Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler hailed his side’s fantastic performance in the 2-0 victory over Maidenhead on Saturday.

It was Whites’ first league win under new manager Hessenthaler.

He said his side continued from where they left off in the second half in the defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Hessenthaler said: “The other night against Dagenham we didn’t get going in the first half. We conceded two poor goals but in the second half we came out with some real intent and could have easily got something out of the game.

“I said to them in the changing room before the game this is a massive game for us against a team that are in and around us and lacking in form. We had to take on the second half performance from Tuesday into today and they had to believe in themselves.

“I don’t think there is enough belief in that dressing room. If they believe in themselves we can get out the mess we are in. They showed that today and they were excellent. From everybody, even the boys on the bench coming on, it was a fantastic performance.”

Kevin Lokko scored his fourth goal of the season to give Dover a 1-0 lead in the first half.

They coped with a spell of pressure from Maidenhead in the second half and got the second goal through Jai Reason to wrap up the points.

Hessenthaler said: “I felt we were a little bit nervous coming out in the second half because we were 1-0 up and hadn’t won for a while and not kept a clean sheet for a while in the league.

“You could see a bit of nervousness and I get that but the second goal was the key. They were chasing it and the game opened up and we probably could have scored three or four more goals.”

Hessenthaler is delighted with the impact of his new signings with them playing a key role in the victory.

He added: “I loved him (Bobby-Joe Taylor) today and did the other night (against Dagenham) even though I took him off.

“He’s different to what we have got. You need that in a group of players. If you keep the same sort of player throughout the group then you will have a problem. He gives us something different. He has a fantastic left foot and was unlucky not to score today.

“I will have a conversation perhaps this week to see if we can extend it or maybe until the end of the season.

“Stuart (Lewis) is finding his feet now and we know what he can bring. He led by example with Mitch Brundle in the middle.

“Jai (Reason) just needs to get fit. He has that bit of quality that nobody perhaps has in the group. He created a few situations and his goal was outstanding. We just have to get him fit and he will play a massive part for us staying up in this league.”