Dover Athletic 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0 match report: Luca Cocoracchio’s first goal this season enough for promotion-chasing Whites’ sorely-needed Isthmian Premier win in front of a big crowd at Crabble

Luca Cocoracchio's first goal of the season guided promotion-chasing Dover to a sorely-needed home Isthmian Premier win over Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.

The defensive midfielder broke the deadlock in the 12th minute during a fine display and Jake Leberl's fifth-placed team held on for the points as it ended 1-0 in front of a big Crabble crowd despite the away team coming desperately close to a last-gasp leveller.

While the visitors had started well, forcing Whites’ keeper Jordan Gillmore to make an early reaction save, the hosts - responding to back-to-back defeats - created their first chance of the contest in the 10th minute.

Ryan Hanson glanced across goal from a delivery by midfielder Luke Baptiste, who had taken over corner-kick duties from Alfie Matthews.

But just two minutes later, Leberl’s side struck in front of a crowd that was announced as 3,021 at Crabble - an attendance seemingly bolstered by 1,000 free tickets being handed out to local schools and community groups on the club’s latest community day.

Cocoracchio curled nicely beyond away keeper Dillon Barnes after battling for the loose ball with team-mate Ruben Soares-Junior.

Hamlet looked for a swift reply, but goalkeeper Gillmore comfortably gathered veteran Mark Marshall’s effort, before a Baptiste snapshot from a tight angle whistled narrowly over.

The visitors, led by former Welling boss Bradley Quinton, were forced into a change just before the half-hour mark as former Ebbsfleet and Maidstone midfielder Kreshnic Krasqini hobbled off and was replaced by Ryley Scott.

Dover midfielder Matthews then curled wide of Barnes’ left-hand post on the volley in the 35th minute, having been found by the impressive Cocoracchio.

Gillmore thwarted visiting full-back