A solitary goal from Dover midfielder Joe Healy was enough to win the Kent derby and ensure the Whites kept pace with the playoff chasing pack.
Having not won or scored in their last three games and missing 32 goal talisman Ricky Miller it was also going to prove a stern test for Dover to overcome Bromley and so it proved as a resolute Bromley defence ensured that the White had to work hard for their win. That said it was a win Dover deserved as Bromley rarely threatened in a match that often resembled a training session of attack vs defence.
It was Moses Emmanuel who was to be at the heart of most of the promising attacking play for Dover as his pace and trickery was a constant threat against his former club. As early as the 14th minute great play on the left wing by Emmanuel led to both Ross Lafayette and Ricky Modeste having efforts blocked from inside the six yard box, before James Hurst crossed for Modeste to volley high over the Bromley crossbar.
Emmanuel was to go close to the opener from the next Dover attack, receiving the ball just inside the 18 yard box he turned his marker inside out before seeing his fierce right foot effort pushed unto the post courtesy of a great one-handed save by Ross Flitney.
With Dover attacking at will, Modeste then played in Emmanuel but he misjudged his lob from 16 yards sending his effort over Flitney but also the crossbar.
Emmanuel was to again rue his luck when he headed an excellent Sam Magri cross over the crossbar when he perhaps should have hit the target.
Bromley threatened the Dover goal only once in the first half, Louis Dennis led a brisk counter attack and as he advanced into the Dover penalty area his low cross was turned goalwards by Tobi Sho-Silva only for Jamie Grimes to block the goalbound effort.
The rest of the first half played out to little or no incident as Dover despite dominating possession faield to find a way beyond the Bromley defence.
The second half was a repeat of the first with Dover posing the far greater threat going forward and Bromley having to suffice with rare counter attacks or set pieces.
Lafayette went close four minutes after the interval when he collected Magri’s long throw but his volley on the turn was turned behind by Flitney.
Referee Anthony Coggins was then to be at the centre of controversy when he waved away a strong penalty appeal, Modeste appeared to be taken down by Ben Chorley as he ran unto a long ball but Coggins declined the appeal much to the chagrin of the home support.
Bromley nearly added to the sense of injustice as they promptly broke down the field with a quick counter that ended with Dennis firing narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Prior to scoring the only goal of the game Healy tested Flitney with a long range effort that forced the Bromley custodian into a fine save low to his left.
The winning goal when it came, however, had a sense of good fortune about it. Modeste was played into space on the right wing and his low cross was headed goalwards by Healy, however Flitney’s save from the header appeared to deflect back off the grounded Healy into the net.
Rather than galvanise Bromley into a response it was Dover who looked all the more threatening after the goal. Emmanuel again going close on two further occasions, first his bending strike from the edge of the penalty area beat the stationary Flitney but flew the wrong side of the post. Then he skewed a half-volley wide from 12 yards after taking down Magri’s excellent cross field ball.
Only as the game entered the final ten minutes did Bromley throw caution to the wind and they nearly came close to an undeserved equaliser five minutes from time. Alan Dunne met substitute Blair Turgott’s corner with a firm header but goalscorer Healy cleared off the line to ensure Dover held on for the win.
Dover Athletic: Walker, Magri, Hurst, Sterling, Orlu, Essam, Grimes ©, Healy, Lafayatte, Modeste (Pinnock 90), Emmanuel (Thomas 85)
Subs not used: Kinnear Jr, Caton, Fazakerley
Goals: Healy 59
Bromley: Flitney, Dunne, Holland ©, Chorley, Anderson, Higgs 7, Minshull, Dymond (Porter 65), Dennis (Turgott 70), Goldberg (Hall 77), Sho-Silva
Subs not used: Wynter, Johnson
Referee: Anthony Coggins
Attendance: 988