Martin Hayes goes into the new year still aiming to guide Dover to a top-five finish in Blue Square Bet South but isn’t ruling out a tilt at the title itself.

The 4-0 win against Lewes on Tuesday pushed the Whites into the play-off places ahead of the visit of early pacesetters Bromley on Saturday, followed by a trip to Thurrock on Bank Holiday Monday.

Hayes’ first objective when he was appointed in the summer was a good FA Cup run and reaching the play-offs and nothing has changed since but he knows it won’t be easy, with games coming thick and fast, following the big freeze.

He said: "Making the top five will be tough but if we find ourselves in with a chance of winning the league, we’ll push to do that.

"I still think eight or nine sides will be in there but we are up there challenging the leaders and have got to keep cashing in and picking up the points."

Hayes (pictured) admits the lack of football due to the bad weather has been frustrating and made even planning training sessions difficult.

He added: "My biggest worry against Lewes was we hadn’t played for such a long time. Players were just trying to find their feet again in the first 45 minutes and get themselves back in the swing of it.

"I think we switched off a few times and both teams could have scored more before half-time.

"I thought we looked far more composed in the second half, fitter and stronger and did the right things to finish the game off and have hopefully left something in the tank ahead of the Bromley game."

Jon Wallis is doubtful for the weekend after stitches in a gashed ankle and Lee Hook stands by to retain his place if Ross Flitney is still troubled by flu.