Report

BOTH sides will meet again on Tuesday night in Hampshire after a freak injury-time equaliser from Anthony Jeffrey forced a replay for Whites in soaking conditions at Crabble on Saturday.

Alfie Rutherford had blasted what was thought to be a 68th-minute winner six minutes after Athletic levelled through Alfie Pavey’s header.  Nicke Kabamba had given the visitors a first-half lead.

In a slow start to the match, Kadell Daniel and Anthony Jeffrey were both off target from range.

Moussa Diarra headed a free-kick wide from a tight angle, but the French defender did well to block from Kabamba as the visiting striker went to shoot.

Kabamba didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring for the away side.

On 27 minutes, the forward headed Rutherford’s cross downwards into the turf and over home keeper Lee Worgan into the net.

Jeffrey almost fashioned a leveller, but no player in a white shirt was able to connect to his fizzing pass across the Havant goalmouth.

Pavey latched into a long ball, but away stopper Dudzinski was out quickly to block the attacker’s toe-poked effort.

Daniel skilfully created space from himself but lashed his cross-cum-shot narrowly wide.

Following the restart, Jai Reason blasted into the side netting from Jeffrey’s pass.

Pavey made no mistake on 62 mistakes with a bullet header to level the scores.

On his first start for Dover, the target man leapt above the Havant defence to net against the side he left last month.

Kabamba somehow skied from a few yards out, but Rutherford did hand his team the advantage once again with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The in-form forward collected the ball from sub Tyler Frost in space and thumped the ball into the top corner from eight yards, beating Worgan at his near post.

Earlier, boss Andy Hessenthaler made seven changes to the side that started against Fylde last week, including debuts for Worgan, Joe Bedford and academy player Jack Smith.

Whites travel to Hampshire on Tuesday 18th December night for a replay, kick off 7:45 pm.

DOVER ATHLETIC REACTION

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE REACTION

MATCH GALLERY

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