Nicky Deverdics' late blockbuster was in vain as Dover were stunned by Cheltenham at Crabble on Sunday lunchtime.

Deverdics looked to have won it for Whites with nine minutes remaining with a 30-yard thunderbolt off the underside of Dillon Phillips' bar, however two goals in as many minutes from Town frontman Danny Wright snatched victory for the Vanarama National League leaders.

First Wright despatched a penalty on 87 minutes after Aswad Thomas had fouled sub James Dayton and just a minute later Wright was left unmarked to slam home at the far post after Dayton's low cross across the face of goal had evaded everyone.

Despite piling forward in six minutes of added time Richard Orlu's glanced header wide of the post was as close as Whites came, as they stay fifth in the table.

Dover had looked good value for the points before Deverdics struck as Ricky Modeste had come closest to breaking the deadlock when he was sent clean through by sub Liam Bellamy on 73 minutes, only for Phillips to somehow divert his low shot across the face of goal and away, with Ricky Miller lurking.

At the other end Town almost went ahead seconds before Deverdics' strike when defender Asa Hall stretched to get on the end of a cross which had been flicked on by Harry Pell, only to stab the ball inches wide of Andy Rafferty's post.

Modeste also made a vital tackle in the box to deny substitute James Rowe who was bearing down on goal while Rafferty was quick off his line to deny Wright and also Dan Holman, once of Dover who was making his Robins debut.

Chris Kinnear had named an unchanged team from the FA Trophy success against Southport eight days earlier.

The visitors, resplendent in purple and gold, made the brighter start and Billy Waters saw a low shot held by Rafferty inside eight minutes and Holman showed quick feet before drawing another stop with a rasping low shot.

Dover's first attempt didn't come until 20 minutes in when Miller sent one straight at Phillips from 20 yards and moments later Miller burst down the left and drew a rash challenge from Dan Parslow which earned the Town man a caution.

Modeste burst into life on the half-hour when he outmuscled full-back George McLennan, stole possession and swung in a low cross which was hacked behind.

The pressure continued to build with Miller seeing a snap-shot blocked and Modeste darting down the right, only to see his cross deflected into the side-netting.

From the resultant corner from Deverdics a towering header from Jack Parkinson was tipped over by Phillips and four minutes from half-time Deverdics drove forward and spread the play to Modeste on the right, whose cross was glanced just beyond the far post by Miller with Phillips beaten.

There was a scare for the hosts moments before the break when a slick break from Town saw Pell played in on the right of the box, though his heavy touch allowed the defence to recover and he was unable to get a shot off.

Dover: Rafferty, Magri, Raggett, Orlu, Modeste, Miller, Murphy (Bellamy 67mins), Sterling, Deverdics, Parkinson, Thomas (Ofori-Acheampong 90mins). Subs not used: Grimes, Pinnock, Walker.

Cheltenham: Phillips, Barthram, McLennan, Storer, Parslow, Pell, Waters (Rowe 74mins), Wright, Munns (Jennings 74mins, Dayton 78mins), Hall, Holman. Subs not used: Kitscha, Harries.

Attendance: 1,184.