Dover first team coach Darren Hare believes Whites passed a significant test of their mental strength in Saturday's 2-1 win over FC Halifax Town.

Alfie Pavey and Anthony Jeffrey scored either side of half-time for the hosts to lift them five points above the relegation zone.

Their lead was pegged back by Matty Kosylo's header just after the hour mark, but Dover resisted late pressure to avoid familiar stoppage-time heartbreak.

Hare said: "Really difficult conditions to try and play football in but I think anyone watching could see we were the only team really trying to do that. I think it worked for us.

"When we went 2-0 up I thought we could have gone on and increased our lead because we were in such control, but obviously the weather conditions played their part."

On Halifax's goal, Hare added: "Their goalkeeper has smashed the ball what must have been 70 yards down the pitch and it caught us out, the one time it caught us out.

"We know at this level if you make mistakes you get punished for them, so we had to bounce back from that.

"It was a severe test of character for us because in recent games we've been ahead and teams have come back to beat us, but to see that out will give our lads a lot of pride and confidence."

The result marked an overdue three points for the unchanged XI that played in the 3-2 defeat to Hartlepool and the 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood.

"I think that was reflected in the manager's team selection, he's picked the same team the last three games because we've been playing well," Hare admitted.

"That's the trust he's placed in that XI and they delivered."

Goalkeeper Lee Worgan meanwhile made another bright impression as he continued his run in place of no.1 Mitch Walker between the sticks.

Blustery conditions saw the former Maidstone shot-stopper's sweeper-keeper expertise play a significant role in Dover's victory.

"In the first half he was vital for us because the wind was on his back, so judging balls over the top when they're going to get held up by the wind can be very difficult," said Hare.

"I thought he was outstanding with his decision making there.

"Like I say, though, we can all question what happened with their goal. I think it just caught our two centre-halves out.

"When you're back-peddling and the ball is fizzing over your head even maybe helping it on might have been the choice, but we didn't quite manage to do that.

"Lee made a fantastic save in the second half to keep us in it when young Danny [McNamara] had misjudged a header at right-back.

"There were always going to be mistakes in a game like (that) because of the conditions. We got the rub of the green."

Jeffrey and Jamie Allen, too, caught the eye for their efforts to drop deep and oversee Dover's transition from defence to attack.

"We knew how they play, they play like a diamond shape and like to get the ball up to their frontmen really early," Hare said.

"What we said to Anthony Jeffrey and Jamie Allen was 'once it goes long, just drop off and sit in those pockets for when we win it back'.

"We also worked hard on our two central midfielders and Jai Reason on picking up the bits in those areas, the three of Gomis, Lewis and Reason were magnificent in doing that."