Moses Emmanuel scored twice as Dover moved up to fourth in the National League with a big victory at Maidstone.

Emmanuel scored in either half to give Whites a two-goal lead on New Year’s Day.

Vas Karagiannis pulled one back but Ross Layayette made sure it was Dover’s day with a superb third, followed by a late fourth from Ricky Miller.

While Dover moved into the play-off places, Maidstone are only one place above the bottom four after other results went against them.

Stones started like a train but, as so often this season, they didn’t take their chances when on top and paid the price.

United, with Jack Paxman pulling the strings in midfield, carved out a series of decent opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

The first fell to Paxman, who started the move by finding Jamar Loza and then burst into the box to meet Alex Flisher’s pull-back only for Jamie Grimes to throw himself in the way.

Yemi Odubade then got the better of Aswad Thomas and squared for Karagiannis who forced a good save from Steve Arnold from the edge of the box.

Soon after, Arnold did brilliantly to block from Odubade after a one-two with Paxman on the edge of the Dover box.

There was a warning for Maidstone when Sam Magri rolled the ball inches wide from a Miller lay-off.

And Chris Kinnear’s side took the lead on 28 minutes, Miller doing well on the edge of the box to find Emmanuel, who finished neatly at the second attempt after Lee Worgan saved his first strike.

The goal took a bit out of Maidstone although Jamar Loza worked Arnold after a mistake in the Dover defence.

Emmanuel had a good chance for Whites from Richard Orlu’s pass early in the second half but fired straight at Worgan.

Loza hit the side-netting for Stones before Dover doubled their lead on 55 minutes, Magri feeding Lafayette who zipped a lovely ball across the six-yard box for Emmanuel to thump home.

Flisher had a shot blocked on the line by Magri after Loza collected a giant goal-kick from Worgan.

But Maidstone were back in the game on 61 minutes, Callum Driver picking out the run of Odubade whose cross was met by Karagiannis in the six-yard box.

Worgan made a superb save from Miller diving low to his right, with Maidstone angry at the lack of a free-kick in the build-up.

It wasn’t the first time Stones fans were annoyed with referee Constantine Hatzidakis and they had reason to complain again on 65 minutes when Arnold appeared to go through the back of Odubade in the box, a corner the decision rather than a penalty.

Pressure was building but Dover added their third on 74 minutes, Lafayette taking one touch from Orlu’s pass and beating Worgan with a brilliant strike.

Tom Mills missed a big chance for Maidstone after Flisher’s cross got away from Arnold but with the hosts chasing the game, Dover always looked a threat on the break and added an injury-time fourth when Lafayette played in Miller.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver (Taylor 86mins), Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Rogers (Greenhalgh 81mins), Karagiannis, Paxman, Loza, Odubade (N'Guessan 76mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Evans, Acheampong.

Dover: Arnold, Magri, Thomas, Orlu, Grimes, Sterling, Moore, Parkinson (Stevenson 73mins), Miller (Kinnear 90mins), Lafayette, Emmanuel (Pinnock 85mins). Subs not used: Modeste, Stevenson, Marsh.

Attendance: 2,257 (208 Dover fans).