Jake Leberl refused to blame the officials after Dover’s late defeat at Aveley.

The Millers’ winner came 90 seconds over the minimum five minutes of added time signalled by referee Adrian George, with substitute Manny Ogunrinde finishing a free-kick.

It wasn’t clear where the extra time came from but new boss Leberl took a refreshing stance following the 2-1 loss which keeps Dover 11 points from safety in National League South.

“I don’t like moaning about referees for things like that,” he said.

“I’ve been brought up better than that.

“You’ve got to look at yourselves not referees the whole time.

“I just felt when the free-kick was given - and it was a free-kick - you probably think that’s one too many balls going in our box.

“We’ve conceded a sloppy free-kick and that’s what has cost us.

“It would have been nice to nick a point and that would have kept everything rolling on forwards.

“But now we’ve got to pick the players up.”

It was a first defeat in four games for Leberl since succeeding Mitch Brundle as Dover manager and followed a 2-1 win over the same opponents in part one of their festive double-header on Boxing Day.

Whites bossed the first half in the return game and were good value for Nick Dembele’s opening goal at Parkside.

But George Nikaj’s trip on Siju Odelusi saw Aveley level from the penalty spot and the visitors came under intense pressure before conceding at the death.

It was a cruel way for Dover to lose but Leberl saw the writing on the wall.

“I felt it was coming, if I’m honest,” he said.

“We were under a lot of pressure in the second half but we defended for our lives.

“The boys were putting their bodies on the line and I was just hoping we could hold on for a point but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

“They’re absolutely devastated and knackered in there.

Report: Aveley 2-1 Dover

“But we were competitive and we’ve been competitive in every game I’ve been here, which we set out to be because I think we were getting beaten too easily previously.

“I definitely feel we’re harder to beat. First and foremost, you’ve got to start from the back.

“I feel our squad is a little bit unbalanced with what we’ve got.

“We lack a little bit of size and power, so obviously we’ll look to address that if and where we can but in the meantime we’ll just continue working with the boys and be competitive in every game and hopefully pick up points along the way.

“The more games the boys play, you get to know their characters - who can stand up and be counted and who doesn’t quite fancy it; who’s prepared to run through brick walls and who’s not.”