Dover Athletic left Hertfordshire with all three points after a dramatic late winner secured a 2–1 victory over Hemel Hempstead Town.

There were starts for Gurung in midfield and Mensah at the back, both returning to the XI, while Beadle missed out through suspension. The Whites began the afternoon brightly, dealing calmly with early Hemel pressure. Mensah was quickly involved, seeing out the hosts’ first attack inside two minutes, before Dover settled into the contest.

After a quiet opening spell, the game turned in Dover’s favour on ten minutes. Hanson delivered a quality ball into the final third and Nikaj did the rest — claiming possession, turning his man and curling a superb effort beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. The keeper got a hand to it, but the shot floated into the top corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Dover looked to build on the advantage, with Cocoracchio teeing up Nikaj on the edge of the area soon after, though the effort lacked power. Hemel responded with sustained pressure, forcing the Whites into a resilient defensive display. A header was cleared off the line from a corner, before Cocoracchio produced a moment of real bravery, diving to block a powerful volley from Achuba that looked destined for the net.

Walker was then called into action, denying Davies with a strong save as Hemel searched for an equaliser. The Dover goalkeeper followed that up with two more excellent interventions in quick succession, first diving to meet Willo’s effort and then holding onto a close-range header from Remaye Campbell. Despite the pressure, Dover saw out the half professionally to go in 1–0 ahead.

Hemel were forced into a change at the break, with their goalkeeper unable to continue, and the hosts emerged with renewed intent. Sheriff provided a dangerous delivery early in the second half, but Soares-Junior could not apply the finishing touch. Dover were then dealt a blow when Charles-Cook was forced off injured, with Jallow returning from his own injury absence to slot in at right back.

The game remained finely balanced as Hemel pushed forward and Dover looked to break. A foul on Gurung halted a promising counter-attack, while the visitors continued to defend with discipline. However, with seven minutes remaining, the hosts found their moment. Wiltshire struck from long range, unleashing an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net to level the scores at 1–1.

Dover nearly responded immediately, only for a goal to be ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. Hemel then came close to snatching a winner themselves, but Walker stood firm once more, spreading himself to deny Remaye Campbell when through on goal.

As the clock ticked into added time, Dover delivered the decisive blow. Hemel failed to clear a cross into the box and the ball broke to Hanson on the edge of the area. He made no mistake, calmly slotting home to restore the Whites’ lead and spark jubilant celebrations from the travelling support.

Late substitutions helped see out the remaining minutes, and despite eight minutes of added time, Dover held on to claim a vital away win.

The Whites now turn their attention back to the Crabble, with Torquay United visiting on Tuesday night in the rearranged fixture.

Hemel Hempstead Town

Starting XI: 1 Johnson, 3 Dowrich, 5 Rowan, 6 Lomas, 7 Williams, 14 Davis, 15 Achuba, 17 Campbell, 19 Bateson, 22 Stanley, 27 Lorentzen-Jones
Substitutes: Holden (GK), Wilkinson, Wiltshire, Noel-Williams, Vilhete, Cook-Appliah

Dover Athletic

Starting XI: 1 Walker (C), 2 Charles-Cook, 4 Jones, 21 Mensah, 15 Sodje, 6 Cocoracchio, 25 Hanson, 18 Gurung, 11 Sheriff, 14 Soares-Junior, 10 Nikaj
Substitutes: Coker, Matthews, Baptiste, Onu, Mampolo, Jallow, Wilkinson