Manager Mitch Brundle reckons Dover got the luck their hard work deserved in their victory at Braintree.

While Brundle conceded they were perhaps slightly fortunate to leave Essex with all three points on Saturday, Whites will take wins no matter how they come as they aim to edge clear of the National League South relegation battle.

“It was a fantastic win,” said Brundle. “I will take any win - however it comes!

“Was it our best game? No.

"Did we deserve it? Probably not for the amount of chances they had and we had on the day, but we worked ourselves into the ground. The luck came with us.

“We haven’t had much luck in recent times and I would say the hard work got us the luck.

“I didn’t address it as that but, really, it was a must-win game and, attacking-wise, it was the most dangerous we have looked over the last few games.

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“It was a massive performance and a massive result. I’m delighted.”

Wideman Luke Wanadio now has 10 goals after his brace at play-off chasing Braintree.

Wanadio put Dover ahead in fine fashion, only for the hosts to hit back before the break.

In the 73rd minute, Brandon Pierrick put away the rebound after Wanadio’s effort had been saved while, with the hosts having seen a 94th-minute leveller disallowed, Pierrick then won a penalty, which top scorer Wanadio converted at the second attempt.

Brundle said: “Luke’s got that in him.

“We tried to make him go outside and use his pace. Because he’s a technical footballer, he wants to come inside, and Brandon did well, as well.

“He got the assist for the penalty and the assist for the first goal. Luke’s our top scorer now, so I’m pleased for him.

“But there’s more games to go and he can score more, the same with Brandon.

"He can start getting some goals.”

With Tyrone Sterling and Myles Judd banned and Jake Goodman injured, young defenders Will Moses and Andi Janjeva stepped up.

“We defended well,” noted Brundle.

“We played Andi and Will Moses, I think they’re both 19. They did fantastically.”

Whites are now eight points clear of the relegation zone but Brundle isn’t getting carried away.

“There’s still a way to go,” he noted. “Until I see four ‘Rs’ underneath us, then we’re not safe.

“Football’s a strange old game. Does Saturday make it easier? Yes, it takes some of the pressure off.

“One of those teams in the bottom four will not be one of those below us [at the end of the season]. If we were eight points clear in the play-offs, I would be saying the same thing.

“Players are fighting for their contracts. Sides can go three or four games without a win - like we just did!

"When we were 12 points clear, I thought it was easier. But until it’s mathematically done, I would not say that we’re safe at all.

“That’s just my mindset, otherwise it becomes seven or five points.

“But even when we’re mathematically safe, we want to show fans that we’re still playing for next season.”

There’s a big double-header in store for Dover in 16th, who host Welling this Friday before an Easter Monday trip to promotion-chasing Dartford.

Brundle said: “We’ll speak about Welling, first of all.

“We will speak about Dartford after that. Welling will come, fighting for their lives.

“At home, we’ve not been great. We’ve not got ourselves going, which is disappointing - we seem to be performing better away at the minute.

“But it’s a massive game. A massive game for them, a massive game for us.

“I know their manager [Warren Feeney] really well.

"He’s a really great guy but it’ll come down to who performs well and who wins the game.”

Right-back Harrison Byford has returned from his loan at Faversham while promising forward Josh Ajayi came off the bench on his injury comeback.

Judd is due to return but centre-back Goodman (hamstring) is expected to remain sidelined for a few more weeks yet.