Manager Mitch Brundle praised his new-look Dover squad’s work ethic after their comeback win over Eastbourne in National League South on Saturday.

Striker Josh Ajayi’s first Whites goal ended a six-game winless run.

Leone Gravata put Boro ahead early on but centre-back Tyrone Sterling’s bullet header levelled things.

And a deflected effort by Ajayi after the restart proved the difference in Dover's 2-1 triumph.

It was the first time they had come from behind to win since before the Covid pandemic and their first league success since Brundle was named as Andy Hessenthaler’s permanent successor.

Brundle said: “Like I said when I first took the job, it’s a work in progress.

“The players have got to trust the process, and they have. Today, we have scored two goals, which I’m delighted with.

• Report: Dover 2-1 Eastbourne

“I’m glad to see Josh get off the mark. I’m hoping now that gives him a bit of confidence.

“The team did everything I asked of them, with their desire, their commitment, their work ethic and their respect for each other to do each others’ jobs.

“It’s something we’ve had in all our performances, to be fair, since we’ve actually been able to bring players in and shake the squad up how we want it to be.

“I think that’s two draws, a win and a loss since we brought players in, which is fantastic. We were missing goals but, today, we got them.

“The actual work ethic of the team is the thing that makes me the most proud because they’re running for me and they’re running for the club.

“You could see the celebrations after the game and that just comes from hard work.”

But they trailed after only two minutes as winger Gravata gave Danny Bloor’s men an early advantage.

When asked if that sent his game-plan out the window, 28-year-old Brundle replied: “Yeah definitely - but credit to the boys.

“I said that at half-time. I said ‘You didn’t drop your heads, you didn’t think the world was against you, you didn’t sulk. You dug in and made sure that you turned the result around’.

“They believe in what we’re trying to do.

“They believe we’re a better team than we’ve been showing. Our performances have been good - we’ve just lacked that clinical edge to actually win - thankfully today, we had that.

“That’s the mentality that I want in the group of players. Things can go against you.

“Second minute, the goal went in and I was thinking ‘Oh God, here we go’. But fair play to them, all credit to them, and their hard work pays off.

“We just move onto the next one now.”

There were some fine displays in Dover’s midfield, in particular, which he highlighted.

Brundle, who also praised experienced goalkeeper Stuart Nelson for two vital saves, said: “I thought Lee Martin was outstanding.

“Pax [Jack Paxman] joins in with the front lads unbelievably well and Higgsy [Jordan Higgs] is Higgsy. He’s consistent.

“Consistently throughout the season, he performs to a level which makes him such a valuable player to us.”

Dover, who were last season relegated from the National League, are 10 points clear of the relegation zone in 15th, although they have played more league fixtures than everyone below them.

But Brundle is only looking forward after a tough few years for the Crabble club.

He said: “When you’re winning, it’s all easy and rosy. But you need the people that are going to stick by you when times are tough.

“Times have been tough - I didn’t know that’s the first win, coming from behind since then - but this is a whole new feeling.

“You can talk about the past forever but it’s never going to change. You can only change what’s in front of you and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“We’re building a togetherness and now we've a really good togetherness - even among the staff, with the chairman [Jim Parmenter], Frank [Clarke] and Debbie [Harrison]. Everyone is buying into what we're trying to do.

“Personally, I’m on the side and I’m going to take the full brunt of when it’s good and when it’s bad, but I’ll thrive from that.

“People know I’m working my hardest and people know I’ll continue to work my hardest, whether it’s good or bad, they’ll know there’s somebody there, fighting for the club to make it a good club.”

Whites are at home next Saturday again, hosting eighth-placed Chelmsford.