A late Michael Woods goal won it for Dover as they took all three points in an entertaining game against top of the league Barrow, ending their 15 game unbeaten run in the National League. 

Will De Havilland put Dover ahead in the first half, but Barrow must have thought they had clinched at least a point from the penalty spot, before Woods slotted home late on to put Dover level on points with Bromley and Notts County in the fight for the play offs. 

Earlier in the day, Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler made one enforced change as Bobby-Joe Taylor came in for the injured Oscar Gobern.

Dover had a chance to go ahead early on when a long throw by Aaron Simpson eventually found its way through to Inih Effiong, but the forward did not connect to the ball well and could only fire wide. 

Effiong continued to cause problems for the Barrow defence. This time he ran down the right hand side and was able to outmuscle Matt Platt before crossing it across goal, but Taylor couldn’t get his outstretched leg on the ball. 

Reason then tested Barrow’s goalkeeper Joel Dixon after being put through on goal after a Whites counter-attack, but Dixon was able to knock the ball over the bar.

However, from the resulting corner, Whites did take the lead as De Havilland was able to get a toe on the ball after a scramble in the box to poke past the goalkeeper and put Dover in front. 

The Bluebirds almost hit back immediately as the ball found its way to Dior Angus from John Rooney’s pass, but his shot went blazing over the crossbar. 

On the half hour mark, it was Scott Quigley’s turn to have a shot, but his shot was claimed comfortably by Charlton loanee Ashley Maynard-Brewer. 

Effiong then had a massive chance to double Whites’ lead as a clearance by the Barrow defence was blocked by Jack Munns and ricocheted into the path of Effiong who was one on one with the goalkeeper but was closed down well before he could get a clear shot off. 

Barrow’s two top scorers linked up really well towards the end of the half and almost got the Bluebirds level when Rooney played Quigley through on goal but Maynard-Brewer made a brilliant save to deny him.

Just before the break, Effiong headed home a free kick by Taylor but the linesman had judged the striker to be offside in the build-up and the goal was disallowed. 

Dover were almost made to pay straight away as Barrow came forward from the free kick, with the ball finding Lewis Hardcastle, but his shot from the edge of the box curled past the post. 

As the second half begun it was all Barrow and they should have levelled when Angus put Quigley through on goal, but Josh Passley closed him down well and he could only put his shot wide. 

Moments later, Dover counted their lucky stars once again as Quigley couldn’t get on the end of a spilled save by Maynard-Brewer.

Dover rallied and came close to doubling their lead just after the hour mark when Reason played in Effiong who exchanged passes with Simpson before the frontman shot over the bar. 

Dover were let off the hook once again with just over 20 minutes to go when Quigley shot straight into the side netting. 

It was at this point that Barrow manager Ian Evatt brought on three attackers in Jack Hindle, Oliver Dyson and Byron Harrison and it was the latter who won the away side a penalty with 10 minutes to go as Dover sub Shadrach Ogie pulled the attacker down in the box. 

Rooney made no mistake from the spot at he put the ball down the middle to draw his team level. 

Moments later, Dover had their own penalty shout, as Effiong stumbled in the box, with the referee deeming that there was no contact, to the displeasure of the home faithful. 

With both teams still looking to get the winner, Shadrach Ogie made up for his penalty mistake by making a driving run towards the by-line before crossing the ball over to Michael Woods to slot into an open net.  

Five minutes were added on at the end of the game which made for a nervy ending but Dover held on for three valuable points. 

Dover: Maynard-Brewer, Passley(Ogie 78”), De Havilland, Lokko, Simpson, Taylor, Woods, Reason(Poleon 66”), Munns, Rigg(Modeste 64”), Effiong 

Subs not used: Cumberbatch, Yusuff

Barrow: Dixon, Platt, Taylor, Brough, Barry(Hindle 71”), Kay (Dyson 71”), White, Hardcastle(Harrison 77”), Rooney, Quigley, Angus 

Subs not used: Simpson, Brown

Attendance: 972

Referee: Savvas Yianni