Dover returned to winnings ways after beating Macclesfield Town 2-1 in the Vanarama National League clash at Crabble on Saturday.

Stefan Payne and Nicky Deverdics scored the goals as Whites bounced back from Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Braintree that ended a five-game winning run.

The victory keeps boss Chris Kinnear's side third and also ended Macclesfield's own five-game unbeaten run, one that included four wins.

The Silkmen beat Whites twice last season and it looked as though they might continue that trend the way they started.

The Cheshire visitors took the lead in the fourth minute and it was a soft goal to concede.

Goalkeeper Mitch Walker fumbled a tame shot from Kristian Dennis and Daniel Whitehead tapped home.

But the joy of the of the 50 or so travelling fans proved to be short-lived.

Dover equalised just two minutes later after Payne raced on to Ricky Miller's pass and slotted through the legs of Macclesfield goalkeeper Shwan Jalal.

It was Payne's ninth goal of the league campaign.

Danny Whitaker posed the next threat for either goalkeeper when his effort from outside the box was saved by Walker in the 18th minute.

Jalal was the next to be tested, pushing away Miller's shot before saving the rebound from Payne with his legs. It would not have counted had it gone in, as Payne was ruled off-side.

Aswad Thomas was next to sting Jalal's hands with a fierce drive from 20 yards which the goalkeeper did well to push away.

Walker had to be alert just before half-time to save the lively Danny Rowe's shot.

Macclesfield almost caught Dover cold at the start of the second half with Whitaker firing over after a lightning counter attack just a minute after play resumed.

Walker made amends for his earlier error by producing a stunnng save to deny that man Whitaker in the 54th minute before Dover took the lead from the penalty spot a couple of minutes later.

Miller was brought down by substitute Dan Cowan and Deverdics, who missed his last penalty, stepped up to beat Jalal to his left.

Despite being behind, Macclesfield kept asking questions, and it needed Walker to deny Whitehead twice in quick succesion to keep the Silkmen at bay.

And Walker came to the rescue again with just two minutes left on the clock producing a stunning save to keep out Whitaker's shot from eight yards.

It was then the turn of his Macclesfield counterpart to deny Dover twice in injury time.

Jalal palmed away Payne's intial shot before he somehow managed to get up to deny substitute Ricky Modeste's shot from the rebound.

Dover: Walker, Magri, Orlu, Grimes, Raggett, Thomas, Parkinson, Deverdics, Ajala (Modeste (69mins), Miller (Murphy 69mins), Payne. Subs not used: Diallo, Ofori-Acheampong, Rafferty.