Jake Leberl believes the National League promotion race is developing into one of the most open ever and that Dover are good enough to be one of the challengers again.

Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Chester lifted Whites up to second, just four days after a 1-0 home defeat to Boreham Wood had seen them slip from first to fifth.

Only five points separate leaders Aldershot from Hartlepool, in 15th, and Whites assistant manager Leberl says he wouldn’t be surprised to see that pattern continue throughout the campaign.

He said: “You’d think these teams who have been in the league a while will start getting their act in gear and go on a run but this is a unique season.

“There’s only three points between first and 12th and we feel we have as good a chance as anybody. Sooner or later someone is going to get a run together and there’s no reason why it can’t be us.

“We’re a new team and we said after Saturday that while we were delighted with the win, there were a few things, especially in the first 25 minutes, that we weren’t too happy with. The lads are still learning what is expected of them.

“It doesn’t happen straight away and every game we’ve learned from.We are a work in progress.”

Chester caretaker manager Tom Shaw described Dover’s playing style as ‘not pretty but effective,’ adding that it was their ‘endeavour and physicality’ that had proved the difference at Crabble on Saturday.

Leberl said he took that as a compliment, explaining that hard work is the real key to Dover’s success at National League level.

He added: “The way we play, you’ve got to be able to run up and down and you’ve got to be fit. Everyone knows we’re unique. Most people know what we’re about but it’s all very well knowing what we do, it’s how do you stop it.”

Whites travel to struggling Guiseley on Saturday and will be keen to continue their impressive away form which has already seen them win at Hartlepool, Halifax, Tranmere and Aldershot.

Leberl said: “Guiseley have had a managerial change and Paul Cox knows his stuff. He’s won this league once before (with Mansfield) so he knows what he’s doing.

“It’s a difficult place to go but we’ve done relatively well up there in the last few seasons.”