Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler on their defeat to Yeovil Town and relegation from the National League

Andy Hessenthaler was keen to put things into perspective after Dover’s relegation from the National League was confirmed.

A 2-0 home loss to Yeovil brought Whites’ eight-year stay in the league to an end, with a quarter of the season - 11 matches - still to play this season.

Dover manager Hessenthaler, who is set to stay at Crabble next season, admitted it was a sad day for the club on Saturday - but he's relieved the part-time club does have a future.

“It’s a sad day, obviously, going out of the division,” he admitted.

“But it would have been a sadder day if there wasn’t going to be a football club here next season.

“The one thing there will be is a football club next season, competing in the National League South at a level they will be able to compete at.”

Centre-back Ben Barclay scored for the Glovers in the first period before midfielder Dale Gorman added a second with a free-kick to seal basement boys Dover’s fate.

Hessenthaler reflected: “(It was a) poor performance, to be fair. We can’t hide from that.

“A lot of players didn’t get going. There were too many off their game for me.

“We went to Halifax last week (losing 2-1) and they were on their game. That’s been the story of our season - too inconsistent.

“But credit to the young boys that came on and the young boys that started. I thought Alfie Pavey was excellent, put himself about but, other than that, there weren’t too many good performances.

“There wasn’t a lot in the game. They only had one shot in the second half, we had one shot.

“The first goal was poor from us. Second goal, I don’t think it was a foul leading up to it.

“But we can’t rely on the officials - they were poor again. It wasn’t good today.”

As well as the decision to award Yeovil a free-kick