Dover's nightmare run in Blue Square Bet South continued with a 1-0 defeat at struggling Dorchester Town on Tuesday night.

Playing on an atrocious pitch in difficult conditions at the Avenue Stadium Whites suffered their fifth straight league defeat, their worst league run since suffering six straight losses in Ryman League Premier Division in August and September 2004.

Dover were forced to field several players who have been suffering with a chest infection which swept through the squad while Dean Rance missed out through suspension and defenders Shane Huke and Chris Sessegnon remained out injured.

Ashley Nicholls took advantage of some slack defending to fire the only goal past Mitch Walker on 17 minutes after Dover had failed to close down a cross from Charlie Clough.

Tom Wynter's (pictured) goalline clearance denied the hosts a second midway through the first half while the visitors failed to create any clear-cut chances at a ground where the hosts had taken just two points from their previous five home games.

Matters were made worse for Dover when centre-back Daniel Webb, already on a yellow after kicking the ball away, received his marching orders after a mis-timed tackle 15 minutes from time.

The win took the Dorset side out of the bottom three while it left Whites in third, 12 points behind leaders Salisbury having played two games more than their rivals and seven points ahead of the play-off chasing pack who also have games in hand on Dover.