Dover Athletic progressed to the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Rushden & Diamonds at Crabble on Saturday.

But Whites were given a stiff examination by the United Counties League, Premier Division side, especially in the first half.

Dover went in front when centre-half Sean Raggett headed home Barry Cogan’s 14th-minute corner but Rushden & Diamonds settled into their game and they equalised just after the half hour mark through Alfie Taylor.

The visitors deserved to go in level at the break but they conceded within seconds of the restart.

Goalkeeper Tom Cross fumbled Craig Stone’s near-post delivery and the ball bounced into the net off the knee of Diamonds’ captain Arron Parkinson.

Whites were then handed the chance to move into control two minutes later when Stone was fouled in the box by Fazel Koriya but Tom Murphy fired the spot kick high over the bar.

However, Dover finally scored their third when Cogan netted 16 minutes from time.