Boss Jake Leberl and Dover’s management team are facing up to another goalkeeper dilemma.

Whites will be without Jordan Gillmore for a period after he was red-carded in injury time of last weekend’s goalless Isthmian Premier draw at Canvey Island for abusive language towards an official.

Mitch Walker started the season between the sticks but, with Walker struggling with a knee injury, Leberl signed Gillmore to play ahead of Claudio Boakye-Sarfo.

While Boakye-Sarfo, who played in last month’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final shoot-out defeat at Welling, is available, the club are also pondering bringing someone else in.

“Claudio is about,” said Leberl. “We will have a chat with Hydey (goalkeeping coach Paul Hyde) and Mitch, and see where we go.

“Since I’ve been back, in the last year and a bit, we have had numerous goalkeeping problems.

“Also, we’re not totally sure how long Jordan’s suspension will be - we think it’ll be three games, but there is a rumour that it might only be one.

“I thought Claudio did very well at Welling but, also, we’re at a very important stage in the season so we’ll look at our options.”

On the dismissal of Gillmore - ironically Whites’ February player-of-the-month - Leberl said: “It’s a little bit where we’re at. Things are going against us.

“It was totally unnecessary from Jordan and the rules are the rules. It was a young linesman, but it’s something he shouldn’t have said.

“It’s a difficult one. Obviously, we had Alfie Matthews sent off at Wingate & Finchley, as well, and I’m massive on discipline.

“I do get the frustration but, ultimately, we have got to be better than that.”

With no keeper on the substitutes’ bench at Canvey Island, midfielder Harrison Pont donned the gloves.

He famously did so in 2023 while at Sittingbourne to save a penalty from Gillingham fans’ favourite Adebayo Akinfenwa in a 1-0 Swale derby win at Faversham.

Leberl said: “It was always something we hoped wouldn’t happen but, if it did happen, it would be Ponty.

“Fair play to him. He has a lot of confidence.

“Thankfully, it was late in the game so he didn’t have too much to do.”

Leberl made bold changes at Canvey Island, Jacob Mensah, Luca Cocoracchio, George Wilkinson and top scorer George Nikaj dropping to the substitutes’ bench.

“It’s always very difficult,” he said. “We were extremely loyal to the boys - but rightly so.

“The forward boys have scored a lot of goals.

“It was difficult to know what to change and when to change it. But the timing felt right, especially after some of them did so well against Welling.

“I thought it was a really poor game. I think we could be playing now and it would still be 0-0!

“Canvey is always a difficult place to go. I’ve been there loads and it’s always difficult.

“Like our pitch, their pitch was very difficult to play on. The one pleasing thing was a clean sheet, but Jordan’s sending-off sort of killed the mood.

“Regarding team selection, that will be difficult, moving forward. But I do think the substitutes came on and injected fresh legs on Saturday where they had a point to prove.”

Dover return to home action against relegation-threatened Bowers & Pitsea this weekend.

Ironically, they have signed forward Max Fiddes, scoring in a 4-1 loss to leaders Billericay, after Leberl had hoped to sign the teenager as recently as last week.

On the visit of Bowers, Leberl, who has allowed young attacker Rolando Onu to join Faversham on dual registration, said: “They have had a really difficult season. I feel for them.

“Obviously, they have got Max, who was with us. We wanted Max to be more of a long-term option for next year, but he and his agent decided he wants more first-team football now.

"That was the reason why he went there. He scored against Billericay on Saturday.

“We’re just a bit disappointed he didn’t choose to be with us, but I understand it. Players and their agents need to do what they think is best.”

While Bowers had started this term under James Collins, now at the Herne Bay helm, they’re being led by Joe Flowers and Luke Wilson.

Leberl said: “It’s all right saying ‘They’re bottom’, but it’s new players and a new regime.

“Teams at the bottom are absolutely fighting for their lives.

“Normally, we have been creating quite a few chances, even when we haven’t won games.

"But there were only a few chances created on Saturday and the boys need to get back to that. But they are still desperate to do well. They’re still training really hard.

“If we get that one win, hopefully, we can start picking up points again and stay in the play-off places.

“There’s still 30 points - a hell of a lot of points - to play for. Someone could get on a run and someone could fall off.

“The teams in the top five, I do think they will chop and change, but we’re involved in it. It’s really exciting and I’m glad we’re really involved.

“It’s been doom and gloom around the club for so long. I understand peoples’ frustration but, if we had accumulated the points more consistently, everyone would feel very differently.

“In these 10 games coming up, this is where you need your supporters.

"It’s definitely the time to get behind us and help us to finish strong.”