George Purcell scores for Dover against Dorchester in the first of their 4-0 wins this season. Picture: Terry Scott

By Andrew Gidley

Dover are flying in every sense but boss Martin Hayes is keeping his feet on the ground despite the club’s perfect start in Blue Square Bet South

Hayes may have wondered how he was going to replace record-breaking goalscorer Adam Birchall this season but eight goals without reply is not a bad way to start ahead of the trip to unbeaten new boys Truro on Saturday.

New signing Glenn Southam will join the squad for the flight to the West Country. The midfielder, who turns 31 later this month, watched his new team beat Dorchester 4-0 on Saturday and completed his move this week.

George Purcell and Billy Bricknell netted their third goals in two matches, with Harry Baker getting the other two, in the 4-0 win at Thurrock on Tuesday, but Hayes admitted they started poorly at Ship Lane.

Hayes said: "They were direct and in our faces early on. They asked us a few questions and gave us problems in the first half and we didn’t deal with them properly in the first half-hour."

Meanwhile Hayes wouldn’t confirm defender Ollie Schulz has played his last game for the club after being transfer listed following a breach of club discipline.

He said: "I would never say never but I think long-term Ollie’s future will be elsewhere."