Dover Athletic continued their strong run of form with a deserved 2-0 victory over AFC Totton at the Megger Community Stadium, as first-half goals from Baptiste and Bates secured all three points in front of 870 supporters.

The visitors began brightly and put Dover under some early pressure, finding space on the counter in the opening stages. Charles-Cook was alert to get across and defend one early attempt before Williams blocked a cross behind for the afternoon’s first corner.

Despite Totton’s energetic start, it was Dover who produced the first real opening after eight minutes. Williams delivered into the penalty area and Beadle rose to meet the cross, but his header went the wrong side of the post.

The Whites threatened again three minutes later. Dover broke through the Totton defence and Soares-Junior was able to drive towards goal before getting his shot away, only for Gosney to make a good save.

Baptiste was next to cause problems for the visitors, showing good skill to work his way into the penalty area before sending a cross into the middle. The resulting header failed to seriously trouble Gosney, but Dover were beginning to find increasing space in attacking areas.

Totton continued to see plenty of possession and patiently worked the ball around as they looked for an opening. One such move midway through the half ended with an effort sailing well over Walker’s crossbar.

Dover made their attacking threat count in the 29th minute with an excellent counter-attacking goal.

Totton had committed bodies forward for a corner, but the Whites quickly turned defence into attack. Bates picked out Williams with a pinpoint delivery and he sent the ball back across the face of goal, where Baptiste was waiting to slot home and give Dover the lead.

It got even better three minutes before half-time.

Bates, fresh from his goal against Folkestone Invicta the previous weekend, collected the ball around the edge of the penalty area and produced another spectacular finish, lofting his effort into the top corner beyond Gosney to double Dover’s advantage.

Totton almost found a route back into the contest during first-half stoppage time. Bennett’s cross found Ward, whose effort forced Walker into an excellent reaction save to preserve Dover’s two-goal advantage going into the interval.

The second half initially struggled to develop any rhythm. Dover were temporarily reduced to ten men while Beadle received treatment for some bleeding, before a Totton player also required attention.

Once play settled, Dover came agonisingly close to adding a third in the 56th minute. Soares-Junior attempted an overhead kick inside the area and, when the ball eventually fell to Williams, his effort was superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Gosney. From the resulting corner, Bates also went close as the Whites pushed for another goal.

Baptiste then broke towards goal shortly after the hour, but Hallett and Fleet combined effectively to hold him off and allow Gosney to gather.

Soares-Junior’s afternoon came to an end in the 63rd minute when Fish was introduced in the first Dover change.

Totton responded with one of their strongest spells of the match. Wanjau-Smith produced an impressive run down the right before the ball was worked through Sims to Osborne, whose dipping strike was tipped over by Walker. From the resulting corner Dover were forced to clear off the line as the visitors threatened to halve the deficit.

Dover remained dangerous at the opposite end, however, and nearly found their third after 69 minutes. A flowing Whites move ended with Bates getting a shot away, but Gosney reacted well to save with his legs.

Walker was called upon again four minutes later. Lee’s header released Godziemski through on goal, but the Dover goalkeeper stood firm and made another important stop.

Sheriff came close to putting the game beyond doubt in the 75th minute, meeting a Bates free-kick with a header which skimmed just wide of the far post.

Dover created another promising opportunity four minutes later as Baptiste raced clear. Rather than going for goal himself, he looked to set up Bates, but Totton recovered in time to block the midfielder’s attempt.

The visitors increased the pressure heading into the closing stages and Beadle produced an important block with nine minutes remaining as Dover protected their clean sheet.

Jallow replaced Williams in the 83rd minute before Andrews came on for Sheriff four minutes later.

Totton’s best opportunity to score arrived in the 89th minute. Rose delivered a corner which was met by Ward, whose powerful header looked destined for goal until Walker produced an outstanding fingertip save to divert the ball onto the crossbar.

Wilkinson replaced Bates immediately afterwards, and Dover safely negotiated five minutes of additional time to complete another victory and a clean sheet.

The result extends the Whites’ encouraging run of form following victories over Farnborough and Folkestone Invicta, with attention now turning back to the Emirates FA Cup and next Saturday’s trip to Hanwell Town.

Dover Athletic: 1 Walker (c), 23 Charles-Cook, 4 Beadle, 6 Bakrin, 12 Ezenwanne, 24 Wilson-Braithwaite, 11 Williams, 20 Bates, 7 Baptiste, 9 Sheriff, 10 Soares-Junior.
Subs: Wilkinson, Bartlett, Jallow, Fish, Andrews, Sesay, Oyenuga.

AFC Totton: 13 Gosney, 5 Hallett, 7 Sims, 12 Osborne, 17 Rose, 18 Godziemski, 19 Ward, 21 Mills, 23 Bennett, 26 Cordner (c), 27 Tanner.
Subs: Betts, Austin, Chandler, Fleet, Lee, Wanjau-Smith, Vigrass.

Attendance: 870.