Report

A SECOND-HALF goal from Inih Effiong handed Whites a crucial three points in their battle to avoid the drop.

The striker bundled home from a few yards as Andy Hessenthaler’s side secured their first National League win on the road this campaign.

Earlier, The first chance came on 15 minutes from Jai Reason.  The midfielder’s first touch and finish were poles part with a wayward volley over the bar.

Neat play between Josh Passley and Jamie Allen ended with Effiong with his back to goal and though the big striker was able to turn, his shot flew wide.

Bobby-Joe Taylor then crashed a volley on the run over and the same player saw a near-post effort well saved by home goalie Ryan Huddart, with play pulled back for a handball by Taylor.

The chances kept coming the way of the visitors and Effiong slung an effort over from the edge of the area following a poor defensive Wood header.

The hosts then almost hit Dover on the counter-attack.

Justin Shaibu raced onto a ball over the top but placed his angled finish too high to trouble visiting keeper Mitch Walker.

Miscontrol by Kevin Lokko let in Shaibu again, but the pacy striker skied his shot from the 20-yards.

Effiong had the chance to open the scoring minutes before the break, but scuffed the ball at the crucial moment after Huddart had punched Passley’s cross to the feet of the attacker.

Striker Effiong was able to make his mark on 54 minutes.

Huddart pushed away Reason’s low curler, but only to the feet of Effiong, who bundled in his fourth National League goal of the season from a couple of yards out to make him joint top scorer for Athletic this season.

Lokko almost doubled the lead but misdirected his header from Taylor’s free-kick.

A love-train corner routine almost handed the home team an equaliser, but sub Josh Umerah headed well wide from Keiran Murtagh.

Walker was then forced into his first save of the game.

White’s number one blocked Ricky Shakes’ strike from point-blank range, before watching Umerah crash the rebound wide from just outside the box.

Replacement Anthony Jeffrey forced Huddart into a low save and the keeper turned away Effiong’s shot amid cries of a penalty for a foul on Bedsente Gomis from the visiting fans.

Jeffrey smashed over late on, but Athletic were able to hold on to move closer to the National League safety zone.

Earlier, boss Hessenthaler named the same side for the third consecutive match, with striker Alfie Pavey, signed from fellow National League side Havant & Waterlooville earlier in the week, named as a substitute.

Whites next travel to Eastleigh on Saturday 1st December, kick-off 3 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

BOREHAM WOOD REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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