Hess happy with Inih’s input!
INIH EFFIONG’S Dover double downed 10-man Stockport County at Edgeley Park as Athletic got revenge for their home defeat against the Hatters earlier in the season.
It was an outstanding performance by Effiong, a player Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler sometimes struggles with.
“He was good, he was a handful,” a delighted Hessenthaler told The NLP.
“At times I still get frustrated with him because it comes off him a bit too easily at times. But to be fair they’ve got two big boys at the back but he kept going, he kept working and he got his rewards.”
Dover started on the front foot and Michael Woods had a free strike from the edge of the area but blazed high into the Cheadle End.
Liam Gobern came the closest for Dover in the first half. His free header from
Jai Reason’s corner was heading into the far corner until County captain Paul Turnbull cleared it off the line.
Turnbull was in the action eight minutes later for the wrong reasons. He lunged in on Effiong and referee Simon Mather reached straight for his red card.
County boss Jim Gannon had no complaints.
“It’s a red card,” he said. “Ultimately if you go in for a ball and yours studs are showing and you lift your foot and you catch your opponent, no matter how much the contact is it’s endangering their safety.
“It’s so disappointing as we were starting to find a bit of confidence.”
Dover scored straight after the break. Jordan Keane gave the ball away to Reason in a dangerous central position. He squared for Effiong, who effortlessly buried the ball inside the near post.
County soon hit the post, well Dover defender Will De-Havilland did as he nearly diverted Adam Thomas’ cross into his own goal.
Danny Lloyd had County’s first shot on target 70 minutes into the game, forcing Ashley Mayward-Brewer into a save diving to his right.
But Effiong was the difference between the two sides. He still had work to do, up against two defenders as a ball was played over the top to him.
But he smartly cut inside and fired a shot at the onrushing Hinchliffe who pulled out a magnificent save. Unfortunately for the County keeper the ball went straight back to the predatory Effiong who made no mistake this time.
He should have had a hattrick in the closing minutes, firing wide of the near post in a one-on-one with Hinchliffe.
Hessenthaler wasn’t sure that the red card for Turnbull in the first half made much difference to the outcome.
“It’s always difficult when the opposition go down to ten men but even 11 versus 11 we were good.
“All in all a good day and a clean sheet.”