Dover Athletic 1 Tonbridge Angels 2 match report: Midfielder Jordan Higgs scores on Crabble return; Francis Mampolo gets Angels’ winning goal after Dover captain Jacob Mensah’s first-half strike

Jordan Higgs scored against his former club as Tonbridge completed this season’s National League South double over Kent rivals Dover on Tuesday.

Midfielder Higgs gave Angels the lead and, although stand-in skipper got basement boys Dover level before half-time, Francis Mampolo earned the all-important third goal in the second period after Whites keeper Daniel Jinadu’s mistake, with it finishing 2-1.

The result moved Whites another step towards a second relegation in three seasons while it boosted Jay Saunders’ side play-off hopes.

Iffy Allen had blazed over for the hosts inside the first 90 seconds at Crabble on a wet and windy night in front of a 455-strong crowd.

Dover striker George Nikaj also had a couple of early half-chances but twice struggled to get his shot away.

Jake Leberl’s troops again went close when a 10th-minute shot by midfielder George Wilkinson cracked against the crossbar before home penalty protests were turned down as Tonbridge keeper Jonny Henly gathered the loose ball.

But, six minutes later, the visitors struck first with their opening chance of note. A right-wing delivery fell to Higgs, who was at Dover last term, and his shot was deflected past on-loan Maidenhead goalkeeper Jinadu off a defender.

Henly had to be alert to deny forward Luke Baptiste and his opposite number Jinadu was called upon moments later to thwart Ebbsfleet loanee forward Nathan Odokonyero.

Jinadu was required once more just before the half-hour mark, getting down low to save from Angels’ young on-loan AFC Wimbledon loanee Paris Lock - who was with Whites earlier in the campaign - from doubling the away team’s advantage.

Tonbridge captain Scott Wagstaff fed Mampolo, who shot well wide after he had cut inside from the left on