Boss Jake Leberl admitted he was disappointed in some of the full-time scenes after Dover’s Isthmian Premier derby win at Folkestone on Tuesday night.

The match took an hour to explode into life on Guy Fawkes Night but did do so in emphatic fashion as the league leaders won.

Folkestone forward Dan Smith was red-carded for a late challenge on Alfie Matthews before midfielder Luke Baptiste scored minutes later and it finished 1-0 to Whites, despite late pressure from Invicta, in front of a massive crowd of 2,906 at Cheriton Road.

Tempers frayed after the match when some Dover players celebrated in front of the Folkestone supporters, replicating how they felt Invicta had celebrated their 3-2 victory at Crabble in mid-August.

Leberl said: “I was a little bit disappointed with how Folkestone celebrated at our place - but, if that’s how they want to celebrate - it’s fair enough. I don’t really have a massive problem with it.

“But then, I don’t think they can expect us to not do the same, where I think they’re maybe a little bit disappointed. I’ve said to our boys that I just feel we need to be a little bit better than that.

“All that at the end of the game isn’t what I’m about and it’s needed. We need to be the bigger person in those situations.

Report: Folkestone 0-1 Dover

“I’ve now said my piece on that. At the end of the day, it’s just a league game and three points to us.

“All right, it’s a local derby, but it’s still only three points.”

Leberl had been disappointed with Dover’s first-half display before they held firm to secure a fifth successive league victory after Baptiste had sent striker George Nikaj’s low cross beyond goalkeeper Jonny Henly to spark wild scenes among the healthy away contingent.

“It was an extremely hard-fought win,” reflected Leberl. “At half-time, it didn’t look like we were going to continue our run.

“I had to say a few words at half-time because, for the first time since I’ve had this group, I was a little bit disappointed in our application.

“I don’t think we won any first contacts. We looked a little bit overawed by the occasion, I don’t think we ran hard enough, and I felt it was a little bit men versus boys. I said my piece at half-time.

“Like I always say, if you’re going to lose, there’s a way to lose and the first-half performance wasn’t us. Second half, we started a little bit better, grew into the game a little bit and, obviously, they had another red card, which killed them again.

“With the extra man, we made them pay. It’s a great bit of skill from Nikaj from a short corner and a great finish by Baps.

“Obviously, they then threw everything at us and we defended for our lives.”

Leberl had been particularly frustrated with the performances of centre-backs Luca Cocoracchio and Joe Tennent before the interval despite the pair helping Dover earn a second consecutive clean sheet.

Whites’ manager said: “I had a bit of a pop at the two centre-halves in the first half because I didn’t think they were at their best - with the first contact or their distribution - which is unlike me. I think they were a little bit shocked!

“But in the second half, they certainly put their heads on the line and it meant so much to them.

“We have got a group of boys that will give everything for this football club and their team-mates, and it’s an absolute joy to be a part of.”

Away keeper and captain Mitch Walker, 33, also impressed on the night.

Leberl noted: “He’s such a calming influence. Nothing fazes him.

“I really knew that, if we could get him, that could be a catalyst for us having a good season, defensively. I got the two other Whitehawk boys [Cocoracchio and Tennent] off the back of him.

“That’s given us a little bit of strength down the spine at the start of the season.”

Whites have another derby at Chatham, who came from behind to earn a 1-1 midweek draw at Billericay, this weekend.