Dover Athletic assistant manager Mike Sandmann explains why he believes Isthmian Premier leaders have developed habit of being better second-half team in recent matches

Assistant manager Mike Sandmann has explained why he thinks Dover have developed a habit of being a better second-half team in recent matches.

The Isthmian Premier leaders extended their seven-game unbeaten league streak with a sixth victory in that run after last weekend’s 3-2 home victory over Canvey Island.

But Dover twice had to come from behind in front of a crowd of 911.

It has become a bit of a theme of late - Whites fell behind in their 1-1 derby draw at Chatham while boss Jake Leberl was also unhappy at their first-half display during the 1-0 victory at Folkestone earlier this month.

“I feel like a lot of the time in the first half that it’s tight,” said Sandmann.

“There’s a lot of second balls and it’s about winning the battle and sometimes, with a young team that doesn’t have as much experience of doing the ugly side of the game, we tend to have to play our way in.

“But I always feel, with the athleticism we have got throughout the team, we’re only going to get stronger as the game goes on.

“We have got good energy, good legs and good pace and power in forward areas, and that’s really important later on in games. You can see we’re getting our rewards in the later stages of matches.

“But of course, we don’t want to be a team that’s always poor in the first half. It’s not for a lack of trying.

“Saturday, we were disappointed to concede two goals but, equally, we have still come away with three points.”

As well as being Leberl’s No.2, Sandmann heads up Dover’s successful Academy, based at the Abbey School in Faversham.

He’s thrilled to see a host of their youth-team products getting regular first-team minutes and thriving as they play Step 3 football.

UEFA A Licence coach Sandmann said: “It’s a pleasure to work