Dover Athletic assistant manager Mike Sandmann on their 3-2 Isthmian Premier home win over Canvey Island

Assistant manager Mike Sandmann admitted in-form Dover made it difficult for themselves after their entertaining Isthmian Premier win against Canvey Island on Saturday.

Table-topping Whites extended their unbeaten league run to seven matches with a 3-2 victory at Crabble.

But they twice had to come from behind as forward Ruben Soares-Junior levelled before half-time.

Midfielder Alfie Matthews and 15-goal top scorer George Nikaj then decisively struck inside two second-half minutes after Canvey had retaken the lead following an uncharacteristic error by keeper Mitch Walker from a free-kick by two-goal visiting captain Elliott Ronto.

Asked what he felt after the game, Jake Leberl’s No.2 said: “Frustration.

“We made it difficult today but you have to give credit to the opposition, I thought Canvey were excellent. They caused us lots of problems and made it extremely difficult.

“A little bit of quality before half-time got ourselves back into the game. There’s then a mistake by Mitch - he doesn’t make many - and he’s held his hands up, but he’s been excellent throughout the season.

Report: Dover 3-2 Canvey Island

“You do start to think ‘Is this the day where we just get undone?’. But credit to the boys and the character that we showed.

“A bit of a set-piece routine towards the end is the difference.”

Free-scoring Dover have already scored 41 league goals from 15 fixtures - six more than anyone else in the division.

Sandmann said: “We want to be a team that’s on the front foot, creates chances and is difficult to play against.

“It took us a little bit to get going today but, again, you do have to give credit to the opposition.

“Sometimes, you come away, more talking about us being not very good, but the opposition put us