Dover's play-off hopes suffered a blow as they lost a huge National League game at Aldershot on Monday afternoon.

A second-half penalty from sub Matt McClure condemned Dover to defeat at the EBB Stadium and saw the Shots climb over Whites and into 5th, the final play-off place, though Dover do retain a game in hand and are only a point behind.

After influential sub Idris Kanu was sent-off for a second yellow card for the hosts, Chris Kinnear Jr missed a glorious chance to snatch a draw in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the game after Ricky Miller had bustled into the box, only for the midfielder to scuff his shot wide of the post with keeper Jake Cole stranded.

Dover went into the game sat 5th, two points ahead of the Shots, with the same GD, plus a game in hand and three matches remaining after today.

Whites expected to weather an early storm and Connor Essam charged down a Shamir Fenelon inside five minutes while the lively Bernard Mensah saw a 20-yard free-kick clip the wall and sail over.

Former Wolves man Jim Kellerman skidded a low shot wide of Mitch Walker's goal on 10 minutes while Dover had a rare chance as Ricky Modeste freed Miller who was crowded out by big Will Evans.

Joe Healy robbed Mensah in midfield on 20 minutes and found Modeste who pulled away to the edge of the box, only to swing his shot a foot wide of the far post past the flying Jake Cole.

Mensah sliced over the bar and Nick Arnold fired another shot from outside the box high and wide as Dover defended deep and provided a solid wall of blue and white shirts 18 yards from their own goal.

Mitch Walker's first real action was to nervously palm Scott Rendell's driven cross over for a corner while Dover had a glimpse of goal on the half-hour as a Healy set-piece was nodded across goal by Essam with Evans having to nod over from under his own crossbar.

Aswad Thomas headed over from the resultant corner while Miller saw a free-kick blocked by the wall, as was his follow-up attempt.

James Hurst was replaced by Kinnear Jr seconds before the break, having already picked up a booking, while the hosts - with one defeat in 20 and none at home since November - introduced teenage Kanu, who has trialled with Man Utd at the interval.

Benyu saw a 20-yarder deflected over and Mitch Walker got down well to deny Fenelon from similar range. His first real save.

Kanu was booked on 56 minutes after going down in the box with Richard Orlu in close attendance but Nick Arnold saw a curling cross bounce out off the Dover post soon after.

Walker held a deflected drive from Evans just after the hour while Miller was handed a clear run through after a slip from the defender but scuffed a tame shot straight at Cole.

Walker denied a Callum Reynolds drive from distance and sub Mitch Pinnock lashed a free-kick well over Cole's bar but the game was decided with 18 minutes remaining.

Former Welling man Jake Gallagher burst into the area from the right but was sliced down by the impressive Essam, giving ref Neil Hair little choice but to point to the spot, allowing McClure to ram down the middle just 10 minutes after he came on.

Another sub, Anthony Straker stung Walker's palms with a fierce drive on 86 minutes seconds before Kanu saw red after a follow-through on Kinnear Jr.

Thomas glanced a header from a Pinnock corner inches wide in added-time and sub Ross Lafayette nodded at Cole in a grandstand finish.

The final minute saw Kinnear scuff wide after Miller's shot had been blocked away while McClure lashed wide when clean through in a frantic final minute.

Dover must bounce back at home to Torquay on Saturday (3pm) before their game in hand at home to Macclesfield the following Tuesday.

Dover: Walker, Magri (Lafayette 75mins), Sterling, Orlu, Grimes, Essam, Thomas, Modeste, Hurst (Kinnear Jr 45mins), Healy (Pinnock 58mins), Miller. Subs not used: Emmanuel, Fakakerley.

Aldershot: Cole, Arnold (Straker 70mins), Evans, Fenelon, Rendell (McClure 62mins), Mensah, Alexander, Gallagher, Kellerman (Kanu 46mins), Benyu, Reynolds. Subs not used, Oyeleke, Smith.

Attendance: 3,857 (265 away fans)