History could be repeating itself at promotion-chasing Dover, according to manager Jake Leberl.

Fifth-placed Whites saw off Dulwich Hamlet 1-0 in front of a massive crowd at Crabble on a club community day as they responded to back-to-back Isthmian Premier defeats.

While Dover’s title hopes now appear remote, they remain in the thick of it for a top-five finish and a shot at a National League South return at the first attempt via the play-offs.

Leberl was recently reminded of Whites’ memorable promotion from National League South during their 2013/14 season as he bumped into another member of that squad.

With Leberl No.2 to legendary boss Chris Kinnear, they got into the play-off positions on goal difference on the final day before they edged out Ebbsfleet 1-0 in the play-off final.

He said: “There’s going to be indifferent results for all teams at this stage of the season.

“I bumped into one of the lads, who was about a decade ago, the other day. I’d actually forgotten about it, but we got into the play-offs once before with the last kick of the season.

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“With the way this season is going, it could go down to the very last game.

“But what’s nice is our season is far from over. There’s lots of clubs, with huge budgets, whose seasons are.

“If we can take it all the way down to the last game, (that’ll be great), and our aim now is to get into the play-offs.”

Whites had looked on course to be involved in the title race at the turn of the year.

But a run of 11 points from 11 league matches all-but-ended their chances to be crowned champions, although defensive midfielder Luca Cocoracchio’s first goal this season did guide them to a much-needed victory over Dulwich.

Leberl said: “I’ve been in football for a long time. There’s so many highs and lows.

“I did say very early on that I’m never too high and never too low - and I’m pretty good at that. You have to be, otherwise, it can bury you.

"It can affect your personal life, it can affect your work life and it can affect everything.

“But I’ve managed to keep myself together. It’s not easy.

“Obviously, this is my first full season in charge, but I’ve been around a lot of managers that have been around the game for a long time.

“There’s six games to go and I’m sure there are going to be [more] highs and lows.”

An attendance of 3,021 was announced for the Dulwich game, with 1,000 tickets being handed to local schools and community groups.

Live music was played in the clubhouse while free face-painting was on offer once more as Dover’s community engagement and inclusion officer Vikki Pawley again played a key role.

But Leberl said: “We can do more as a club.

“It’s something that I want to get heavily involved in, in the future, because it does make a difference.

“Everyone wants to play in front of a big crowd that supports the boys - like they did on Saturday.”

Next up for Whites is a first trip to Cray Wanderers’ Flamingo Park on Saturday, with Tim O’Shea having replaced Neil Smith, who has left to join League 1 Crawley’s backroom staff.

“They have just lost their manager to Crawley but I noticed they won 4-0 [against relegated Bowers & Pitsea] on Saturday,” added Leberl.

“They have recovered ever so well from how they started. They’re all going to be difficult games.

“We’re desperate to get points at this stage of the season - it doesn’t really matter how.”

Utility player Charlie Naylor is at Cheshunt after his latest Dover Athletic exit and could make a swift Crabble comeback next Saturday.

Midfielder Harrison Pont has also departed.