A stunning brace of Alfie Matthews free-kicks proved the difference as Dover edged their Isthmian Premier play-off semi-final at Billericay after extra-time on Wednesday night.

They trailed to a goal by forward Femi Akinwade which broke their resistance.

But fantastic set-pieces by midfielder Matthews in either half of extra-time flipped the game on its head and it finished 2-1 to Whites on an evening where quality football really shone through.

They will visit Dartford, 4-3 victors against Cray Valley after extra-time, in the final on Monday.

The hosts started brightly and Akinwade sent a 20-yard snapshot wide in the third minute before dangerous right-sided player Bradley Williams fired over.

But as Whites grew into the game, striker Ruben Soares-Junior delivered a left-wing cross against his former club, which flashed inches wide in front of a massive crowd of 2,857 at New Lodge on a lovely night.

Former Tonbridge and Dartford player Akinwade again failed to hit the target when he screwed wide at the other end.

The chances were being much more evenly spread now, though, with midfielder Matthews sending a speculative lob over on 19 minutes.

Two minutes later, Matthews found his range from a similar distance to force a fingertip save off keeper Sam Donkin.

Optimistic home penalty appeals were waved away by referee Nick Reece on the half-hour mark after De-Carrey Sheriff went to ground.

Soon after, Gary McCann’s men - who had headed into the encounter on a five-game winning run - again threatened on the left, only for a combination of the visiting defence and Walker to do just enough.

Jake Leberl’s team were next to go close through a massive opportunity when Luca Cocoracchio found himself unmarked. He somehow failed to make a decent connection on Luke Baptiste’s free-kick in a strong away spell.

A Matthews free-kick from the best part of 35 yards out flashed wide of an outstretched Donkin’s right-hand post.

But the last chance of the first period belonged to the hosts, with a powerful drive by attacker Elliot Long stinging 33-year-old Walker’s palms.

Three minutes after the interval, Donkin made a huge double save for Billericay. Midfielder Ryan Hanson sent a ball over the top and the home No.1 thwarted Soares-Junior and then Matthews.

Ricay were quick to respond, however, as Frankie Merrifield wasn’t able to direct a dangerous Williams cross home and they dominated the early stages of the second period.

The stakes could hardly have been higher and the hosts’ skipper Matt Johnson came up with a huge block from Soares-Junior’s goal-bound effort.

Billericay came agonisingly close in the 65th minute when an unmarked Tommy Davis nodded against the crossbar following some head-tennis in the penalty box.

With 15 minutes to play, Dover nearly went in front through a passage of play quite like no other!

Walker’s free-kick was flicked against Donkin’s right-hand post from a fine back-header by Baptiste and, as Soares-Junior was also denied by Donkin, who had even got a faint touch on the Baptiste effort, various visiting players effectively played pinball on the goal-line to no avail. But the home team survived the mammoth scare.

Home penalty protests fell on deaf ears on 81 minutes when Hanson swung out a stray leg and appeared to catch his man while Chelmsford loanee Williams fired inches wide of Walker’s left-hand post.

A first substitution from either team came in stoppage time of normal time and saw Montel McKenzie, who had scored at Dover, replace Davis. It meant an enthralling contest ended goalless ahead of extra-time.

The first opening of the additional 30 minutes went the way of Sheriff from a left-wing delivery by Akinwade, only for the forward to fire over from the back post.

But less than 60 seconds later, Billericay netted. Akinwade’s low and curling 20-yard strike squirmed underneath Walker to find the bottom corner.

Resolute Athletic had more than played their part in the game, however, and weren’t about to accept defeat.

They equalised through a pinpoint free-kick by one-time Arsenal player Matthews before he ran the length of the pitch, kissing the club badge, to celebrate with their joyous fans.

It had now become a tie which nobody wanted to end as it stood at 1-1 at half-time in extra-time.

Matthews looked to repeat the feat in the 107th minute but - this time - his free-kick was at Donkin.

At the other end, penalty appeals were dismissed by Mr Reece for a challenge on Merrifield with 10 minutes of the 120 to play.

Whites were still yet to make a change as a fifth was made by Ricay on 114 minutes.

But Leberl’s refusal to tinker with things paid dividends in emphatic fashion with less than 90 seconds to play.

Matthews again was the man to find the net. His latest set-piece was perfectly bent past Donkin and into the far corner to spark more massive Dover celebrations through his ninth goal of the campaign.

While 23-year-old Matthews finally came off at the death, Dover held on to leave them a game away from an immediate National League South return.

Whites manager Leberl had named an unchanged starting line-up from the team that were 3-1 winners at Chichester to secure their top-five berth at the end of the regular season last weekend.

For Billericay, Sheriff replaced Tyrell Miller-Rodney in their sole switch while midfielder Jack Paxman, who was with Whites on loan in 2023, also started.

The Essex club won 1-0 at Crabble in December during the regular season as the teams played out a 1-1 draw in Essex in mid-August.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Sesay, Tennent, Cocoracchio, Baptiste, Matthews (Gyebi 120mins), Nikaj, Soares-Junior, Mensah, Hanson. Subs not used: E.Amgbaduba, T.Amgbaduba, Mampolo, Lucan.

Billericay Town: Donkin, Porter, Johnson, Merrifield, Sheriff (Emmanuel 114mins), Davis (McKenzie 92mins), Akinwande (Miller-Rodney 102mins), Paxman (Nzala 102mins), Steward (Panton 110mins), Williams, Long.

Referee: Nick Reece.

Attendance: 2,857.