Player-coach Martyn Beaumont is eyeing a top-three finish with Dover.

After a league restructure, the Sharks were initially looking to come in the top five this season but, now sitting second in Kent 2 heading into 2023, Beaumont has a new target in his sights.

“We’re pleased, as you can imagine,” he said. “Our away and home form have been really good.

“We’re in a much better position than we thought we would be but we still have another couple of gears yet.

“Obviously, because of the restructure, everything was unknown. We were aiming for the top five, just because we didn’t know the league.

“Now, we are aiming for the top three. We think that’s doable.

“We have played everyone now and know what to expect.”

Among those to have impressed this campaign have been Aaron Coleman and winger George Pugh on his return from injury.

Beaumont said: “We’re a young squad - if you take me and a couple of others out! They are young and keen.

“We have a Colts squad as well and, hopefully, we keep hold of them.

"We will see where we end up but we are in a good place for another couple of seasons.”

But Dover have been left recently frustrated by postponements because of snowy conditions.

Beaumont said: “It’s a real shame.

“We were going to be playing the other top teams in Sidcup 2nds and Canterbury 2nds. It would have been nice, knowing where we are. But we have not been able to train recently.

“It’s a bit of an extended Christmas break.”

They played frontrunners Sevenoaks 2nds earlier this month in their last fixture, losing 26-15.

“We didn’t play as well as we should have done,” said Beaumont. “We were not quite on the money.

“We felt that we were as good as them but we gave away some silly penalties.”

Dover host Park House on January 7 in their first league match of 2023.