Manager Jake Leberl hailed Dover’s display as “a really strong team performance” after they battled to a hard-fought win over in-form Farnham Town on Saturday.

Winger Sak Hassan opened his account for Whites with the game’s only goal in the first half as it ended 1-0 at Crabble.

It was just Farnham’s second defeat in their past 10 matches, leaving the ninth-placed outfit just a point ahead of Leberl’s side, who are 11th in the league.

“This was always going to be a tough one,” said Leberl. “They’re in great form.

“We had to adjust slightly to try and stop them. I thought all the boys went about their jobs as we had asked, and I thought it was a really strong team performance.

“It was nice to see a few boys that haven’t got [many] minutes get some opportunities.”

Farnham, who headed into the contest after scoring 10 goals in two fixtures, were kept at bay by Dover’s defence that was led by goalkeeper and captain Mitch Walker once more.

Leberl said: “It was a brilliant performance against a really strong Farnham side, who pushed us all the way. Obviously, they had scored 10 in their last two so they’re a massive threat.

“To keep a clean sheet and get a 1-0 win, we’re thoroughly delighted.”

Free-flowing Farnham again caused issues, particularly in the second period, but also played themselves into trouble on Whites’ grass surface at times.

“We wanted to frustrate them,” Leberl revealed. “They’re a free-flowing side, they’re a counter-attacking side, and play a certain way which is really difficult to deal with.

“I thought we started the game really well and probably were a little bit unfortunate that we didn’t get ahead early on.

“Then, they had a good spell for 20 minutes in the first half where we struggled. But what we did do is we stuck to our task and it was really nice for Sak to get his first goal for us.

“I thought he was a constant threat.”

Indeed, Leberl’s greatest frustration was his side’s inability to kill the game off.

He added: “The only disappointment, really, is we felt we needed a second to put the game to bed. We did have opportunities on the break.

“I think that would have made it a very different game. We would have gone on and got a few more.

“All the time it’s 1-0, it’s a cagey affair, but I thought we defended really well from the front.”

But Dover's confidence remains high. They’re performing much better than many expected them to in the league while they have progressed to the FA Cup first round where they will host Wealdstone next Saturday.

Leberl said: “Billericay first game of the season, pre-season was a little disrupted and we got caught short but, even then, I felt we did okay.

“The only other games we have lost is when we have been down to 10 men - and two of those sending-offs, one has been rescinded and one against Tonbridge was ridiculously harsh.

“We’re in a good place. We have got a really good game in the FA Cup to look forward to and then the FA Trophy.

“I think it was really important we got some sort of result, which we did, and that sort of sets us up for next week.”

Leberl made two switches from the starting line-up that had suffered a 1-0 midweek defeat to unbeaten Chelmsford City at the same venue as forwards Corie Andrews and defender Fuad Sesay replaced Luke Baptiste and Jalen Jones against Farnham.

“It was really harsh on both Jalen and Baps to come out,” he admitted. “Obviously, we did a lot of homework on them.

“We just felt that Naz (Nazrin Bakrin) and [Harry] Beadle had a little bit more mobility because we knew they had that up there. They don’t really play with any real size so that was the reason for that one.

“Baps was so unfortunate to come out. Obviously, the midfield boys have been doing well, and Sak has come in and got himself into the side.

“He’s proving to be a really good signing.”

One player who remained at Dover’s disposal was right-back Roman Charles-Cook.

Charles-Cook, 22, was red-carded against Chelmsford, but the club were able to get that successfully rescinded. He then came through the full game against Farnham.

While Leberl was pleased to see what he felt was the correct call eventually get made, he reiterated his disappointment referee Craig Barnett had refused to speak to him after the match.

He said: “It was ridiculous he got sent off!

“I’m still frustrated today. We should be at least a point better off - if not three points better off - on a refereeing decision.

“Fair play to him, he has apologised and admitted that he got it wrong. It would have been nice to have spoken to him after the game.

“But he chose not to speak, which is disappointing, because they say before the game ‘After the game, you’re more than welcome to speak [with us].’ I’m disappointed with that - and I really don’t think it’s on. They should come out and have a chat, but he decided not to.

“But fair play, he has rung-up the day after and apologised so we'll move on.”

Wealdstone, who saw off Worthing 3-0 at home to reach this stage of the FA Cup, netted an injury-time winner in a 3-2 National League weekend victory over Southend at home.