It was heartbreak for Dover as they let a 2-0 lead slip to lose 3-2 at Hartlepool thanks to a 91st minute winner.
Alfie Pavey scored the opener for Andy Hessenthaler’s side just before the 30 minute mark and Jai Reason’s long range effort gave Dover their second of the afternoon ten minutes later.
Two second half penalties from Josh Hawkes levelled the game in the 70th and 72nd minutes before Luke Molyneux curled home the winner.
Pools came into the game in a safe, mid table spot and they started the game well. Liam Noble’s set piece ability caused plenty of issues for the Dover back line within the first five minutes.
It took 20 minutes for the visitors to carve out their first chance. A fantastic cross towards the far post from Jai Reason just evaded the head of Anthony Jefferey.
To the shock of the home crowd, it was Dover who scored the opener. Mitch Brundle played a fantastic through ball into the path of Pavey who hit a low half volley across Scott Loach, nestling into the bottom corner.
The goal came against the run of play and, after going down, Hartlepool looked to dominate possession again.
This suited Dover though, who scored again on 39 minutes. Reason was given too much time in midfield and hit a 25 yard effort into the bottom corner.
Pools nearly came back straight away but Lee Worgan did fantastically well to deny Nicke Kabamba from close range to maintain the two goal lead going into half time.
Dover started the second half on top. Jamie Allen fired a shot just wide after being teed up by Jefferey before the former Southport winger hit another shot off target.
The hosts soon woke up and tested Lee Worgan with a stinging long range effort by Sunderland loanee Molyneux. The winger beat three defenders before firing from the edge of the area. From the resulting corner David Edgar headed a shot against the bar.
With rain coming down throughout most of the second half and the home fans becoming more frustrated, playing conditions were tough for both sides.
A lapse of concentration gave Hartlepool a look back into the game. When controlling play inside his own area, the ball hit Bobby-Joe Taylor’s arm.
Hawkes stepped up and scored the resulting penalty, hitting a low spot kick in.
The striker had a busy few minutes following the goal. He had a shot denied by Worgan before having another chance from the spot two minutes after his first.
Luke James’s burst into the area was stopped physically by Reason. Hawkes went to the other side with his second penalty and scored again to level the game.
Hartlepool had one final chance to win the game when Molyneux played through Hawkes, but Stewart Lewis did brilliantly to get across and block the shot.
The final chance of the game turned out to be the winner. The ball fell perfectly onto Molyneux’s left foot and he curled a perfect shot into the bottom corner in the 91st minute.
Hartlepool United: Loach, Donaldson, Edgar (Amos), Kerr, Anderson, Kitching (Molyneux), Featherstone, Noble (Hawkins), Hawkes, James, Kabamba
Subs not used: Catterick, Hawkins, Muir
Dover Athletic: Worgan, Lokko, Jefferey, Brundle, Allen, Pavey (Effiong), McNamara, Gomis, Lewis, Taylor, Reason
Subs not used: Walker, Passley, Nortey, Debayo
3,431 (34 away)