Dover Athletic head into their Christmas programme perfectly placed to launch an attack on the Blue Square Bet South title in the second half of the season.

Sunday’s 4-2 victory at Hayes & Yeading lifted Nicky Forster’s side into second place – just two points behind leaders Salisbury City – and with a squad which is the envy of virtually every other club in the division.

That certainly applies to their next two opponents, AFC Hornchurch, who visit Crabble on Saturday, and Tonbridge Angels who Whites meet at Longmead on Boxing Day and then at home on New Year’s Day.

Hornchurch and Tonbridge are in the bottom half of the table but Forster (pictured) warned of caution, saying: "When we won 1-0 at Hornchurch early in the season they were by far the better team and it was a bit of a ‘smash and grab’ raid on our part. So we will certainly give Hornchurch the respect they deserve.

"As for the two Tonbridge games, form often goes out of the window in derby matches and we’ve got to make sure we don’t become complacent."

Ben May scored twice against Hayes & Yeading to take his tally for the season to 14 and the centre forward has formed a strike partnership with Billy Bricknell which is reaping rich dividends.