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Dover’s Isthmian Premier lead was cut to four points as they were edged out at home to Billericay in a top-of-the-table match on Saturday.
The game’s only goal came courtesy of Montel McKenzie in the first half of a match between two free-scoring sides when - for once - defences were on top as it ended 1-0 to the visitors.
Whites, who had bounced back from defeat in their last home game with successive victories on the road, created the first chance at Crabble. Attacking midfielder Luke Baptiste glanced wide a cross from right-back Roman Charles-Cook in front of a bumper crowd of 1,236 in the fourth minute.
Gary McCann’s men threatened for the first time, with goalkeeper Jordan Gillmore getting in behind Decarrey Sheriff’s effort after he had cut off the right flank during an uneventful opening 15 minutes.
The hosts’ 20-goal striker George Nikaj attempted to find his range, only to curl just over Sam Donkin’s crossbar, before Baptiste nodded a Fuad Sesay delivery at the away keeper.
A fine point-blank save from Donkin thwarted George Wilkinson midway through the half after he had been played through by Baptiste.
Billericay thought they had gone in front in the 34th minute. Moses Emmanuel drilled beyond Gillmore after excellent right-wing play by McKenzie but Emmanuel’s celebrations were swiftly cut short by the offside flag.
But it was McKenzie himself who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. His free-kick - which had been won as referee Joseph Dann-Pye opted to only caution Sesay for a borderline last-man challenge - took a deflection that wrong-footed Gillmore.
Alfie Matthews nearly offered an instant response for Dover, Donkin parrying his free-kick to safety in first-half stoppage time, while Nikaj blasted another Matthews set-piece against the side-netting before the break.
Matthews nodded over a left-wing cross on 57 minutes - and was promptly involved in an altercation, launching Ricay skipper Matthew Johnson to the floor in his frustration.
Five minutes later, Donkin comfortably held a Wilkinson header as he stooped low to reach Matthews’ free-kick.
Billericay came close to a second when midfielder Ben Steward thundered over a long-range volley.
A home double substitution saw forwards Francis Mampolo and Eniye Amgbaduba thrown on in place of Baptiste and Wilkinson in a late throw of the dice.
With three minutes left, a Sesay shot was gathered by Donkin after a Matthews right-wing free-kick was only half-cleared.
There was five minutes of injury time played but no way through for Dover, who suffered a second 1-0 home loss in a row.
Whites manager Jake Leberl had stuck with an unchanged starting line-up despite a quick turnaround from their 2-0 win at Hastings on Boxing Day, although teenage midfielder Henry Young replaced defender Jeremiah Gyebi on the substitutes’ bench.
That meant forward Ruben Soares-Junior led the line against a former employer - despite only arriving at the ground shortly ahead of the start of the match.
The visiting switches saw Emmanuel, Sheriff and Femi Akinwande come in for one-time Whites loanee frontman Ade Azeez, Ashley Nzala and Tyrell Miller-Rodney, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
Leberl was handed November’s Isthmian Premier manager-of-the-month award ahead of kick-off.
Dover will begin 2025 at home to Horsham on New Year’s Day while Billericay are at Hashtag United.
Dover Athletic: Gillmore, Charles-Cook (T.Amgbaduba 89mins), Sesay, Cocoracchio, Baptiste (Mampolo 83mins), Matthews, Nikaj, Soares-Junior, Wilkinson (E.Amgbaduba 83mins), Naylor, Mensah. Subs not used: Young, Tennent.
Billericay Town: Donkin, McKenzie, Johnson, Davis, Porter, Panton (Miller-Rodney 66mins), Stewart, Emmanuel (Azeez 88mins), Sheriff (Nzala 78mins), Merrifield (Krasniqi 76mins), Akinwande (Pollock 93mins).
Referee: Joseph Dann-Pye.
Attendance: 1,236.