Striker Dan Holman scored for the second consecutive Vanarama Conference game as Dover had to settle for a 2-2 draw against struggling Southport at Crabble.

Defender Sean Raggett’s header gave Dover a 13th minute lead and that’s the way it stayed until the visitors equalised through Richard Brodie in the 70th minute.

Colchester United loanee Holman, who scored on his debut after coming on as a second-half sub at FC Halifax last week, restored Dover’s lead in the 73rd minute before Paul Rutherford scored to earn his side a share of the points two minutes later.

The point saw Dover end their two-game losing streak in the league and move up a place to 12th.

Dover started strongly and Tom Murphy tested Southport goalkeeper Danny Lloyd-Weston with a shot after a sharp turn inside the box in the opening minute before Nicky Deverdics shot wide.

Southport striker Brodie then saw his header comfortably held by Mitch Walker.

But then it was all Whites with Barry Cogan shooting wide, Tyrone Sterling denied by a last-gasp tackle and Deverdics having a dangerous cross headed over his own by by Stockport captain Luke Foster.

But the pressure paid off in the 13th minute after Raggett rose to head home Cogan’s corner.

Dover continued to threaten with Raggett heading over before Murphy hit over with just the goalkeeper to beat.

However it wasn’t only Dover creating the chances and Walker produced a stunning double save to deny Georgie Donnelly. Donnelly did beat Walker in the 44th minute but his shot hit the post.

While Dover dominated the first half, it was Southport who did so after the restart with a couple of shots going just wide before Brodie rounded Walker to equalise in the 70th minute.

Three minutes later Dover led again after keeper Lloyd-Weston lost the ball to Holman outside the box and the striker raced away to put the ball in the empty net.

But Dover’s lead was short-lived, just two minutes to be exact, after an error by Walker on his 18-yard line was punished by Rutherford.

Earlier, Dover boss Chris Kinnear made two changes from the side that lost 3-2 at FC Halifax a week earlier.

Holman replaced James Poole while Ricky Modeste also dropped to the bench with Cogan coming in.

Dover have next Saturday off due to Wrexham’s FA Trophy involvement before playing at Aldershot on March 3.