Andy Hessenthaler admits Dover cannot afford too many more bad days at the office between now and the end of the season.

Adrian Clifton’s 13th-minute goal proved enough to give Maidenhead the points on Saturday, and Hessenthaler felt that too many of his players performed below par.

The Whites boss explained: “After going away to Salford and winning comfortably we did not really get going.

“There wasn’t really a lot in the game but when you’re away from home you can’t afford to concede early.

“We got away with it a bit at Salford, that was a totally different game because all the pressure was on them that day.

“We’ve gone off the boil a bit consistency-wise but there was no lack of effort, I just think we did not have as many on their game as we usually do.

“You can maybe get away with one or two being below par, but not four or five. It was a bad day at the office, but we can’t dwell.”

The Maidenhead defeat – Dover’s first in five away from home in the National League – left them 20th, just a point clear of the drop zone.

Whites host bottom club Braintree on Saturday and will be looking to win at Crabble for the first time since Boxing Day.

After draws with Leyton Orient and Bromley, Dover suffered successive last-gasp defeats to Gateshead and Harrogate.

Hessenthaler said: “I don’t see it as a must-win game, because at the end of the day we’ve still got another 10.

“There’s no doubt it would be a great game to win and that it would help us.

“Braintree won’t be easy, they’re still in there fighting and they’ll come with no fear.

“There’s a bit of pressure on us because we’ve lost the last two (at home) but our performances in those games have been good. It’s been the game management which let us down.”

Hessenthaler admits the lack of goals from his strikers is a concern, but will be bolstered by the return of Jai Reason.

The attacking midfielder– who had scored in successive matches – missed the trip to Maidenhead because his wife had just given birth to son Kiyan.

Goalkeeping coach Lee Worgan’s wife gave birth to daughter Grace on Saturday.

Whites were due to host Folkestone in a friendly last night (Tuesday) and Hessenthaler would not rule out changes for the visit of Braintree.

He added: “If we think it would benefit the team to freshen things up then that’s what we’ll do.”