Dover Athletic 2 Bowers & Pitsea 0 match report: First-half goals from returning midfielder Ryan Hanson and forward Luke Baptiste see promotion-chasing Whites to sorely-needed Isthmian Premier win

Ryan Hanson scored on his return for promotion-chasing Dover to help them claim a much-needed win against Isthmian Premier basement boys Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday.

The midfielder and former captain headed in Whites’ first goal before Luke Baptiste also found the net before half-time during their 2-0 victory.

It was a first home win since November 16 for Jake Leberl’s troops and ended a five-game winless streak.

Bowers had actually created the game’s first chance as six-goal playmaker Alfie Evans struck a speculative fourth-minute shot against home keeper Claudio Boakye-Sarfo’s crossbar at Crabble.

But it was the hosts who drew first blood in front of a crowd of 661 on 11 minutes.

A right-wing delivery was half-cleared and 24-year-old Hanson bravely beat defender Luca Albon to the ball to send a looping header beyond away keeper David Hughes on his comeback for his hometown club.

Five minutes later, Hughes got down to save from Dover’s Baptiste before Albon - unable to continue - was replaced by Kai Redgrave.

It was already looking like Dover’s afternoon as they doubled their tally. Young forward Baptiste drilled into the bottom corner for his 17th goal this term after good closing work by top scorer George Nikaj and Alfie Matthews sent Baptiste free.

Next to go close for the home side was midfielder Matthews. His attempt smacked against the crossbar while skipper Ruben Soares-Junior’s rebound header drifted wide.

Striker Nikaj should have added to his tally for the season in the 38th minute. He sprung through the offside trap from a left-wing cross and found space, only to be denied by Hughes.

Five minutes later at the other end, Boakye-Sarfo watched a long-range effort by midfielder George Scales go narrowly wide of