Dover Athletic's chances of making the Blue Square Bet South play-offs were handed a massive boost on Saturday.

Ten-man Whites won 1-0 at Havant & Waterlooville while the team they are hunting, fifth-placed Chelmsford, allowed a 2-0 lead at home to mid-table Salisbury slip to lose 3-2 in the final five minutes.

The results left Dover two points behind the Essex side in sixth, with two games remaining, although Basingstoke are a further three points back and have two games in hand on both Athletic and Chelmsford.

Ian Simpemba made an excellent block to prevent the Hawks from taking an early lead after the Whites defence failed to clear a cross from the right, while Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz made a good save to keep the hosts out and Scott Jones volleyed over the bar.

At the other end Billy Bricknell charged down a weak clearance from Dan Thomas in the Hawks goal, only for a defender to recover possession, and the hosts continued their strong start with Jones firing narrowly wide and heading off target from the penalty spot, while Jaimez-Ruiz tipped another downward header over the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 22 minutes but it was Dover who grabbed it when the lively Rob Edmans (pictured) outjumped Thomas to get on the end of a bouncing cross and nod into the net.

Dover settled down after the goal and looked more comfortable and Shane Huke saw a second goal ruled out for a push in first-half stoppage time.

Bricknell stung the palms of the nervy-looking Thomas after the break but Dover's task became harder just before the hour when Michael Corcoran was shown a straight red card for a challenge in midfield.

They however managed to weather pressure from late set-pieces and the three points left them right back in the play-off race.