Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler is backing striker Inih Effiong to carry on his goalscoring form.

The 27-year-old forward made it three goals in two games under Hessenthaler after bagging the winner at Concord in the FA Cup on Saturday.

He scored double figures for Woking last season before earning a move to Scottish Premiership side Ross County.

"He could have done better (against Concord), his hold-up play needs to be better," said Hessenthaler.

"We didn't fancy him with the free-kick on the bench, all the boys were saying don't let him take it, and he's popped up with that.

"He's a big lad, he's got quality - we saw that at Harrogate.

"We've got to work with him and keep giving him belief that he can score goals because he certainly can. At Woking last year he got 16 and there's no reason why he can't get 16 for Dover this year."

Dover picked up only their second clean sheet of the season at Concord.

Centre-back Connor Essam again stood out in defence as Whites came up against the experienced front pair of Alex Wall and Jack Midson.

"We always knew it was going to be a tough game," added Hessenthaler.

"The game wasn't very pretty, we had a couple of good chances in the first half and they had one. I'm sure they'll be disappointed because they had a right go and made it difficult for us.

"The character of my team for the last two games has been excellent and that bodes well for the future. Yes, we've got to improve on the ball and our decision-making at times was poor.

"We're in the hat and we've got a clean sheet. That was the biggest thing, I thought we defended excellently against Midson and Wall so credit to the back four and keeper who were excellent."

One player set to depart Crabble is back-up keeper Chris Lewington, who cannot commit to full-time training. He was not named on the bench at Concord although Hessenthaler revealed that he would have named the full seven substitutes permitted only for Jack Connors to drop out due to a family issue on Saturday morning.

"We would have had seven (subs). Jack had a personal issue this morning so our thoughts are with him," confirmed Hessenthaler. "He would have been on the bench but I'm not really one for going with a goalkeeper on the bench.

"Chris can't really do the full-time training so he and the chairman are trying to sort something out on that front."

Terrace gossip was linking Dover with a move for Ebbsfleet striker Danny Kedwell after the Stonebridge Road outfit announced plans to "restructure the football club across the board" last week. That has already led to two members of the Fleet's coaching staff leaving the club.

"I think most clubs in our league would be interested in the Ebbsfleet players," responded Hessenthaler when asked if he had an interest in any of the Fleet squad. "They've obviously got a few financial problems there but we'll wait and see what happens.

"It's not for me to talk about, even though it's come out in the press that they've got problems."