Both sides had a player sent off as Dover were beaten at home by fellow early-season National League South strugglers Weymouth on Saturday.

Two-goal Ezio Touray put Bobby Wilkinson’s Terras in control, the second a lucky effort after a mistake by Whites goalkeeper Billy Terrell, while midfielder Johl Powell was sent off for the hosts by referee George Laflin in first-half stoppage time.

Weymouth then had captain Tom Bearwish dismissed themselves in the second period, only for Joel Rollinson to add a late third, leaving home substitute Roman Charles-Cook’s own late effort as a mere consolation in their 3-1 loss.

The hapless hosts once again fell behind in the ninth minute at Crabble in front of a crowd of 566. A left-wing cross fell kindly to Touray, a recent recruit who had been due to start on the bench, and he confidently blasted past Terrell.

Lively opening stages also saw Dover defender Peter Ojemen and Anthony Cheshire go into the referee’s book in a sign of things to come.

But there was a lack of early opportunities, Ojemen nodding over captain James Dunne’s 19th-minute corner.

Shortly after a first-half drinks break in warm temperatures, Dover boss Mitch Brundle collected his third caution this season for dissent.

Dover came close to an equaliser in the 34th minute. Dunne delivered a corner and, although Ojemen got it all wrong, the ball fell to 33-year-old Dunne again. His second cross was flicked inches wide by striker George Nikaj.

Five minutes later, frontman Zidan Sutherland saw a long-range effort fly narrowly over George Benfield’s crossbar for Dover.

But the end of the first half saw Whites hit with a game-changing double blow. First, young goalkeeper Terrell conceded a second when he cannoned an attempted clearance against teenager Touray who couldn’t believe his luck as he made it 2-0.

Both Sutherland and Powell went close but, in four minutes of first-half stoppage time, matters got even worse when Powell received a second caution for a foul on Bearwish, much to the dismay of the home contingent.

Dover made a double half-time substitution which saw Iffy Allen and Charles-Cook replace Chevron McLean and Josh Anifowose.

But eight minutes after the restart, it became 10v10, with Bearwish getting a second yellow for perceived time-wasting.

There were still few chances for Brundle’s troops, though, as Cheshire nodded wide a Keelan O’Connell corner at the other end in the 63rd minute.

But, with 15 minutes of normal time to play, debutant defender Jacob Mensah failed to get a proper connection on Dunne’s corner before substitute Dontai Stewart blazed over.

And Weymouth ensured they would end their four-match losing streak in the 84th minute in fine fashion. Rollinson rifled beyond Terrell and into the top corner after a fine run.

That wasn’t the end of the action, however, as Charles-Cook stabbed in his second goal of the season from an in-swinging Dunne delivery.

Away substitute Ben Thompson could have even added a late fourth but was thwarted by Bournemouth loanee Terrell.

The result saw Dover stretch their winless run to seven league matches while it finished the Terras’ four-match losing streak.

Mensah had come in for his Dover debut as four changes were made by them. The 23-year-old replaced centre-back Charlie Naylor, who was dropped, while Luke Baptiste, Allen and Charles-Cook started on the bench.

Nikaj, Anifowose and Michael Olarewaju came in for that trio.

The visitors included midfielder Olu Durojaiye, who was only recently released by Dover after signing in the summer, on the bench and they introduced him after the restart.

Dover Athletic: Terrell, Oyenuga, McLean (Charles-Cook 46mins), Mensah, Ojemen, Olarewaju, Powell, Dunne, Anifowose (Allen 46mins), Sutherland, Nikaj (Stewart 67mins). Subs not used: Baptiste, Hatcher.

Weymouth: Benfield, Howe, Hamblin, Cheshire, Jordan Thompson, Rowan (Durojaiye 58mins), O'Connell, Bearwish, Touray (Ben Thompson 67mins), Slade, Rollinson. Subs not used: Roberts, Stagg, Brooks.

Referee: George Laflin.

Attendance: 566.