Striker Stefan Payne has set himself a target of 30 goals to help ensure Dover secure the play-off place he feels they deserve.

The 24-year-old former Gillingham forward reached the 20-goal milestone with a double to inspire Tuesday night’s fine 4-1 win over fellow National League play-off chasers Lincoln City.

The win took Whites back into the top four on goal difference and although none of the chasing pack have played fewer games than Dover, Payne insisted they are not even looking at the table at present.

He said: “We got ahead of ourselves (in back-to-back defeats) against Nantwich and Southport so we have to take each game as it comes. We’re not looking at the play-offs and where we are, we’re just looking at the next game, Guiseley, and trying to get the three points and go from there.

“You definitely have to take each game as it comes. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves and say we’ll get in the play-offs. We should really get there, it’s down to us and it’s a massive dip if we don’t get there.”

Payne hit 20 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions last season and matched that mark with a drive from an early free-kick and a close-range finish on the hour against the Imps.

He said: “It’s every striker’s dream to get a nice early goal. It was a great result but we could have had a lot more.

“We drew with Tranmere on Saturday and said we needed to win tonight and at Guiseley on Saturday to make that result seem better.”

Payne also played a part in both goals for his 18-goal strike partner Ricky Miller and added: “The gaffer has brought us both in to score goals. As a centre- forward you want to score goals so you just get yourself forward, a bit of interplay and the goals come.

“I have hit the 20-mark now, hopefully I can go on and get 25 or 30 and see what happens.”

Payne did receive a second-half booking from referee Richard Martin for a challenge on keeper Paul Farman and was taken off by boss Chris Kinnear as a precaution with 15 minutes left.

Payne said: “I told the referee as I went off that he’d cost me a hat-trick as he booked me but we won the game, that’s the main thing. Hopefully, I’ll save some goals for Saturday.”