JAMIE RAGES IN REF ROW!
FURIOUS FC Halifax Town boss Jamie Fullarton refused to talk to the press after a heated postmatch debate with referee Simeon Lucas following his side’s defeat at Dover.
Fullarton was left raging that Alfie Pavey’s 25th-minute opener was allowed to stand when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Jai Reason in the build-up.
Anthony Jeffrey’s cross-cum shot whizzed past the nose of Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson to extend Dover’s lead ahead of the break before dangerman Matty Kosylo pulled one back for the visitors three minutes later.
The Whites were forced to cling on for six tense stoppagetime minutes before they could celebrate a big win in their bid to beat the drop, leaving Darren Hare to reflect on a “huge three points” in the windy conditions at Crabble.
‘At 2-0 we were comfortable’ said Dover’s first-team coach, “but the weather made things tricky and we really dug in to get the result.
‘The lads showed a lot of team spirit and passion and we are really in the fight to stay up.”
“Halifax have lost one in 13 and they hardly concede, but we bossed them.
“We have seven points from our last three home games and if we can take that form on the road with us, then we should have enough.”
Dover were the first team to score twice against the Shaymen in the league since Ebbsfleet stuck four past them back in November and they went on the hunt for goals early on with Jeffrey and Bedsente Gomis both testing Johnson from distance.
Home stopper Lee Worgan tipped away in-form Salford loanee Devante Rodney’s low shot, before predatory Pavey struck his third goal in as many matches.
Reason volleyed off target and the away team nearly made the Whites pay when Worgan blocked Kosylo’s shot with his legs after the winger took advantage of Danny McNamara’s stumble.
Andy Hessenthaler had bemoaned his side not getting the rub of the green in their last two games, but there would have been no complaints from Dover’s gaffer when Jeffrey’s cross flew straight in.
After Kosylo nodded over the stranded Worgan to reduce the deficit, Kevin Lokko almost restored the two-goal advantage, heading Bobby-Joe Taylor’s corner just over the crossbar.
Substitute Manny Duku sprinted clear to nearly net, but slipped at the crucial moment and dragged his shot wide.
Referee Lucas stunned the home crowd by adding on six minutes of injury time, however Athletic held on and Hare feels seven points will be enough to keep his side up come the end of April.
“There is still a long way to go, but we need the same number of points as we have games left.
“Today will do our confidence the world of good, especially when we have been playing well but not got the results our performances have warranted.
“Now we go to Dagenham and Solihull and both sides represent different challenges for us, but we know we are good enough to get something from those games.