Dover striker Adam Birchall battles in vain as the Whites suffer a second successive league defeat. Picture: Paul Dennis

Nine-man Dover slipped to fifth place in Blue Square South, completing a miserable Christmas, after a 1-0 home defeat by Chelmsford.

Whites were thrashed 6-2 at Lewes on Boxing Day but failed to make amends, with Dean Hill and James Rogers both sent off in the final 13 minutes after Robert Edmans put the visitors ahead three minutes into the second half.

The defeat and wins for rivals Woking and Thurrock also proved bad news for Andy Hessenthaler’s injury-hit squad, who lost midfielder Jon Wallis after only 14 minutes.

However, Dover were boosted by the return of defender Craig Cloke, out for more than a year with a serious knee ligament injury. He replaced Danny Walder at half-time.