Midfielder, (c)
18Nortei Nortey 28 Midfielder
25Anthony Jeffrey 23 Forward
11Mitchell Pinnock 19 Forward
17Ryan Bird Forward
12Loui Fazakerley Defender
19James Alabi 11 Forward Pinnock 77'
23Kadell Daniel 25 Forward Jeffrey 12'
27Aziz Deen-Conteh Defender
28Liam Bellamy 18 Midfielder Nortey 82'
  3 2

First Team Manager: Chris Kinnear

FC Halifax Town

1Sam Johnson Goalkeeper
39Michael Duckworth Defender
2Cliff Moyo Defender
6Scott Garner Midfielder, (c)
3Josh Wilde Defender
22Michael Collins Midfielder
11Scott McManus 14 Midfielder
20Jake Hibbs Midfielder 64'
15Josh MacDonald Midfielder
18Danny Clarke Forward 39', 90'
90'
9Tom Denton Forward 33'
10Connor Oliver Midfielder
16Adam Morgan Midfielder
13Tom Nicholson Goalkeeper
14Ben Tomlinson 11 Midfielder McManus 55'
38George Waring Forward
  1 4 1

First Team Manager: Billy Heath

Substitutions
3
1
Goals
0
0
Assists
0
0
Yellow Cards
2
4
Red Cards
0
1

Officials

RefereeReferee's AssistantsFourth Official
Adrian QuelchOliver Jackson
Shaun Farrer
Isaac Searle

Ground

Crabble Athletic Ground
40 Crabble Rd, Dover, Kent CT17 0QJ, UK