Staines 1 Dover Athletic 3

CLIVE WALKER began his third spell in charge of Dover Athletic with a win and chalked up Whites's first away victory for 10 months in the process.

Though Dover were lucky to be ahead at the interval, a spirited second half performance of attacking drive and determination saw them run out worthy winners.

Walker made several changes to the starting eleven using his favoured 4-4-2 formation. Matt Carruthers returned to the attack after patching up his differences with the club, while Sam Vallance, James Rogers and Shane Hamshare were restored to replace the departed Nick Grime and Gavin Rose, with Victor Renner and Jude Stirling relegated to the subs bench.

Staines were immediately into their stride and their quick concise attacks had Dover back-pedalling from the off with tricky front pair of Elliot Onochie and Gavin Tomlin causing problems with their movement.

The pair who have scored 20 goals between them this season were a threat throughout and should have given the home side the lead when a quick throw caused problems in the box but Onochie fired wide of the mark.

Whites' attacks were repelled with wide men Hamshare and Rogers struggling to get into the game as they were constantly needed to cover for Vallance and Daniel Braithewaite who were being dragged out of position by the pacy Staines frontmen.

The home side did have the ball in the back of the net in the 24th minute when a huge punt from keeper Mat Lovett found Onochie in the penalty area but he was adjudged to have handballed before driving the ball past Paul Hyde.

Onochie then shinned an effort wide when it seemed easier to score, before Dover pounced to break the deadlock in first half injury time with their first effort on target.

A long ball upfield found the willing Paul Armstrong eight yards from goal and he delightfully spun his marker and drilled the ball home for his fourth goal of the campaign.

This made Walker's team talk a little easier, though that was immediately redundant as 40 seconds into the second period the home side levelled with a controversial penalty. Staines midfielder Richard Gell's ball into the box seemed more ball to hand when it struck Braithewaite, but referee Linington had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Tomlin did the rest from 12 yards.

The clash then absorbed into a real free flowing affair with Armstrong unlucky to see his goal-bound shot brilliantly blocked by Peer Barnsby, before Hyde earned his money with a fine tip over from a dipping Andre De Lisser free kick.

The introduction of Renner in place of Rogers showed Walker sensed victory and a piece of magic from Armstrong turned the game.

A dreadful miss-kick in midfield set the Whites on a breakaway and Renner found Armstrong 25 yards from goal with a delightful flick header. He looked up and unleashed a gem of an effort, which left Lovett clutching at air as it bounced off the far post and into the back of the net.

The home side then laid siege to the Dover goal but with Craig Cloke and Dean Readings growing in confidence they neutered the attacks with ease.

It was confirmed as Dover's day when they scored their third in stoppage time, the first time in 29 months they had scored three times away from home in a league match.

Braithewaite got to the byline after Renner once again caused havoc and though his cross evaded Armstrong, Hamshare was on hand to drill the ball past the despairing Staines defenders on the goaline.

Though they still remain in a precarious position at the base of the table, the win gives Dover hope that Walker can inspire the side to give them a fighting chance of survival and with fixtures coming up against sides anxiously over looking their shoulders stranger things have happened.

Dover: Hyde, Vallance, Braithewaite, Cloke, Readings, Palmer (Hickman 76), Hamshare, Maynard, Carruthers, Armstrong, Rogers (Renner 57). Subs Not Used: Wright, Spiller, Stirling.