Manager Andy Hessenthaler says he can understand Dover Athletic supporters' frustrations as their torrid start to the season continues.

Whites are yet to register their first win this season, having claimed only three draws from 12 National League fixtures, and the basement boys remain 17 points from safety.

Dover lost 5-2 at home to Stockport on Saturday.

There were 635 supporters at Crabble for the seven-goal thriller, only 17 more than the attendance that watched rivals Folkestone - who play two leagues lower than Dover - beat Hendon 2-1 in the FA Trophy.

Hessenthaler said: “I can understand the fans’ frustrations. They want us to win games.

“It’s tough. The chairman, Jim Parmenter, has done what he has done for the football club (deciding not to play matches last season which resulted in a 12-point deduction this season and a £40,000 fine for Dover).

“I feel for the chairman a little bit, to be fair. He can’t do any more.

"But the fans that were here, they got behind the boys. Credit to them. It was a decent football match, wasn’t it?”

Stockport led at half-time after goals from Scott Quigley and Paddy Madden, despite Ben Williamson's penalty for the hosts - his first goal for Dover.

Koby Arthur brilliantly equalised after the restart but goals from Oliver Crankshaw, captain Liam Hogan and substitute Ben Whitfield earned Dave Conlon’s team the points.

“It’s the same old story really,” Hessenthaler conceded. “I think, at 2-2, we had a great chance to make it 3-2. We just needed that rub of green to stab it home.

“Instead, they went up the other end to get their third goal. So it’s really disappointing again.”

Hessenthaler said player-coach Reda Johnson came off at half-time with a tight groin, midfielder Yannis Drais also limped off with either a calf problem or cramp, defender Jake Goodman was not involved against Stockport as he has a slight ankle problem and Ricky Miller has contracted Covid.

Striker Miller is expected to return to training on Monday.

Dover's boss was particularly disappointed with the manner in which the goals were conceded by his side against Stockport.

“They are poor goals to concede,” he admitted. “We just spoke about it in the dressing room.

“For their third goal, John Rooney snuck in at the back post along with the lad that scored, Oliver Crankshaw. It’s 10 v 10 in terms of outfield players. You have to mark your man.

“Rooney shouldn’t be spare but somebody wasn’t doing their job.

"The keeper, Adam Parkes, saves it and their lad gets a tap-in. We don’t get them and we are giving teams goals.

“For the fourth one, to be fair, Willo (Ben Williamson) has held his hands up and said Liam Hogan has got above him.

“Fifth one, they have pulled us apart really. We were trying to gamble a little bit and they got a tap-in. So the goals were poor.

“What can we do? We can just keep going, keep fighting and we will just keep doing that.”

Dover visit Southend on Tuesday and will have TJ Bramble back available after he served a one-match ban.

• Report: Dover 2-5 Stockport

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