Buoyed by the sale of Dover Athletic v Crystal Palace F.A. Cup tickets, there was a very healthy gate at Crabble for Welling United’s visit.
Chris Kinnear’s side played to the crowd and overwhelmed Welling in a one sided first half.
Malachi Hudson missed an early chance for the Wing’s when Kieron St. Aimie played a delightful through ball in, but after that it was one way traffic towards the river end.
Tom Murphy had an effort deflected wide before Nick Deverdics headed over a Stefan Payne cross.
Payne put the Whites ahead in the 19th minute when feasting on a Murphy pass and giving Benji Buchel no chance with a clinical finish.
Dover continued to press and went further ahead in the 36th minute through Tom Murphy’s curler which nestled in the top corner.
Deverdics and Liam Bellamy both came close as Dover won 11 corners in the first half alone.
Any chance of the game becoming a contest ended when Dover added a third in the first minute of the second half when Murphy finished at the near post from Payne’s cross.
Connor Essam skied over after Joe Healy cleared off the line before Welling finally worked Andrew Rafferty in the Dover goal. He claimed a low Hudson cross, then a Charlie Penny header.
James Poole came on for Dover and hit the base of the post with a near post header before firing in a powerful drive that Buchel claimed at the second attempt.
Despite coming close again from a near post corner, Poole was not to be denied and he added his name to the scoresheet in the final minute. He burst through to be brought down in the area by Buchel.
The Wings custodian was dismissed and defender Chris Bush took his jersey. Poole waited patiently before sending Bush the wrong way.
Dover Athletic: Rafferty, Essam, Orlu, Bonner, Sterling. Bellamy, Cogan, Deverdics (Poole 76), Murphy (Nanetti 86), Payne (Wynter 82), Raggett.
Unused substitutes: Reid, Lock.
Welling United: Buchel, Williams, Bush, Gallagher, Fagan, Fyfield, Bassele, Corne (Kiassos 83), St. Aimie (Penny 67), Hudson, Healy (Ouani 67).
Unused substitutes: Henly, Jefford.
Referee: Nigel Lugg
Man of the match: Tom Murphy
Attendance: 1,509
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.