Dover Athletic reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2019 on Saturday.

A brilliant fourth qualifying round tie saw no shortage of entertainment as Jake Leberl’s men got the beter of their fellow National League South opponents, just seven days after the teams shared the spoils at Crabble.

Dover made one change from last week’s league draw with Jalen Jones replacing Nazir Bakram. Dorking made two changes with Josh Barrett and Louie Annesley in their starting XI.

Annesley was in the book as early as the second minute after a shocking challenge on Luke Baptiste.

The visitors had the first chance as Barrett set up Dennon Lewis, whose low shot was saved by the legs of Whites kepper Mitch Walker.

Dover took the lead on 11 minutes when Euan Williams won the ball and drove forward before setting up Jack Bates, who was given time and space on the edge of the area to curl home a delightful right-foot shot for his eighth goal of the season.

Dorking were back on level four minutes later when Barrett’s clever ball over the top set up George Nikaj, who rounded Walker and slotted past two defenders on the line to score against his former club.

A pulsating game saw Dover regain the lead on 19 minutes when Dorking tried to play the ball out from the back but walked straight into a trap set by the home side and Baptiste was upended.

Decarrey Sheriff stepped forward to send former Gillingham keeper Glenn Morris the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Dover left-back Enyinnaya Ezenwanne was given a tough afternoon by Nikaj. The former was booked for a poor challenge on 22 minutes - although the referee did nothing about the six Dorking players surrounding him wanting a red card - and Dover boss Jake Leberl decided to withdraw him on 35 minutes and bring on Bakrin.

That change came seconds after Dorking missed a glorious chance at the other end. Baptiste tried to clear the ball but didn’t realise James McShane got ahead of him and the referee duly pointed to the spot.

Barrett is a classy performer but his penalty was anything but, as he blazed his right-foot shot high and wide of Walker’s goal.

It then needed an excellent Harry Beadle challenge to thwart Alfie Rutherford after the Dorking forward was played through by Barrett.

The second half was just as enjoyable as both teams knew only one way to play.

Dover extended their lead just two minutes after the restart when Baptiste and Bates combined down the left, the ball was picked up by Sheriff in the area and his low shot trickled past Morris.

Dorking responded just past the hour as Barrett’s long-range shot was well pushed away by Walker and Jones’ excellent block denied McShane a tap-in.

But the pressure quickly told as they made it 3-2 when Lewis scored a 20-yard into the far corner.

It was all one-way as Dorking pressed for an equaliser but they left gaps at the back with the clock ticking down.

With nine minutes left, Sheriff turned the ball into the side netting after Morris could only parry Williams’ long-range effort. Then two substitutes combined as Sak Hassan crossed for Corey Andrews, whose shot was kept out at point-blank range by Morris.

Walker did well to keep out Dorking substitute Jack Wood as the game entered six minutes of added time.

Barrett shot wide but Dover put their bodies on the line and deserved to hold out and take their place in Monday’s draw.

Dover: Walker, Charles-Cook, Beadle, Jones, Ezenwanne (Bakrin 35mins), Wilson-Braithwaite, Williams (Wilkinson 89mins), Bates (Hassan 73mins), Baptiste, Sheriff (Fish 90+2mins), Soares-Junior (Andrews 64mins). Subs not used: Jallow, Sesay.

Dorking: Morris, Camp (Francomb 52mins), Philpot, Ilesanmi, Lewis, Nikaj (Wood 79mins), Annesley (Rogalski 52mins), Pinchard (Tauta-Caballero 86mins), McShane (Vincent 86mins), Rutherford, Barrett. Subs not used: Sayers, McIntyre.

Referee: Ayrton Hursey.

Attendance: 1,370.