Dover’s unbeaten record vanished on Tuesday night when 10-man Chelmsford held on for a slender win at Crabble.

The winning goal came from the penalty spot after 13 minutes. Tom Wynter fouled Anthony Cook in the box and Jamie Slabber drove his spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Calum Willock twice went close for Dover, who then saw their own penalty shouts waved away following what appeared to be a clear handball.

Whites player-manager Nicky Forster (pictured) brought himself on for the second half but City defended stubbornly. Slabber, who led the line well all night, almost added a second goal as the visitors looked to hit Dover on the counter-attack.

After Barry Cogan’s shot had been saved by Stuart Searle at the other end, Chelmsford had Anthony Church sent off for two bookable offences. Cogan saw another effort tipped onto the post by Searle, before Forster headed Chris Sessegnon’s late cross over the bar.

Dover have yet to win at home in Blue Square Bet South this season, a statistic they will be keen to erase when Hayes & Yeading visit Crabble on Saturday.