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Dover 3 Bath 3 - FA Trophy match report

Chris Kinnear. Picture: Ady Kerry.
Chris Kinnear. Picture: Ady Kerry.

Dover produced a stunning second-half comeback to keep their FA Trophy hopes alive after drawing 3-3 in a dramatic quarter-final tie against Conference South side Bath City at Crabble.

Bath scored three second-half goals after Stefan Payne had been sent off just before half-time.

Payne, who had put Dover ahead in the sixth minute, was dismissed for retaliation after he had been grabbed by the throat during a scuffle in the goalmouth ahead of a Dover corner.

The red card means Payne will miss Tuesday's replay as he starts his three-game ban

And the Romans took full advantage of the extra man after the restart.

Captain Andy Gallinagh equalised in the 60th minute when his shot found the bottom left-hand corner of goalkeeper Andy Rafferty's net.

Substitute Ross Stearn then scored twice and it looked all over for Chris Kinnear's side - it wasn't.

Despite the odds stacked against them, Dover never gave up and they were rewarded when Richard Orlu turned Ricky Modeste's cross home in the 87th minute.

With time running out, Dover continued to press and got back on level terms when sub Jake Reid, who had only been for four minutes, headed home a dramatic equaliser against his former side.

There was still time for more drama when Bath's Naby Diallo was sent off following an all-in confrontation on the sidelines.

Earlier, Payne celebrated his England C call-up this week after he was first to react after the ball came loose after Whites midfielder Barry Cogan had made a tackle on the edge of the box.

Payne raced through to shoot past goalkeeper Jason Mellor but the celebrations were put on hold with Bath furiously claiming Payne was offside.

The referee spoke to his assistant but the goal stood much to the disgust of the visitors.

Midfielder Nicky Deverdics went close to doubling the lead in the 32nd minute when his shot from Payne's cross whizzed just wide with Mellor beaten.

Payne then missed a great chance a minute before half-time when he volleyed just wide in the 43rd minute.

But Payne didn't make it to half-time after he saw red.

It was Bath who produced the first shot on target in the second half and it needed a smart save from Rafferty to turn Gallinagh's shot behind in the 48th minute.

But Gallinagh was not to be denied in the 60 minute when his shot found the bottom left hand corner of Rafferrty’s goal.

Substitute Stearn powered into the box to score their second 10 minutes later and he added a third in the 82nd minute before Dover produced their stunning comeback.

Both sides will now go into the hat for Monday's semi-final draw ahead of the replay on Tuesday night in Somerset.

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