Dover Athletic cruised to a 4-0 win at Chelmsford City in Skrill South on Saturday, despite playing more than an hour with 10-men.

Mitch Walker tipped an early Christian Smith free-kick onto the bar, while at the other end Tom Murphy saw a cross-shot saved by Carl Pentney in the City goal.

Sean Raggett’s fine form continued with a timely goalline clearance after Ashley Harris had rounded the out-rushing Walker before stroking towards goal.

Dover saw appeals for a handball in the box dismissed but soon after Lee Sawyer saw red after just 26 minutes following a rash lunge on Mark Haines on near the touchline, but Dover actually improved despite the disadvantage.

Murphy lashed a volley over from 20 yards after a good link-up with Nathan Elder and the first goal arrived on the stroke of half-time when a corner from James Rogers was flicked on by Jeff Goulding and into the net, with Liam Bellamy at close quarters and claiming the final touch.

It was 2-0 10 minutes into the second half when Tom Wynter played in Murphy down the left and the in-form Whites man chose to lob Pentney from out wide for a spectacular first goal of the afternoon.

Dover’s defence crowded out sub Rob Edmans at the other end when he briefly found himself with a clear sight of goal and Murphy made it 3-0 14 minutes from time when a long-throw from Wynter caused havoc in the Clarets defence and found its way to the Dover man to thump home from close-range.

Goulding smashed over the bar when presented with the chance of a consolation from 12 yards and Elder headed against the post at the other end before former Chelmsford man Michael Bakare had the final say, coming off the bench and winning and converting a last-minute penalty.

It was Dover’s sole league game in a five-week spell of Cup and Trophy action with Dover now 12th, just two points outside the play-off places and with a game in hand.