Dover secured a hard-earned three points at relegation-threatened Chester on Tuesday.

Kevin Lokko’s second-half header, coupled with a Ryan Astles own goal, were enough to move Whites up to sixth in the National League.

Stevenage loanee Lokko met a 64th-minute corner from captain Mitch Brundle on a rare night of calm in the North West, before Astles put through his own net to cap a satisfying evening for Dover.

Boss Chris Kinnear made two changes to the side that beat Leyton Orient on Saturday, with Manny Parry and Liam Bellamy returning in place of Josh Passley and Nortei Nortey.

A highly-competitive first half saw the boys in yellow start brightly. Adebayo Azeez was gifted a clear sight of goal with only two minutes gone, but the forward shanked his effort horribly wide.

The Cambridge loanee was involved in front of goal again, along with Lokko, however neither could find a way past Andy Firth, as he gratefully snatched the ball from under his crossbar.

Top scorer Ryan Bird was next to train his sight on goal, but the visitors’ top scorer fluffed his lines by skewing wide after Mitch Pinnock and Azeez combined to set him up.

Chester responded through midfield dynamo Gary Roberts, who had Mitch Walker worried with a free-kick, before Dominic Vose skipped past Giancarlo Gallifuoco and flashed a cross into the box that was somehow cleared.

Four bookings in 13 minutes followed for Dover who began to lose their composure, and as their defending became more fraught, Chester almost snatched the lead.

Harry White got behind the backline, but Parry was alert enough to fling out a leg and deflect the striker’s shot over the bar.

Azeez opened the second half with a neat turn and wild shot, as Dover tried to reassert their early dominance.

Brundle’s snap-shot off a Pinnock long throw gave Dover further impetus, before they were reminded of Chester’s threat on the break as Matty Waters broke away only for a heavy touch to rescue the visitors.

Tom Crawford stung the hands of Walker from long range before White drove into the box and shot tamely wide, as the game swung the way of the home team. Then Dover turned the game decisively in their favour.

First Brundle’s inswinger from the left found a towering Lokko who powered his header home from six yards, before a second quickly followed as Chester’s resolve evaporated.

Substitute Anthony Jeffrey sped away down the right flank and his low cross was turned home by Astles, sealing an all-important win with 19 minutes to spare.

Dover: Walker, Gallifuoco, Lokko, Essam, Parry, Ilesanmi, Brundle, Bellamy (Passley, 74mins), Azeez, Bird (Jeffrey, 61mins), Pinnock (Daniel, 66mins). Subs not used: Okosieme, Nortey.

Attendance: 1,182 (17 away).