Dover Athletic's wait for a National League win continues after defeat at King's Lynn on Saturday.

Two-goal Joshua Barrett impressed new Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington, who saw his charges end a run of eight successive league defeats.

The midfielder scored a crackerjack in either half to give Lynn's National League survival hopes a huge boost despite on-loan striker Alfie Pavey's equaliser in the first half.

It was Lynn's first three points on home soil after nine failed attempts and Barrett's first goals in a Blue and Gold shirt since his arrival from Bristol Rovers in October.

Lynn looked a completely different outfit to the one which went down to Aldershot with a whimper in their last home encounter - a defeat that marked the end of Ian Culverhouse's long reign in the dugout.

With Ethan Coleman employed in a centre-half role, the Linnets looked hungry and eager to please the new man in the hot seat.

Barrett and Lynn's opener came with a delightful lob from an acute angle midway through the first half following a flick-on from Gold Omotayo.

As well as scoring the both goals, Barrett showed off his remarkable passing range with a couple of ridiculous balls which had the home faithful purring with pleasure in the first half.

But it was the midfielder who lost possession as Dover broke forward quickly to level with their first attack of the match nine minutes later as Aaron Cosgrave crossed from the right and Pavey poked home at the far post.

Dover were lifted by their equaliser and Cosgrave forced home goalkeeper Paul Jones into a comfortable save five minutes before the break.

Four minutes into the second period, Barrett had the Lynn crowd on their feet for a second time after unleashing a 30-yard screamer into the top corner of Josh Bexon's net after picking up the ball from Brett McGavin.

Linnets keeper Jones was at his best to tip Pavey's header over the woodwork with 20 minutes left on the clock, but the hosts saw out the remainder of the game without too many further alarms.

If anything, the hosts could have increased their lead with substitutes Michael Gyasi and Ken Charles both going close late on.

King's Lynn: P Jones, Bowry, A Jones, McGavin, Barrett (Charles 54mins), Omotayo, Linton (Gyasi 85mins), Clunan, Bird, Sundire (Barrett 81mins), Coleman. Subs not used: Raspberry, Kurran-Browne.

Dover: Bexon, Ransom (Da Costa 82mins), Goodman, Collinge, Tiensia, Hanson, Bramble (Caton 62mins), Woods, Cosgrave, Williamson (Arthur 64mins), Pavey. Subs not used: Andre Jr, Wood.

Referee: Paul Marsden.

Attendance: 591 (56 away).