Dover dealt a Bank Holiday blow. 

It wasn’t the ideal start for the Whites as after just four minutes, Harvey Bradbury fired the hosts into the lead with Dover unable to clear their lines.

Despite the early setback, the visitors grew into the game with some neat and tidy possession and could have scored when Jordan Higgs fired his shot against a defender on the goal line after good work by Pierrick down the left hand side.

Dartford had the ball in the net again in the 18th minute when Nelson spilled a long range effort and a Darts forward tucked away the rebound but the linesman’s flag cut short any celebrations. Moments later and Joshua Ajayi spun his man but could only send his volleyed effort into the away fans behind the goal.

In the 28th minute, Lee Martin looked to have been fouled in the box but the referee was having none of it and awarded the Whites a corner. The ball was swung in and Jordan Higgs planted a bullet header into the Dartford goal.

Once Dover had equalised the game seemed to become a scrappy affair, with both sides trying to get hold of the ball.

In the second half Dover pressed forward early on but it was the hosts who took the lead when Luke Allen curled in a 20 yarder. It looked like a foul on Jordan Higgs in the build up but the referee opted to play on. It was costly for the Whites as seconds later the ball was in the net.

Luke Wanadio sent a cross come shot sailing over the crossbar but it wasn’t to be in the second period with the Whites beginning to look tired.

Defeat in Dartford is not going to define this season. We now look ahead to a home game against Oxford City.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Goodman, Janjeva, Higgs, Oliver, Martin, Wanadio, Pierrick, Ajayi

Subs: Moses, Baptiste, Boateng, Nikaj, Carney

Dartford: Wynter, Chin, Essam, Bonner, Coulson, Statham, Smith, Fonkeu, Bradbury, Dudzinski, Meade

Subs: Allen, Murtagh, Dunn, Oduadu, Napa

Attendance: 1246