Dartford boss Ady Pennock felt his team gave away goals at crucial times in their derby defeat at Dover.

The Darts manager saw his side concede five goals at Crabble, having let in only three goals during their first five league games.

The result dropped Dartford down to fifth spot in Isthmian Premier with Dover climbing up to second.

“We gave them four goals, arguably five goals and we could have scored eight,” claimed Pennock.

“We’re going to have days like this. We have to lick our wounds and learn from it and move on.

“I didn’t like us today, I didn’t like us turning up, I’ll be honest with you. We gave them goals at crucial times. We could have been one-nil up in the first couple of minutes but we just weren’t on it.

“I think every time you play a football match you should have that hunger and desire and I don’t think we had that.

“It’s unusual for me to say that as we’ve had it since the start of pre-season.”

Pennock was left questioning why the desire was missing from his side.

He added: “We just didn’t turn up. I’m disappointed in our desire but it’s the first time I’ve seen us not have that desire.

“We’ve got to learn from it, we’ve got a big game this week (FA Cup v Leatherhead) and we have to bounce back as soon as possible.”

Keeper Matt Kerbey twice fumbled the ball in the first half to lead to Dover goals before leaving a huge gap at his near post for the home side’s fourth goal from a free-kick.

“Everybody makes mistakes and he’s put his hand up but for me I think there should be a team-mate there to help him out,” added Pennock.

“In other games he’s been very good for us and made some good saves in important times. He’s a young man who is learning.

“If anybody makes a mistake on the pitch, goalkeeper or centre-forward, you’ve got to have your mate next to you help you out and that’s what we didn’t have.”

Pennock felt the finishing at either end highlighted the difference in the game.

“Goals change games, we had a tap-in at the far post with Eddie Dsane in the first two minutes that we missed and it summed us up really, we just weren’t there,” said the Dartford boss.

Read more: Dover 5-1 Dartford report

“We could have scored eight goals but I don’t think you’re going to win a game 8-5. We caused them problems but we didn’t have that clinical finish, that desire to get on the end of balls dropping in the six-yard box.

“Their keeper missed a couple and if it was on the other shoe Dover would have tapped it in, and we didn’t, and I think that summed us up really.”