Alfie Pavey is urging Dover strike partner Chike Kandi to stick with him up top if he wants to stay on the goal trail.

Both Pavey and Kandi scored on Saturday as Whites beat Braintree 3-1 in National League South.

Pavey netted his side’s third goal having set up Kandi to score Dover’s opener while substitute Luke Baptiste bagged a scrappy second goal.

For Kandi, it was a second goal in as many games and Pavey said: “We keep trying to tell him to stay high.

“There’s no point in him, dropping in when his game is running in behind. He has got the strength and he’s got the power to do that.

“Okay at times, it’s tough for him to keep doing it [running in behind], I understand that as a striker.

“But the more games he plays, the fitter he’ll get, and the more understanding he’ll get that - if he stays close to me - I’ll give him opportunities.”

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Pavey headed in at Crabble after centre-back Jake Goodman had got on the end of a high Alfie Paxman free-kick, ending a run of seven matches without a goal for the frontman.

He said: “I’ve been a bit frustrated the last few weeks and missed a penalty a few weeks back as well [in the win against Hemel]. I think that’ll help my confidence going forwards.

“I know I’m going to score goals if balls are going to be put into the box, that’s my game. I’m delighted, not just with the three points, but to get on the scoresheet on Saturday as well.”

The win means Andy Hessenthaler’s men are three matches unbeaten - their longest unbeaten run since prior to the Covid pandemic - as Whites slowly start to rebuild after a disastrous campaign last season ended in relegation from the National League.

“Look, I think it’s fair to say we’re a new squad put together in the summer,” said Pavey. “Pre-season was horrific, we know that. It was always going to take some time but we're starting to gel.

“We’re not going to win every game, we’re going to lose some, that’s part of football. But we are building a bit of momentum.

“Now, we move onto Slough and there’s another three points up for grabs for us. If we can tick these games off, five out of six games, we’re at home. We can really build something at home.

“Credit to the fans for sticking with us and, hopefully, we can give them three points every time.”

While Dover’s boss Hessenthaler has come under a lot of criticism lately, 27-year-old Pavey insists the squad remain right behind him with this Saturday’s match against Slough their second of four successive home league fixtures.

He said: “We know what this crowd can do. This is my third spell here.

“I was here before when we were fighting in a relegation battle and they were still coming down in their numbers. They’re a great set of supporters and they kick us on.

“We are believing in what the gaffer is doing at the moment, okay people from the outside may say otherwise but, as a team, I think we are fighting for him and I think we are doing what he wants us to do at the moment.

“That’s credit to the squad.”

Dover beat Braintree without midfielder Jordan Higgs (suspended), player-assistant manager Mitch Brundle (knee) and striker Reece Grant (hamstring) while full-back Myles Judd came off at half-time.

“It just shows you, no matter who is coming in, they’re all fighting for their place,” said Pavey. “People are coming in and, on Saturday, they took their opportunities.

“Luke Baptiste had to come on at half-time because of Juddy and he’s got his goal again. To be fair to him, virtually every time he plays, I think he scores!

“Listen, everyone is pushing each other and that’s what we need. Nobody is getting the hump if they’re getting left out or are on the bench.

“I have had it before, I was on the bench a lot at Dartford. But if you want to achieve something, we all need to pull through.”

Pavey also said the squad are pleased to see George Nikaj shining on loan at Ashford, the striker having scored six goals for the Nuts & Bolts.

“George is a great player,” he said. “Okay, his chances were a bit limited here so the best option for him was to go out on loan.

“All you can do when you go out on loan is your thing and whatever happens after that, happens after that.

“He still trains with us. We’re asking [at training] ‘George, did you score again’ and he’s usually saying ‘Yeah, I scored again!’ Everyone is happy for him.

“We’re not just team-mates, we are mates, with a great bond and, hopefully, that can continue."