Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler reacts to 3-0 defeat at National League South leaders Ebbsfleet United

Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler felt the difference was in the penalty areas at Ebbsfleet on Bank Holiday Monday.

The National League South frontrunners made it six wins out of six with a 3-0 victory over Hessenthaler’s men at Stonebridge Road.

But the scoreline failed to tell the whole story as Dover enjoyed a good spell in the second half, only for a lapse in concentration at the other end to cost them – along with a failure to convert the few clear-cut chances that came their way.

“At 1-0 it was pretty much us in the second half,” reflected Hessenthaler, whose side looked more comfortable with a back three.

“We made a tactical change at half-time as I think their movement was causing our two centre-halves problems. That was nothing against young Luke Baptiste so we changed it and matched them up.

“Chike Kandi should do better and score, and it was 2-0 when Alfie Pavey got a chance which he should score. We had some good play and movement, and they never really troubled us at 1-0.

“I said to Mike Sandmann if we get a goal here then we’ll definitely go on and get something out of the game. But then one ball we don’t defend properly, we were set up right and the only space that ball can go is in that space and we haven’t dealt with it, and they score a second goal.

“We didn’t defend situations. They’ve got a good squad, we made one change and they made seven so there’s a difference. Two games in three days for us was always going to be tough.”

Tyrone Sterling was back in the Dover squad but Hessenthaler resisted the temptation to start him, although he did reveal it was a close call not to match up to Ebbsfleet’s preferred formation.

“I did think about it but we haven’t played that this season and they play it quite a