Andy Hessenthaler admitted Dover performed well below their best in Saturday's 2-1 FA Trophy second round defeat at home to Harrogate.

Inih Effiong's 14th minute strike briefly gave Whites the lead, but almost immediately Harrogate equalised through Jack Muldoon, who then grabbed the winner midway through the second half.

Whites rarely looked getting back on level terms and manager Hessenthaler was forced to concede the better team won. The defeat was Dover's first in seven matches at home – a run stretching back to October 30.

Hessenthaler said: "They're a good side, they passed it well and their midfield, their movement off the line was good so we struggled a bit today but they deserved to win.

"I can't be too harsh on the players, we all know what our bread and butter is, that's the league, but a few had an off day today.

"We were sloppy at the start. We changed the shape slightly, we went to a 4-4-2 which we haven't really being playing in the league but we were slow starters.

"We got our goal against the run of play really after them missing a penalty and then conceded straight after we scored which is criminal.

"Set plays are always important to any team and we conceded, which we shouldn't have. We were too deep on the free-kick but I think that summed us up today, we weren't at the races.

"With or without the ball we didn't really get going, yes we made changes, but we still had a very good side out there, one good enough to go and win the game but unfortunately that wasn't the case."

Dover's defeat was only their second in the last 12 league and cup games – a 2-0 loss at Barnet on December 22 was the other – and Hessenthaler says it's important they don't dwell on it, ahead of the home league game with Bromley next Saturday.

He added: "We know what we've got to do, I haven't said anything to the players because I can't be too critical of them.

"We've lost the game but they've been fantastic over the past few weeks, accumulating a lot of points, but we've got to continue the run we've been having in the league, starting with Bromley next week."

Bedsente Gomis was suspended against Harrogate, and Ricky Modeste and Scott Doe cup tied, while Bobby Joe Taylor (hip) was left out of the squad as a precaution. Hessenthaler hopes the latter will be fit for selection against Bromley.

Josh Passley returned to action as a second-half substitute for young midfielder Joe Bedford and came through unscathed.