Ryan Bird was again Dover's matchwinner at Crabble as they finally wore down National League strugglers Solihull Moors on Saturday.

The Midlanders, next bottom, had lost five of their opening six away matches but proved difficult to break down and looked to be hanging on for a point until Bird headed in a Paul Lewis cross with nine minutes remaining to send Whites back to the top.

It was the second time this season a goal from Bird has been enough to give Whites victory at Crabble. He also got the decisive strike against Wrexham in August.

Boss Kinnear made one change to the side which had drawn 1-1 at Guiseley the previous weekend.

Nortei Nortey, who scored Dover's equaliser at Guiseley, was carrying a slight groin problem so dropped to the bench - with recent loan signing from Cambridge Lewis coming in for his first start.

Whites - 4-0 winners over Chester in their last home game - had plenty of possession in the first half but against a resolute Solihull defence, they found it hard to create clear-cut chances.

Visiting keeper Nathan Vaughan produced the first save of the contest on 20 minutes when he tipped over Mitch Pinnock's well directed free-kick, awarded after Daniel had been caught by Joe Payne just outside the box on the left.

Winger Daniel was again very positive twice working his way into good shooting positions only to fire wide, and on the half-hour Pinnock attempted the spectacular with an overhead kick which drifted wide of the far post.

Brundle then sent over a teasing cross which just eluded Manny Parry at the far post and soon after the home skipper broke to the edge of the box but shot straight at Vaughan.

Solihull's safety first approach was hardly surprising and their only real effort of note came in the closing seconds as Shepherd Murombedzi's shot was pulled down by Mitch Walker.

Solihull continued to keep Dover at arm's length in the second half, to the extent that Whites did not create a single opportunity in the opening 20 minutes.

Kinnear replaced Daniel with Jamie Allen midway through the half and then threw on Tobi Sho-Silva for Pinnock, but the home side still could not find a way through.

Solihull's hearts were in mouths on 77 minutes when a surging run by Brundle ended with his shot being deflected wide by a Moors defender with keeper Vaughan going the other way.

However just four minutes later their resistance was ended as Lewis chipped the ball back in from the left and Bird got across his marker to claim his fifth goal of the campaign.

Solihull were forced to show some urgency for the first time in the contest but wasted a good chance in time added on when Darren Carter curled over from a free-kick.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Brundle, Pinnock (Sho-Silva 72mins), Bird, Lewis (Fazakerley 84mins), Daniel (Allen 66mins); Subs: Richards, Nortey.

Solihull: Vaughan, Green, Carter, Kettle, Murombedzi (McDonald 72min), Afolayan (Maye, 61mins), Brodie, Carline, Daly, Richards (Campbell 84mins), Payne; Subs: Cullinane-Liburd, Fox.

Attendance: 2,795.