Dover failed to build on their first victory of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by in-form Southend in the National League on Saturday.

Ex-Dartford midfielder Noor Husin’s second-half strike for Southend proved to be the difference between the sides, with Whites unlucky not to take something out of the game as Koby Arthur hit the post, minutes after the match's solitary goal.

The substantial away contingent had appeals for a penalty dismissed with three minutes played when Harry Cardwell and Jake Goodman collided but their appeals were waved away by referee Ryan Atkin.

Dover’s first opportunity, on the back of their long-awaited 1-0 victory against Eastleigh on Tuesday, came in the 18th minute at Crabble in front of a 2,657-strong crowd - swelled by nearly 2,000 Southend fans.

Harry Ransom got on the end of an Arthur corner, only for the ball to deflect off a Southend defender and eventually away to safety.

Nine minutes later, left-back Sam Wood, back on the field after having had treatment on a head injury, fed forward Michael Gyasi who drilled wide on his first Dover start.

With 35 minutes played, there was a clash of heads between Whites midfielder Ryan Hanson and Cardwell which led to a break in play. But both returned to the pitch after treatment.

Clifford’s corners were causing the hosts problems and Dover goalkeeper Adam Parkes was called into action in the 43rd minute to deny Husin from one of Clifford's set-pieces as the Shrimpers made it six league games unbeaten.

On the stroke of half-time, the visitors again threatened. Will Atkinson found Southend’s Norwich loan midfielder Matt Dennis who shot narrowly wide of Parkes’ right-hand post.

But the match remained goalless at the interval, with recent arrivals Gyasi and Arjanit Krasniqi - signed on Friday - showing some promising signs on their first starts for Andy Hessenthaler’s team while full-back Myles Judd also put in an assured performance.

New Southend signing Callum Powell came on at half-time, replacing Cardwell, while Dover-born Hanson returned after the break with a bandage around his head.

Three minutes into the second period, Gyasi did superbly to make space for himself inside the away box, only to blaze well over from a matter of yards out.

There was another stoppage in play just before the hour mark when Southend’s Nathan Ralph and Whites playmaker Arthur collided, albeit both were fit to continue.

Midway through the half, Arnold made a comfortable save after Alfie Pavey had met Arthur’s free-kick.

But the Shrimpers broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Husin found the net for his first goal for the club after Clifford’s corner had caused problems, with Hanson having initially cleared off the line.

Three minutes later, the home team came so close to a leveller, only for Arthur’s effort to strike the post and roll across the face of goal, with Arnold well beaten.

Dover pushed for a leveller, although they struggled to make clear-cut opportunities and, in fact, Powell went close at the other end with a minute of normal time to go.

In the final seconds, Sam Dalby nearly added a second but a combination of Ransom and Hanson cleared the danger for the home team.

Bottom side Dover made three changes to their starting line-up.

Krasniqi, who has played for Kosovo at youth level, came in alongside fellow recent addition Gyasi, while captain Wood also came in.

Defender Seth Twumasi dropped to the bench, as did Academy midfielder George Wilkinson and Khale Da Costa who both came on in the latter stages.

The Shrimpers made two changes, with skipper Jason Demetriou and Dennis coming in. New signing Powell was named on the bench for them.

Southend boss Kevin Maher’s starting line-up also included ex-Dover goalkeeper Arnold and Husin, who has made two league starts and one substitute appearance since moving from Dartford earlier this month for an undisclosed fee.

Dover: Parkes, Wood (Wilkinson 84mins), Goodman, Ransom, Woods, Arthur, Hanson, Pavey, Judd, Ghasi (Da Costa 84mins), Krasniqi. Subs not used: Andre, Twumasi, Moses.

Southend: Arnold, Ralph, Hobson, Dalby, Clifford, Atkinson, Lopata, Demetriou, Dennis (Ferguson 84mins), Husin, Cardwell (Powell 46mins). Subs not used: Andeng Ndi, Davies, Kensdale.

Referee: Ryan Atkin

Attendance: 2,657 (1,935 away fans)