Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl reacts to the 1-0 National League South home success over Bath City that ends five-match losing run as defender Jalen Jones nets game’s sole goal

Jalen Jones bagged the only goal in Dover’s much-needed home win over Bath City on Saturday - after being told he should be more of a threat in the opposition penalty area by boss Jake Leberl.

Big defender Jones, 27, nodded in a corner by left-back Harrison Sodje inside the first 10 minutes as Whites earned a 1-0 National League South success, completing the double this season over the 19th-placed Romans, to end a five-match losing run.

Leberl had seen England centre-back Harry Maguire head Bruno Fernandes’ corner against the crossbar in the early stages of Manchester United’s 2-0 Premier League derby win against Manchester City before Guyana international Jones did find the target in front of a 846-strong crowd at Crabble.

“Sodje had taken a few corners earlier on (in the season) and then we mixed it up a little bit where Baps (Luke Baptiste) was taking them on both sides,” said Leberl. “We just felt we would get Sodje putting in-swingers in there.

“I was having a bit of a dig at Jalen earlier. I had just watched Harry Maguire hit the crossbar in the third minute of the Manchester derby and I was saying to him ‘It’s about time you got your head on one!’. He has come up trumps with a header.

“Obviously, he should do - he’s a threat in both boxes - and does really well for us.”

It was the first time Dover had scored first in a home game since November.

They threatened to build on that advantage and, although their attack were unusually wasteful in front of goal, they held on despite a nervy finish.

Leberl said: “The first goal in football is so important. The statistics don’t lie on that.

“Obviously, we had the better chances and the defenders are having a pop at the forwards, really, for not putting it to bed. But I felt