Manager Jake Leberl sensed Dover’s players had been on the verge of losing their confidence before a sorely-needed home win on Saturday.

First-half goals from returning midfielder Ryan Hanson and forward Luke Baptiste put fifth-placed Whites on their way to a 2-0 triumph over Isthmian Premier basement boys Bowers & Pitsea at Crabble.

While Dover had been in blistering early-season form, they have struggled in recent weeks.

Leberl, whose team played out a goalless draw at Canvey Island last weekend, said: “The next game is always the most important one.

“Off the back of a clean sheet, although we weren’t great at Canvey, I thought we looked solid and I was pleased to carry that on.

“I know Bowers have had a difficult season so we can’t get carried away. We have got some big games coming up.

“The confidence never went, but I felt we were on the verge.”

Report: Dover 2-0 Bowers & Pitsea

Asked how he could tell his troops were starting to struggle with their confidence, Leberl replied: “You just sense it.

“Obviously, we have got a WhatsApp group and that's been a bit quieter to what it was previously. I’ve just come out of the changing room and the boys in there are absolutely buzzing.

“I’m really pleased for everyone around the club because it has been a tough time.”

Their victory against Bowers was a first at home since November 16 and ended a five-match winless streak.

Leberl reflected: “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?

“Obviously, I’m really pleased with the performance and the clean sheet and to get three points.

“The only disappointing thing, really, was we should have scored a few more.”

Midfielder Hanson - the club captain in the 2021/22 season - made an instant impact on his Crabble comeback on loan from Tonbridge, bravely heading home after a right-wing cross had only been half-cleared.

“We know a lot about Ryan,” noted Leberl on the 24-year-old former Dover Grammar School for Boys pupil.

“He was here previously and I actually spoke to him in the summer but, obviously, these boys want to play as high as they can, which I totally appreciate. They’re the type of boys we want.

“But he became available, which surprised us, and we just felt it was too good an opportunity to turn down, especially with him being a local boy.

“I want people that care about the club and want to play for the club, and he’s definitely one of them. He’s come in and done very well.

“He’s not played for a while where he’s had concussion. For him to come in and score the first goal, which I felt settled us down, I felt that he did really well.

“We’re really pleased to get him on board.”

There was also a second straight shut-out for Whites, who played keeper Claudio Boakye-Sarfo in place of the suspended Jordan Gillmore, opting against bringing in a loanee.

Leberl said: “It was a really difficult one.

“Claudio turned up in pre-season unknown to us, really. He’s been a really big part of the group and, I’m not going to lie, we did look around to see what’s about.

“Obviously, we’re not really sure on the situation with Mitch (Walker, Dover’s injured first-choice keeper) and we weren’t sure how many games Jordan would have suspended at the time - he’s got one more.

“But I thought it would be unfair on Claudio to bring a kid in from a club when Claudio’s been a big part of the group.

“He’s done well today so I’m really pleased for him.”

Leberl, whose side face a huge away match against fellow play-off occupants Cray Valley next weekend, has called on Dover’s supporters to come together for the season run-in during their promotion push.

“I didn’t want to dig the fans out, I think it came across a little bit wrong but even today, with the announcement of Charlie Naylor [leaving], there’s been negativity around that,” said Leberl. “Charlie came in and did really well for us.

“Obviously, Ponty (Harrison Pont) went away for Christmas so we had to find someone. Charlie came in and put some really good performances in - Cheshunt away, Hastings away and Hendon away - he was up there as man-of-the-match.

“Around this place, I get the negativity, but I just want it to go away.

“All these boys are desperate to play for this club and any boy that we bring in gives their all. I want us to all come together as one and have some positivity, going into the last nine games.

“I think that’s really important.”

Steve McKimm's Millers sit two points ahead of Dover, having played a league game more than them, after their 2-0 weekend win at Potters Bar.