Dartford 0 Dover Athletic 2 Isthmian Premier play-off final match report: Ruben Soares-Junior and Alfie Matthews score as Dover are promoted to National League South

Dover made an immediate return to National League South on Monday after winning a tense play-off final at Dartford.

Second-half goals from Ruben Soares-Junior and Alfie Matthews ensured Jake Leberl's team bounced back at the first attempt after last year's relegation.

But Dartford will remain in Isthmian Premier after failing to find a way through an excellent Dover defence.

The windy conditions and below-par playing surface meant it was never likely to be a classic on a bitterly cold afternoon at Princes Park.

The teams shared 10 goals in their two league games but this was always likely to be a tense affair with so much on the line.

Dartford sent a first-minute header over from a Samir Carruthers corner and settled the quickest of the two sides. An imaginative 20-yard chip by Carruthers on 14 minutes landed on the roof of the net.

The major talking point came as early as the 16th minute with virtually Dover's first attack of the half. George Whitefield was adjudged to have fouled Luke Baptiste as he latched onto a ball over the top of the Darts defence.

Having given the foul, Whitefield must have feared the worst but referee Luke Scott only showed him a yellow card, presumably thinking that Baptiste was heading away from goal having got to the ball first. Dover's protests suggested they didn't agree with that call.

Matthews, who scored two free-kicks to see Whites through their semi-final tie with Billericay in extra-time on Wednesday, stepped up but shot straight at keeper Jacob Marsden from 20 yards. It was Dover's only attempt on goal in the first half.

Callum Jones, passed fit despite a back injury, exchanged well with Olly Box before his right-foot shot was blocked.

Not for the first time this season, Darts