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Dover Athletic 1 Hartlepool United 1: Reaction from Whites manager Andy Hessenthaler

06:00, 12 January 2020

Boss Andy Hessenthaler was disappointed with Dover Athletic's performance during their 1-1 draw against Hartlepool.

Hessenthaler's team left it late to claim a point from the National League encounter with substitute Nassim L’Ghoul netting a stoppage-time equaliser, which cancelled out captain Kevin Lokko’s first-half own goal.

Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler. Picture: Alan Langley
Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler. Picture: Alan Langley

While the former Gillingham manager felt Whites did enough to earn a share of the spoils, he was far from satisfied with his side's first-half display.

"I thought we deserved something out of the game, just because of our endeavour in the second half," he said.

"We had good opportunities in the first half (but showed) no real quality.

"But I'm not happy, to be fair.

"We have got to win the game and we didn’t, so that’s why I'm not happy."

With Dover behind, Hessenthaler made three attacking substitutions in the second half, bringing on Steven Rigg, Ade Yusuff and L’Ghoul.

Scott Doe. Picture: Andy Jones
Scott Doe. Picture: Andy Jones

Hessenthaler said: "It's interesting.

"I got a bit of stick for the subs that I made (from the home fans) but they made an impact, didn’t they? I won’t say any more on that."

He continued: "They came on and livened things up.

"Ade is a handful down the middle, we put Riggy down the right although he is really a centre-forward and Nassim has that quality.

"Riggy has done well in the middle of the pitch. He turns and plays it to Ade who slips Nas in and Nas has done the rest (scoring Dover's equaliser).

"So, the subs weren’t that bad, were they?"

Hessenthaler also confirmed Scott Doe “won’t play for the football club again”, with the defender looking to go part-time.

Doe played in Tuesday's 4-2 Kent Senior Cup victory at Faversham but he was not involved in the home team's squad at Crabble and has not featured for Whites in the league since their 2-0 loss at home to Boreham Wood on December 7.

"Scott Doe won’t play for the football club again," Hessenthaler explained.

"I’ve had a conversation with Scott.

"He’s been really honest, he can’t do full-time training anymore, his body can’t go through it."

Hessenthaler added that Doe currently remains a Dover player but says the club will look to help him find a new team.

Dover are still yet to record back-to-back home league wins this season.

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