Dover Athletic continued their preparations for the new season with a deserved 1–0 victory over Burgess Hill Town at the Megger Community Stadium, as Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite’s second-half header proved the difference between the two sides.

The Whites made a solid start and immediately looked to play on the front foot. Trialist B was presented with an early opportunity to drive towards goal, only for former Dover defender Luca Cocoracchio to step across and bring the run to an end. Burgess Hill then threatened to break at the opposite end, but Beadle produced an important last-ditch challenge to halt the visitors’ attack.

Sheriff found space in a promising central position after ten minutes, although the flag was raised for offside before he could seriously test the goalkeeper. Dover continued to press aggressively as Burgess Hill attempted to play out from the back, frequently forcing their opponents into rushed passes and hurried clearances.

The first major opportunity arrived in the 17th minute when Baptiste delivered a dangerous, whipped cross into the penalty area. The visiting goalkeeper was unable to hold it cleanly, but Dover could not bundle the loose ball over the line. Another delivery flashed across the face of goal moments later, with nobody able to provide the decisive touch.

Following the first hydration break, play was halted again when Oyenuga required treatment. He was unable to continue and was replaced on the half-hour mark by Roman Charles-Cook.

Burgess Hill attempted to capitalise on a Dover corner four minutes later, launching a quick counter-attack, but Charles-Cook recovered well and calmly dealt with the danger. Dover soon returned to the offensive and came close to opening the scoring when Sheriff unleashed a powerful strike, forcing the visiting goalkeeper to beat the ball away with strong palms.

Onu was next to threaten after Bakrin picked him out with an excellent searching pass. The forward moved into a dangerous position, but the goalkeeper spread himself well and made the save with his feet. Despite Dover enjoying the better opportunities and carrying the greater attacking threat, the teams went into the interval level at 0–0.

Leberl made three changes at the break, introducing Momodou Jallow, Trent Rendall and Sesay in place of Beadle, Trialist B and Ezenwanne. The Whites began the second half sharply, with Jallow immediately producing a quick first-time delivery into the box. Baptiste met it but was unable to direct his effort towards goal.

Baptiste continued to make his presence felt, winning possession back strongly in midfield before holding off two defenders and earning Dover a corner. Onu then came within inches of breaking the deadlock when he almost rounded the advancing goalkeeper, but the slightest touch from the stopper diverted the ball wide.

Charles-Cook provided another dangerous delivery shortly before the hour mark, chipping the ball towards Baptiste inside the area. A Burgess Hill defender intervened at the crucial moment and headed behind for a corner.

Two further changes followed on the hour as Wilson-Braithwaite and Kola Salami replaced Jones and Trialist A. The substitution quickly paid off, with Wilson-Braithwaite giving Dover the lead just two minutes after his introduction. The midfielder attacked a corner inside the penalty area and powered a header beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1–0.

Burgess Hill struggled to create a response, with their next attempted counter-attack halted by an offside flag. Walker had been largely untroubled throughout the opening 75 minutes, while Dover continued to pose a threat from set pieces. Wilson-Braithwaite nearly doubled both his and Dover’s tally when he again met a corner, sending his effort narrowly off target.

Rendall produced a firm defensive intervention as the visitors attempted to take advantage of a fortunate deflection from a Dover clearance. The defender was called upon again moments later when Walker was caught short after coming from his goal. The ball threatened to roll over the line, but Rendall reacted quickly and swept it away before Burgess Hill could equalise.

The visitors applied their strongest spell of pressure during the closing stages, briefly pinning Dover inside their own defensive third. Their best opportunity arrived in the 89th minute when an acrobatic effort was directed towards goal, but Walker was alert and made a strong save to preserve his clean sheet.

Dover saw out the remaining minutes to secure a 1–0 victory in their latest pre-season test. Wilson-Braithwaite’s goal separated the sides, while the Whites produced another encouraging performance ahead of the new campaign.

Dover return to the Megger Community Stadium on Tuesday evening, when Herne Bay visit for the club’s penultimate pre-season fixture.

Dover Athletic: Walker (c), Oyenuga, Jones, Beadle, Ezenwanne, Bakrin, Trialist A, Baptiste, Sheriff, Onu, Trialist B.

Substitutes: Bartlett, Charles-Cook, Rendall, Wilson-Braithwaite, Sesay, Jallow, Salami.