An entertaining and topsy-turvy Isthmian Premier match went the way of frontrunners Dover against a spirited Canvey Island team on Saturday.

Canvey netted first early on in unusual fashion and deserved to be ahead at that stage, but Whites forward Ruben Soares-Junior levelled to ensure it was level pegging at half-time.

The visitors went ahead again in the second period after an uncharacteristic error by goalkeeper Mitch Walker from a free-kick by two-goal captain Elliott Ronto.

But Alfie Matthews equalised for Whites on 71 minutes and the prolific George Nikaj fired in what proved the winning goal as it ended 3-2 to Whites, extending their unbeaten league run to seven games.

The visitors broke the deadlock on 10 minutes in front of a crowd of 911 at Crabble.

A corner routine saw skipper Ronto fire a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. It then appeared captain Walker had saved from close range to deny Chris Harris, with the linesman seemingly flagging to rule the striker had been offside.

But after a conversation between referee Daniel Blades and the assistant referee, a goal was given - presumably with Ronto's shot having been adjudged to have bounced over the line off the woodwork.

Moments later, Nikaj flashed a shot narrowly wide.

Next to go close for the hosts midway through the first period was Matthews, as he shot over the crossbar from distance, before Canvey’s Swindon loanee Jaxon Brown missed the target after a swift counter-attack.

Matthews again went close in the 32nd minute. He forced Canvey goalkeeper Bobby Mason to punch from a short-corner routine.

It certainly wasn’t third time lucky, either, for the one-time Arsenal player, who blasted a free-kick well over with three minutes of the first half to play.

But only two minutes later, Dover equalised when lovely right-wing play saw Nikaj find Soares-Junior and he slotted past Mason for his 10th goal this season.

It almost got even better for Jake Leberl’s troops in first-half injury time, only for Nikaj to drag inches wide of Mason’s left-hand post.

Five minutes after the restart, Matthews curled wide from around 20 yards out.

Harrison Pont then got away with a bad pass, Harris failing to hit the target.

But Canvey went back in front as Walker endured a few minutes to forget before the hour mark. The 33-year-old was booked after he had fouled midfielder Emmanuel Adebiyi outside the penalty box and, from the free-kick, the ball - somehow - squirmed underneath him.

While the away team initially seemed comfortable, holding onto their lead, Matthews finally found his range with 19 minutes to play. He bent emphatically into Mason’s top left-hand corner after a left-wing dragback to make it 2-2.

Canvey nearly immediately went back ahead when home hearts were in mouths as Harris’ header looped against the crossbar.

But Whites completed their quickfire double salvo from virtually nothing. Nikaj cut onto his favoured left foot and it was ruled his long-range shot had bounced over the line off the crossbar.

Aiming to find a leveller, Walker saved smartly in the 83rd minute from Adebiyi’s strike before Mason made a superb save to deny Soares-Junior from Pont’s delivery.

Matthews claimed his fifth booking of the campaign during five minutes of stoppage time - and will now have a suspension to serve - but Dover held on.

Home boss Leberl had made two switches to his starting line-up from the one, which played out last weekend’s 1-1 derby draw at Chatham.

Mampolo replaced George Wilkinson in midfield and a last-minute change saw Roman Charles-Cook, returning from a three-game suspension, come in for defender Tamas Amgbaduba.

Charles-Cook had initially been named on the substitutes’ bench.

Sidelined Dover defender Joe Tennent took part in the pre-match warm-up despite not making their squad.

Among the away team were keeper Mason and Harris, having been at Sittingbourne last season.

Whites are at struggling Bowers & Pitsea next weekend.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Sesay, Mensah, Cocoracchio, Baptiste (Wilkinson 76mins), Matthews, Nikaj, Soares-Junior, Pont, Mampolo (T.Amgbaduba 88mins). Subs not used: Gyebi, Young, E.Amgbaduba.

Canvey Island: Mason, Yates (Crowhurst 84mins), Stephen, Hart, Wallace (Dorrell 84mins), Parsons, Ronto, Adebiyi, Sach, Brown, Harris. Subs not used: Salmon, Tinubu, Hubble.

Referee: Daniel Blades.

Attendance: 911.