Dover earned a relatively comfortable win over Braintree on Saturday in National League South.

Striker Chike Kandi scored the only goal of the first half before substitute Luke Baptiste and frontman Alfie Pavey extended Whites’ lead after the break and, despite Baris Altintop pulling one back for the away side, Andy Hessenthaler’s men extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a 3-1 victory.

The visitors had the first chance inside the opening 90 seconds, Kyron Farrell firing over at Crabble in front of a crowd of 672.

Five minutes later, the hosts, starting a run of four successive home fixtures, threatened from a corner. But the recalled Jake Goodman wasn’t quite able to bundle home after the ball had found its way through to the back post.

The first booking of the match came in the ninth minute as Alfie Matthews fouled Dover skipper Lee Martin who had been attempting to start a counter-attack.

Soon after, Angelo Harrop’s men went close as they aimed to respond after their FA Cup exit at lower-league Hornchurch last weekend. Home goalkeeper Stuart Nelson made a save to thwart Lamar Reynolds before Chris Regis’ follow-up effort was blocked.

Dover then twice threatened in the 20th minute.

Luke Wanadio cut inside from the left wing and crossed right-footed for Kandi who was only denied by a fine save by away keeper Joshua Strizovic, once of Maidstone. The ball was recycled to Martin who bent his effort narrowly wide.

But midway through the first period, Kandi did net his second goal in as many games to put Whites in front. Pavey flicked a long ball out of defence onto strike partner Kandi. Despite being tugged down inside the penalty area by a Braintree defender, Kandi kept his nerve and found the net.

Having played his part in the goal, Pavey entered referee Dale Wootton’s book not long after, getting cautioned for a late challenge.

Both teams had opportunities in a matter of seconds with 32 minutes played. Braintree’s Matthews bent wide before Arjanit Krasniqi blasted straight at Strizovic as midfielder Krasniqi faced the club he had played for last season.

There were a number of half-time changes. For Dover, Baptiste came on for Myles Judd, with Wanadio dropping in at right wing-back, while the Iron substitutions saw Alfie Payne and Willie Clemons enter the field for Joe Muscatt and Levi Amantchi.

Eight minutes after the restart, the away side went close to an equaliser as Nelson got down well to save Clemons’ strike. Veteran 41-year-old Nelson was able to get back up quickly, too, to beat Reynolds to the loose ball.

But Whites doubled their advantage through a substitute on 56 minutes. Wanadio crossed from the right and Baptiste’s first effort hit the bar, only for the ball to virtually sit on the line. That left the teenage midfielder with the simple task of bundling home his third goal of the season.

And Dover went 3-0 ahead with 64 minutes played, effectively putting the result beyond doubt. Alfie Paxman stood up a high free-kick for Goodman who headed into the path of Pavey and he nodded past Strizovic for his third goal this campaign.

Braintree's Matthews thought he had pulled one back, 19 minutes from time as he latched onto a right-wing cross, but he was thwarted by a superb Nelson stop.

But Nelson was to be denied a clean sheet, nine minutes later. A Matthews free-kick fell kindly to defender Altintop and he emphatically blasted into the net to give the visitors hope.

Things almost became even more nervy for the home contingent with 90 seconds of normal time to go. Regis nodded over from a matter of yards out, although Whites held on and now are on their longest unbeaten run since prior to the Covid pandemic and are 15th in the table.

Whites had made three changes from the side which drew 1-1 at Welling last Tuesday - albeit two of them were enforced.

Player-assistant manager Mitch Brundle was out with a knee injury, Reece Grant (hamstring) was also sidelined while Jordan Higgs was suspended, having already picked up five bookings this season.

Coming into the team were Kandi, Will Moses and Goodman, who was back from a nose injury but did have his fingers strapped up on his right hand.

Defender Tyrone Sterling also marked his 35th birthday with another start and a win.

Dover’s players wore black armbands and there was a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off in memory of supporter and local referee Ken Williams who died on Friday.

When the teams last met at Crabble, Dover won the National League game 3-0. Midfielder Jai Reason - who recently retired - and Brundle and Pavey were the scorers on that day.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd (Baptiste 46mins), Goodman, Sterling, Moses, Paxman, Krasniqi, Martin, Pavey, Wanadio, Kandi (Carney 74mins). Subs not used: Byford, Wilkinson, Green.

Braintree Town: Strizovic, Davies, Farrell, Muscatt (Payne 46mins), White, Altintop, Matthews, Anderson (Rush 57mins), Amantchi (Clemons 46mins), Regis, Reynolds. Subs not used: Clements, Niemczycki.

Referee: Dale Wootton.

Attendance: 672.