Dover started 2023 with a New Year’s Day home defeat to Dulwich in National League South.

They took the lead against the run of play through top scorer Alfie Pavey, only for striker Danny Mills to get Hamlet a deserved leveller shortly before the interval.

But the all-important third goal saw Joe Felix earn the London club the points.

Hamlet dominated in the first half at Crabble and they created a couple of openings in quick succession inside the first eight minutes in front of a crowd of 827.

A penalty appeal was dismissed by referee Steve Hughes after a challenge by Whites right-back Myles Judd on Andre Blackman before striker George Porter tested Dover goalkeeper Stuart Nelson following a long ball which had sent him through.

Four minutes later, impressive away midfielder Jayden Clarke cut off the left but he was thwarted by the experienced Nelson who tipped the low drive wide.

The 17th minute saw the hosts finally threaten on the counter-attack, full-back Alfie Paxman seeing his attempt go wide amid a rare first-half foray forward.

Dulwich defender Ronnie Vint should have done better on 21 minutes, only to send a free header from a free-kick wide of Nelson’s right-hand post.

The away side’s dominance continued though as Judd made a crucial block to deny Porter at the back post.

Hamlet were playing much the better football on a sticky surface at this stage. In the 36th minute, recalled captain Jack Holland headed into the side-netting after Clarke had stood up a left-wing cross.

But Whites drew first blood against the run of play, two minutes later. Paxman’s free-kick was met by Mitch Brundle, away keeper Charlie Grainger pushed clear, however Pavey hooked home in fine style for his eighth goal this season.

Looking for a response, the visitors went close in the 41st minute when Felix blasted narrowly over.

With seconds left of the opening 45 minutes, however, they grabbed a deserved leveller. Good play on the right saw the ball crossed to Mills who made no mistake at the back post from close range.

The action wasn’t yet over for the half, though, as Dover skipper Lee Martin incredibly saw a corner crack against the crossbar. With the ball bouncing back to the same man, play was then stopped with one of the assistant referee’s having their flag up.

Five minutes after the restart, defender Jake Goodman was booked for unceremoniously taking out a Dulwich man.

Clarke turned home midfielder Jordan Higgs, who netted in the Boxing Day 1-1 draw at Dulwich, inside out in the 53rd minute before he blazed over from long distance.

Just before the hour mark, Hamlet’s Felix beat Paxman to a loose ball but Nelson was equal to his effort.

Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler’s first change came the other side of the hour mark, Chike Kandi coming on for Luke Baptiste.

That substitution helped spark an opportunity for them in the 65th minute. Martin held onto the ball for a long time and eventually passed to Kandi who missed the target amid a much more tightly-contested second half.

More lovely play by the hosts on the right saw Kandi stand a delivery up with 17 minutes to play for Pavey. The 27-year-old had the time to chest down but failed to test Grainger.

Soon after, another right-wing cross was met by Pavey, with his strike this time being guided wide on the line by Dulwich defender Quade Taylor.

The hosts were starting to look the better side at this stage. However the away team went 2-1 ahead when Felix - who scored at Champion Hill six days ago - made a great run, holding off Paxman’s desperate attempts to get back, to slot past Nelson to find the bottom corner.

Now trailing, Whites brought on young frontman Noah Carney for 23-year-old Judd in the last minutes of normal time.

The third minute of stoppage time out of five saw Grainger save a Jake Goodman header from Martin’s free-kick but Dover finished the match empty-handed, starting the year in a rather depressing manner on the pitch.

They last won at home in the league in mid-October, beating Slough 3-0, while their last New Year's Day win was a 1-0 victory at Maidstone in 2019.

The home side named an unchanged starting line-up, albeit Kandi returned to the bench in place of young frontman George Nikaj who was left out the matchday squad.

But the visitors, led by former Welling and Margate coach Paul Barnes, made two changes which saw ex-Maidstone, Welling and Dartford man Porter come in alongside Holland.

They replaced Johl Powell - on loan at Maidstone last season - and fellow midfielder James Comley, who wasn’t in their squad.

Dover wore their navy blue away kit in support of Shelter’s #NoHomeKit campaign.

There was a minute’s applause prior to kick-off in memory of legendary Brazilian footballer Pele who recently died, aged 82.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd (Carney 87mins), Paxman, Goodman, Sterling, Brundle (Wilkinson 69mins), Higgs, Martin, Baptiste (Kandi 62mins), Wanadio, Pavey. Subs not used: Moses, Agbebi.

Dulwich Hamlet: Grainger, Ming, Holland, Raymond, Mills (Owusu 69mins), Taylor, Blackman (Krasniqi 85mins), Porter, Clarke (Smith 94mins), Felix, Vint. Subs not used: Jones, Powell.

Referee: Steve Hughes.

Attendance: 827.