HUDDERSFIELD Town netted twice in the first eight minutes to clinch a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup – and disappoint the rest of the nation.
Boss Lee Clark accepted in the build-up to this tie that everyone outside Huddersfield wanted the Conference South side to win.
But it never looked on the cards after Scott Arfield and Gary Roberts struck in the space of 60 seconds.
It wasn’t Dover and out for the non-leaguers, because they stuck to their game plan and produced a battling performance of which they and their vociferous 1,535 travelling fans can be proud.
And they came close midway through the first half, when Roberts produced a spectacular goal line clearance to deny defender Olly Schulz, and late on, when Alex Smithies saved from Adam Birchall, who had scored in every previous cup round in which Dover had been involved.
But Town had the lion’s share of possession and chances, and it took some good work by former Arsenal and Fulham keeper Ross Flitney to prevent the kind of scoreline which looked possible after the home side’s early double.
Lee Novak, making his fourth successive start in a side unchanged from the one which saw off Sheffield Wednesday, had a key role in both goals.
He could easily have gone for his third goal of the season after breaking through on goal, but spotting Arfield in a great position, unselfishly squared the ball for the Scotsman to sidefoot his fifth of the campaign from close range.
Less than 60 seconds later, Town were two up after a move which originated in a neat piece of work by Anthony Pilkington, who won a header just inside the Dover half and brought the ball down skilfully to play in Novak which a slick pass.
The Geordie frontman romped forward to put in a teasing cross which just evaded the touch of Jordan Rhodes but fell perfectly to Roberts, who lashed home an angled shot to make it seven goals this time around.
It was a dire start as far as Dover were concerned, but they kept calm and showed they could be a threat during a succession of three corners, starting in the 22nd minute.
Peter Clarke headed the first away, then made a key challenge as Schulz met the second. When the busy Harry Baker delivered the third, centre-back Schulz met it with a forceful header, but Roberts, guarding Town’s right-hand post, leapt to kick the ball clear.
Kevin Kilbane had a low shot blocked while Arfield was off target with a 36th-minute drive as Town pushed for a third, although it took a timely challenge from Clarke to deny Birchall as he latched onto a mistimed back pass by Lee Peltier in the 43rd minute.
Arfield volleyed over while Pilkington’s shot in first-half stoppage time was blocked by Matt Fish.
Then, in the 59th minute, Rhodes’ header was deflected off target before Roberts watched in frustration as a well-struck shot was saved.
There was more to come from Flitney in the 78th minute, when he showed quick reactions to save first from Kilbane, then Alan Lee as the Town substitute tried his luck from the rebound.
Two shots by Pilkington and a glancing Novak header were also saved while at the other end, Smithies denied Birchall, then scrambled to push away a Baker shot which squirmed through the legs of Antony Kay as Dover exerted a late spell of pressure.
What did you think of Saturday's performance? Do you think a good cup run will help or hinder Huddersfield Town's promotion challenge?
Plus the transfer window is open so who do you think Town need to recruit to try and ensure a top two finish?
Have your say with our webchat from 12.30pm by clicking here.
