Sean Raggett struck twice as Dover staved off a battling comeback by Aldershot to secure their eighth - and biggest -home win of the season in the Vanarama National League on Saturday.

A stunning early strike by Nicky Deverdics, plus Jack Parkinson's header, had Whites 2-0 ahead at the break, but Aldershot hit back to level before goals from Stefan Payne and Raggett (2) earned Whites the points before a crowd of 1012.

The win took them back up to third in the table behind leaders Cheltenham and Forest Greeen Rovers.

Struggling Aldershot had lost their last five matches in all competitions and they could hardly have made a worse start, falling behind inside 90 seconds.

Midfielder Deverdics received the ball 25 yards out and had only one thing on his mind as he hit a stunning shot that Shots keeper Phil Smith got a hand to but could not keep out for his eighth goal of the season.

Aldershot forced three corners in the opening 15 minutes and five in total before the break but they failed to test home keeper Andy Rafferty and it was Dover who continued to have the best chances with Ricky Miller nearly getting on the end of a teasing Ricky Modeste cross at the far post on 17 minutes.

Modeste and Miller then had goalbound efforts blocked in the same attack and when the ball broke again to Modeste his header was cleared in the six yard box with keeper Smith beaten.

Dover did though increase their lead on 35 minutes after Aswad Thomas had gone down in the box. A corner rather than a penalty was referee David Rock's decision but from Modeste's deep cross Parkinson got up well to head home.

Dover looked really comfortable at this stage but within 90 seconds of the second half starting the game had been turned on its head.

Some people, including Whites boss Chris Kinnear had still to take their seats as Aldershot's Sam Hatton punished hesitancy in the home defence to bundle home and Whites were still reeling from that when Charlie Walker swept home Jim Stevenson's cutback.

The visitors were a side transformed but Whites almost regained the lead when Parkinson's header from Sam Magri's cross was superbly saved by Smith.

Miller then wriggled clear only to screw his shot wide before Payne pounced from close range on the hour to restore the Dover lead and claim his 12th goal of the campaign.

Raggett added the fourth from close range in the 70th minute and five minutes later the big centre-half struck again with a towering header from a Deverdics free-kick.

Aldershot's challenge was over and Dover might have added another late on but Toby Ajala was unable to keep his header down. Fellow sub Tom Murphy then broke into the box but was denied by a fine covering tackle.

Dover: Rafferty, Magri, Orlu, Grimes, Raggett, Thomas, Modeste (Murphy 80min), Parkinson, Deverdics, Miller (Diallo 87min), Payne (Ajala 78min); Subs: Sterling, Pinnock.

Aldershot: Smith, McGinty, Lathorpe, Saville, Hatton (Akinyemi 78min) Stevenson, Walker (Brodie 78min), Alexander, Beckles, Browne, Carr; Subs: Oliver, Richards, Thomas.

Attendance: 1012