Free-scoring Dover moved top of the Isthmian Premier table with a home win over Hashtag United on Saturday.

Alfie Matthews put them ahead in front of their biggest crowd in more than six years and, although Hashtag equalised through Sakariya Hassan, Harrison Pont blasted Whites back ahead in fine style before fellow midfielder Luke Baptiste netted in first-half stoppage time.

Hashtag looked the better team after the restart, but Dover weathered the storm comfortably enough and then top scorer George Nikaj blasted in from distance.

While substitute Max Cornhill headed home in stoppage time for Hashtag United’s second, it wasn’t enough for them, as the entertaining game finished 4-2.

Athletic enjoyed a dream start at Crabble when forward Matthews emphatically drilled in the opening goal in the third minute on the Kent club’s successful community day.

The home side worked the ball across from the left wing and it came through to the one-time Arsenal player, who struck past Hashtag keeper Jack Giddens for his third goal this campaign.

Eight minutes later, a first opportunity for the visitors saw striker Harrison Day fire inches wide of Whites keeper Mitch Walker’s right-hand post from a tight angle.

Hashtag again threatened when four-goal Toby Aromolaran decided against letting fly as a left-wing cross came to him at the far post. Referee Simon Cutler then waved away penalty protests as Hassan went to ground before Dover unconvincingly cleared.

But the away team did equalise in the 19th minute. Winger Hassan cut in off the left flank and found the bottom corner despite a desperate attempted block by defender Luca Cocoracchio.

Whites had the next chance in front of a massive crowd of 2,732. Baptiste saw his long-range effort crash against the post with Giddens beaten after Baptiste had cut off the left wing.

Jake Leberl’s men did go 2-1 ahead on the half-hour mark, though, through a stunning long-range strike by Pont.

Baptiste did well to deliver a right-wing cross and the danger looked to have been cleared, only for the ex-Herne Bay midfielder to thrash a 30-yard effort past a stranded Giddens for his second goal of the season.

But just two minutes later, Hashtag should have levelled again when forward Aromolaran nodded wide right-back Jermaine Anderson’s delivery when he should have at least hit the target.

The away side were forced into a first-half switch, which saw the injured Joe Christou replaced by former Dartford midfielder Cornhill.

Whites then established a two-goal cushion on the stroke of half-time. Top scorer Nikaj fired the ball beyond Giddens from the right and Baptiste scrambled into the vacant net to make it 3-1 at the break.

Four minutes after the restart, the Essex outfit could have pulled one back after a short-corner routine, only for Aromolaran to fail to hit the target, before Walker saved smartly from midfielder Darren Foxley.

Dover continued to struggle to get going in the second period and were indebted to a couple of saves by keeper Walker shortly ahead of the hour mark.

As Hashtag kept pushing for one back, Walker got down low to thwart Cornhill after he got on the end of a 69th-minute free-kick and did likewise from skipper Harry Haysom’s header following a corner, six minutes later.

Home forward Ruben Soares-Junior threatened with a shot which hit the side-netting.

But the hosts did round off their win with six minutes to play in emphatic fashion. Nikaj cut inside off the right flank and blasted into the top corner via the crossbar for his 12th goal in 14 games - Dover’s 33rd goal from 11 league fixtures this term.

That meant the points had been secured by Dover, although Cornhill did head past Walker to get Hashtag a stoppage-time consolation.

Whites manager Leberl named an unchanged starting line-up for an impressive seventh successive match.

Hashtag United, sitting just outside the Isthmian Premier relegation zone, had Aromolaran - most famous for appearing on reality TV show Love Island - leading the line.

The visitors’ side also included vastly-experienced keeper Giddens for the first meeting between the teams.

The match attracted Dover’s biggest crowd since a 1-0 National League loss to AFC Fylde in November 2017.

Whites are at home to promotion-chasing Isthmian South East side Sittingbourne in the FA Trophy first round next weekend.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Sesay, Tennent, Cocoracchio (Gyebi 90mins), Baptiste, (E.Amgbaduba 69mins) Matthews, Nikaj (Mampolo 88mins), Soares-Junior, Pont (T.Amgbaduba 88mins), Wilkinson (Young 85mins).

Hashtag United: Giddens, Smith, Olukoga, Haysom, Hassan (Rusoke 88mins), Day (Carvalho 65mins), Christou (Cornhill 40mins), Aromolaran, Anderson (Restrepo 76mins), Gordon, Foxley. Sub not used: Wooldridge.

Referee: Simon Cutler.

Attendance: 2,732.