NEVER mind their tortured history in recent years, this season alone at Dover Athletic has resembled the plot of an epic novel.

Another headlong decline in playing standards after two relegations, three changes of manager and a brush with extinction were followed by a heroic community effort to stave off the club’s demise.

Then came the installation of a new board, an old hero - Clive Walker - riding back into town to take on the manager’s job and a sudden turnaround in fortune on the playing side.

Saturday’s tremendous 4-1 win at Harrow Borough kept Dover’s slim survival hopes alive and set them up for this Saturday’s clash with Chelmsford City at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

Amid a tide of rising emotion, fans are now asking whether Whites can achieve ‘Mission Impossible’ and stay in the Ryman League Premier Division this season.

Walker’s return could hardly have gone better so far, with four wins in five league games. But he acknowledges the situation he inherited leaves him needing to repeat that feat twice over:

He said: "We just can’t afford to lose. Any defeat’s going to be a disaster. We have to win our games and hope others teams get beaten as well."

There is no denying the pressure Walker’s men face, but if they can keep their run going they will start to rise up the table. Third-from-bottom Tonbridge Angels are now just two points ahead of Dover, following their 4-0 defeat at Worthing on Tuesday.

With 48-50 points likely to be needed to get out of the bottom four, eight wins out of ten would give Dover 51 points and guarantee safety. Seven wins plus a couple of draws should also be enough.