An early goal sealed Dover’s fate as they were defeated by Bromley at Crabble.

Corey Whitely gave the visitors the lead inside the first five minutes, before Adam Parkes saved Michael Cheek’s penalty to keep the deficit at one.

Bromley looked the more attacking threat throughout the game, but Dover came into the game towards the end and almost salvaged a draw through Ben Williamson’s stunning strike which hit the post.

Earlier in the day manager Andy Hessenthaler made one enforced change from the midweek draw against Solihull Moors, with Sam Wood coming back into the side for Junior Tiensia.

Bromley looked to attack from the off and were almost ahead inside five minutes, but Whitely’s shot was well saved by Parkes.

However, Whitely was not to be denied as The Ravens took the lead moments later when his drilled effort from outside the area hit the back of the net.

Whitely was controlling the game on the left hand side and won the visitors a penalty with the game not even 15 minutes old.

Last season’s National League top scorer, Cheek, stepped up and struck it down the middle, however Parkes did well to make the stop with his feet after already diving to his left-hand side.

Shots kept coming at Parkes as the first-half continued, but the Watford loanee looked composed in the net as he saved first from Marcus Sablier’s half volley, before making a great one-on-one save with his feet to deny Jude Arthur’s attempt from inside the box.

Cheek couldn’t have come much closer to doubling the away side’s lead early in the second half as is brilliantly struck free kick struck the inside of the bar before bouncing down onto the line and cleared away by Dover.

It was then George Alexander’s turn to go close as his effort, whilst one on one with Parkes, went just wide as he looked for the far post.

Whites, who struggled going forward up to this point, then would have felt aggrieved that they weren’t awarded a penalty when Wood’s effort struck a Bromley body out for a corner, with both fans and players alike bemused that a penalty wasn’t given.

Williamson then went close to equalising as Whites grew into the game as his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Mark Cousins.

Shortly after, Cousins had to be aware again as Ricky Miller’s free kick was tipped over the bar by the Bromley goalkeeper.

Danny Collinge then went close to equalising late on, but his header from a Wood’s corner was held well by Cousins.

Williamson, and most of the crowd, then thought he’d got the equaliser in the first minute of added time when his shot smashed off the inside of the post.