CLINICAL finishing saw Dover climb two places into fourth in the National League after a 4-1 win against Maidstone United at a cold and wet Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Moses Emmanuel’s double set Whites on their way and though Vas Karagiannis pulled one back for the hosts, Ross Lafayette and Ricky Miller ensured boss Chris Kinnear’s side came away with the three points.

Maidstone made the stronger start to the game, Alex Flisher pulled the ball back for Jamar Loza to slot home, but skipper Jamie Grimes blocked bravely with a last ditch tackle.

Yemi Odubade then stole a march on Aswad Thomas out wide and passed in field to Karagiannis, but goalkeeper Steve Arnold parried the fierce drive.

Stones had a glorious chance through Odubade as he only had Arnold to beat following neat interplay with Jack Paxman, but Dover’s stopper proved a formidable barrier for the former Eastleigh man.

Dover’s first chance saw Sam Magri race onto Miller’s pass and fire just wide of the far post.

Emmanuel broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion with his 10^th league goal of the season in the 28^th minute.

Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan brilliantly saved Emmanuel’s first effort from the edge of the area after a clever pass from Miller, but the rebound fell straight back for the forward to fire into the top corner.

Loza almost capitalized on Tyrone Sterling’s error, but his volley through a crowed box went straight at Arnold.

Emmanuel shot straight at Worgan when put through by Richard Orlu, but he did not have to wait long for his second as he smashed home Lafayette’s cross from an angle on 54 minutes to double Dover’s lead.

Maidstone searched for a way back into the game and Magri was well positioned to clear away Flisher’s drive.

The home side did pull a goal back on 58 minutes as Odubade’s low cross was slid home by Karagiannis.

Worgan kept Maidstone in the game, diving low to his right to deny Miller’s first time attempt after nice work from Emmanuel.

Arnold’s challenge on Odubade had Maidstone calling for a penalty, but referee Constantine Hatzidakis waved the claims away.

The resulting corner from Karagiannis was heading straight in, but Arnold was able to fist the ball to safety.

Lafayette’s deadly strike on 74 ended any hopes of a comeback as he collected a ball from Orlu and fired across Worgan to take his league goal tally into double figures for the campaign.

Worgan denied Sammy Moore his first of the season after saving his curling effort and Lafayette’s follow up shot was blocked.

Arnold’s fingertips denied Loza from close range and Tom Mills somehow missed the target after Dover’s goalie missed Flisher’s cross as Maidstone were unable to set up a grandstand finish.

Miller, who was feeling under the weather, sealed the win after he ran onto Lafayette’s through ball to slot home in injury time.

Earlier, Whites made one change from the reverse clash on Boxing Day, Moore came in for Ricky Modeste who dropped to the bench.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver (Taylor 86mins), Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Rogers (Greenhalgh 81mins), Karagiannis, Paxman, Loza, Odubade (N’Guessan 76mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Evans, Acheampong.

Dover: Arnold, Magri, Thomas, Orlu, Grimes, Sterling, Moore, Parkinson (Stevenson 73mins), Miller (Kinnear 90mins), Lafayette, Emmanuel (Pinnock 85mins). Subs not used: Modeste, Stevenson, Marsh.

Attendance: 2,257 (208 Dover fans)

DOVER missed climbing into the play-off places after being held to a 1-1 draw by Maidstone United in the Kent derby at Crabble on Boxing Day.

Ricky Miller had put Whites ahead from the penalty spot in the opening half with his 25th National League goal of the season before Jamar Liza equalised for Stones in the second half.

The point keeps Dover sixth, one point out of the play-offs and they would have been in them after three of the five clubs above boss Chris Kinnear’s side lost.

Dover started  brightly and  Aswad Thomas volleyed just over shortly after kick-off before Ross Lafayette saw a goal bound header deflected wide.

Steve Arnold’s first piece of action saw him deny Yemi Odubade before Whites took the lead in the 16th minute.

Miller went down after a challenge from Tom Mills and got up to send Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan the wrong way.

Moses Emmanuel curled an angled effort just wide before Maidstone replied with Kevin Lokko going close with a header and Arnold produced a stunning save to turn over Loza’s shot.

At the other end, Miller was denied by Jamie Coyle’s brave block following a one- two with Lafayette. He then skewed wide Thomas’ pass from inside the box.

Alex Flisher should have levelled matters just before the interval, but blasted Vas Karagiannis’ free kick well over the bar from close range.

Lokko was almost left red faced after his lapse in concentration let in Lafayette, but Worgan intercepted the ball ahead of the target man.

After the break, Arnold was the busier of the goalkeepers, saving from Karagiannis, Flisher and Loza.

Loza was not to be denied though, his stunning lob from out wide in the 60th minute flew over Arnold and into the goal off the post.

Miller almost won the game at with a deflected shot that spun just wide before  Lafayette’s free kick at the death flew just wide.

Earlier, Kinnear named the same starting side from the 1-1 draw at Forest Green Rovers.

The only changes came on the bench where Sammy Moore and Jim Stevenson replaced Mitch Walker and Joe Healy.

Moore had missed the past four games with a hamstring injury while Stevenson had been ill on the trip to The New Lawn.

Dover and Maidstone meet again at he Gallagher Stadium on New Year’s Day at 6pm.

Dover: Arnold, Magri, Thomas, Grimes, Orlu, Sterling, Modeste, Parkinson (Stevenson 75mins), Miller, Lafayette, Emmanuel (Moore 79mins). Subs not used: Pinnock, Kinnear, Marsh

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Rogers, Karagiannis (Taylor 81mins), Paxman, Loza, Odubade (N’Guessan 83mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Evans, Acheampong, Greenhalgh

Attendance: 2,369 (509 from Maidstone)