Marc Richards’ goal minutes into the second half was the only difference as Dover struggled against fellow playoff contenders Yeovil Town. 

Richards’ superb goal means Dover now sit two points below the top seven. 

Earlier in the day, boss Andy Hessenthaler made four changes from their 3-0 defeat against Solihull Moors, with Aaron Simpson, Paul Rooney, Shadrach Ogie and Michael Woods being replaced by Josh Passley, Kevin Lokko, Dominic Poleon and Oscar Gobern. 

Dover started lively and threatened within the first three minutes, when Nassim L’Ghoul looked to cross the ball towards Ricky Modeste, but the ball was cleared for a corner by Carl Dickinson. 

Dickinson almost turned provider for Yeovil a few minutes later as he lofted the ball into the box towards Marc Richards, who dived for the ball but couldn’t make a connection. 

Luke Wilkinson then went close as he attempted an overhead kick straight from the long throw of Charlie Lee, but his spectacular effort drifted over the bar. 

Yeovil continued to have the better chances and went close through Courtney Duffus who struck the ball with power, smashing the frame of the goal. 

There were then shouts for a penalty to Dover just on the stroke of half time when Inih Effiong ran through and looked to have been taken down, but the referee decided against giving a penalty, to the dismay of the home faithful. 

The visitors took the lead just two minutes into the second half through Richards who unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area. Lee Worgan got a hand to it, but he couldn’t do anything about it as the power took it into the top corner.

Yeovil almost doubled their lead when Albi Skendi tried to replicate Richards’ goal as the ball landed at his feet at the edge of the area, however this time he couldn’t get the same accuracy as his teammate as the ball sailed high and wide.  

Whites’ were then given a reprieve when Duffus slotted the ball past Worgan, however the goal was disallowed for offside as the referee had judged that the attacker was standing in an offside position after a pass from Skendi. 

The striker then had another chance to get a goal after a cross by Richards was cushioned down by Jimmy Smith into the path of Duffus who hit the bar from five yards out, with his follow up effort going wide. 

With just over 10 minutes left, Second-half substitute Ade Yusuff had a great chance to draw Whites level with their first shot on target in the game, after Bobby-Joe Taylor’s cross landed at the feet of the substitute, but Stuart Nelson saved well to keep the visitors ahead. 

With five minutes to go, Inih Effiong then had a chance from outside the box, but his volley was well gathered by Nelson. 

Dover couldn’t get an equaliser as the Yeovil defence stayed solid and they will look to make amends as they welcome Gillingham to Crabble on Tuesday night in the Kent Senior Cup.

Dover: Worgan, Passley, Taylor, Lokko, De Havilland, Effiong, L’Ghoul(Reason 59’), Munns, Modeste(Simpson 59’), Gobern, Poleon(Yusuff 70’) 

Subs not used: Rooney, Rigg 

Yeovil: Nelson, Hutton, Collins, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Lee, Worthington(Bradbury 90’), Skendi, J.Smith(Cooper 86’), M. Richards(Dagnall 80’), Duffus

Subs not used: C.Richards, A.Smith, Bradbury 

Attendance: 1180 (128 Yeovil)

Referee: Garreth Rhodes