Sak Hassan got the game’s only goal as Dover secured a National League South success over high-fliers Farnham Town on Saturday.

Winger Hassan’s first Whites goal was enough to get Dover back on track after their eight-match unbeaten run had ended in their previous fixture.

The style of play from free-flowing Farnham caused themselves almost as many issues themselves as it had caused as it ended 1-0 at Crabble on their grass surface.

Athletic were first to threaten as winger Ruben Soares-Junior did well on the right flank, but midfielder Euan Williams saw his seventh-minute strike crash against away keeper Mike Eacott’s left-hand post.

There were opportunities at either end with 16 minutes played on a largely dry afternoon.

A left-wing cross from Farnham’s ex-Ebbsfleet midfielder Billy Clifford evaded everyone before Eacott got down smartly to deny the recalled forward Corie Andrews.

Five minutes later, Miles Obodo met a Bobby-Joe Taylor left-wing cross, only for the forward to be left to beat the ground in frustration as he was unable to make a real connect on the delivery.

But Jake Leberl’s home team broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark in fine fashion.

Jack Bates carried the ball 30 yards through midfield and set up Hassan. The 25-year-old cut inside and drilled low to find the bottom corner and opened his club account.

The visitors then felt they had found an equaliser, although 34-year-old Clifford’s shot that had looked destined for the top corner struck a team-mate - who was stood in an offside position - on its way over Mitch Walker’s crossbar.

Three minutes after the restart, 35-year-old Walker had to be at his best as he tipped wide a powerful right-footed shot from Obodo, who had been played through by Taylor.

Taylor, 31, again went close but dragged inches wide of Walker’s left-hand post, minutes later, while midfielder Jack Spong also failed to hit the target with a free-kick in a good area.

The 64th minute saw chances at each end once more. Andrews couldn’t quite catch up with a delightful Bates delivery that he had launched himself at while visiting substitute Darryl Sanders blazed over.

With 13 minutes left, 23-year-old former Gillingham player Williams sent over a free-kick for the hosts that he should have done better with.

The tempo was still increasing as Walker was equal to an effort from advancing right-back Marcel Lavinier.

Substitute Trae Cook-Appiah was the next away player to beat his man in the final seconds of normal time, but his cross could only hit the side-netting.

The hosts made two switches from the side that were consigned to a 1-0 midweek loss to unbeaten Chelmsford.

Forward Andrews and defender Fuad Sesay replaced Luke Baptiste and Jalen Jones while right-back Roman Charles-Cook, who has had his scheduled suspension following his sending-off against Chelmsford overturned, started again.

Farnham wideman Taylor made a Crabble comeback, having made more than 60 club appearances between 2018 and 2020. Striker George Alexander, a former Dartford loanee, added to his five in a 6-0 weekend home win over Braintree with another one against Chesham in a victory in midweek. He started for Paul Johnson’s troops.

Dover will have a huge FA Cup first-round home tie against National League Wealdstone next Saturday.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Beadle, Bakrin, Sesay, Wilson-Braithwaite, Williams, Bates (Baptiste 76mins), Andrews (Fish 69mins), Soares-Junior, Hassan. Subs not used: Wilkinson, Jallow, Jones, Onu, Ezenwanne.

Farnham Town: Eacott, Mason, Kinnane, Alexander (Cook-Appiah 69mins), Spong (Sanders 60mins), Tobin, Taylor, Clifford, Obodo (Alves 69mins), Hutchinson (MacKenzie 60mins), Lavinier. Subs not used: Shaw, Holzman, Fernandez.

Referee: Joseph Dann-Pye.

Attendance: 675.