Luca Cocoracchio's first goal of the season guided promotion-chasing Dover to a sorely-needed home Isthmian Premier win over Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.

The defensive midfielder broke the deadlock in the 12th minute during a fine display and Jake Leberl's fifth-placed team held on for the points as it ended 1-0 in front of a big Crabble crowd despite the away team coming desperately close to a last-gasp leveller.

While the visitors had started well, forcing Whites’ keeper Jordan Gillmore to make an early reaction save, the hosts - responding to back-to-back defeats - created their first chance of the contest in the 10th minute.

Ryan Hanson glanced across goal from a delivery by midfielder Luke Baptiste, who had taken over corner-kick duties from Alfie Matthews.

But just two minutes later, Leberl’s side struck in front of a crowd that was announced as 3,021 at Crabble - an attendance seemingly bolstered by 1,000 free tickets being handed out to local schools and community groups on the club’s latest community day.

Cocoracchio curled nicely beyond away keeper Dillon Barnes after battling for the loose ball with team-mate Ruben Soares-Junior.

Hamlet looked for a swift reply, but goalkeeper Gillmore comfortably gathered veteran Mark Marshall’s effort, before a Baptiste snapshot from a tight angle whistled narrowly over.

The visitors, led by former Welling boss Bradley Quinton, were forced into a change just before the half-hour mark as former Ebbsfleet and Maidstone midfielder Kreshnic Krasqini hobbled off and was replaced by Ryley Scott.

Dover midfielder Matthews then curled wide of Barnes’ left-hand post on the volley in the 35th minute, having been found by the impressive Cocoracchio.

Gillmore thwarted visiting full-back Aaron Williams-Bushell, who had tried his luck from the edge of the area, in three minutes of first-half injury time.

Baptiste came close to establishing a two-goal Whites lead inside 60 second-half seconds, only to be denied by either Barnes’ feet or the woodwork at the near post.

Gillmore again had to get down well at the other end as he tipped wide a 20-yard shot from substitute Scott, who had been given too much space.

Athletic again came close to a second on the counter-attack shortly before the hour.

Home skipper Soares-Junior saw his shot parried by Barnes after he had cut off the left, with midfielder Hanson sending his follow-up effort over.

With the match heading towards the final 20 minutes, Athletic midfielder Matthews headed a right-wing Cocoracchio delivery at Barnes.

There were then opportunities at either end as Baptiste and Dulwich striker Danny Mills went close for their respective teams.

Dover almost got a game-clinching second on 85 minutes. Soares-Junior couldn’t get a right-wing cross under his spell but he did find Baptiste, who was unable to find a way past Barnes.

Ex-Maidstone defender Jerome Binnon-Williams failed to hit the target from a Hamlet corner as five minutes of stoppage time were indicated.

Struggling Dulwich, still with just two away league wins to their name this term, should have equalised at the death. But defender Michael Chambers’ header clipped the upright from a dangerous right-wing ball by Luke Wanadio in a stroke of good fortune from a home perspective.

Whites manager Leberl had named an unchanged starting line-up despite Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Chatham, although big striker Eniye Amgbaduba replaced midfielder Harrison Pont on the substitutes’ bench.

There was a largely ineffective Crabble return for Hamlet’s 19-goal top scorer Wanadio, formerly of Dover.

The game was also a second successful Dover community day of the season that was again well-organised by the club’s community engagement and inclusion officer Vikki Pawley.

Whites are due to visit Cray Wanderers, who saw Neil Smith depart as their boss in the week to join League 1 club Crawley’s coaching staff, next weekend.

Dover Athletic: Gillmore, Charles-Cook, Sesay, Mensah, Tennent, Cocoracchio, Baptiste, Matthews (Wilkinson 88mins), Nikaj (Lucan 65mins), Soares-Junior, Hanson. Subs not used: T.Amgbaduba, E.Amgbaduba, Mampolo.

Dulwich Hamlet: Barnes, Williams-Bushell, Wanadio, Chambers, Mason (Porter 79mins), Mills, Bonnett-Johnson (Ramsay 66mins), Marshall, Krasqini (Scott 28mins), Binnon-Williams, Kaunda (Bremang 46mins). Sub not used: Adepoju.

Referee: David Spain.

Attendance: 3,021.