Dover Athletic won a tight encounter at a cold Camrose, leaving the hosts Basingstoke Town, fighting at the bottom of the table.
The goal that separated the two sides came early as after just 3 minutes, striker Ben May pounced when Stoke couldn't clear Daryl McMahon's free kick, poking in to the bottom left hand corner. Goal given, despite shouts of handball from the home defence.
It was almost 2-0 soon after as Billy Bricknell weaved his way past defenders Douglas Bergqvist and Robbie Rice before seeing his left footed drive beaten away by goalkeeper Ashley Bayes before being cleared.
The Dragons had their first real chance after 15 minutes when Shaun MacAuley let fly from 20 yeard but saw his effort well held by Mitch Walker in the Dover goal.
Tim Sills missed a guilt-edged chance ten minutes later; Walker dropping a high ball, Sills however smashed a shot embarrassingly over the bar.
The home side were getting on the ball more but had to be wary of a potential counter attack from their opponents - showcased when a May flick on sent Bricknell away. Fortunately for Stoke, 40 year-old Bayes was off his line quick enough to clear the danger.
Basingstoke had another chance on 34 minutes; firstly, MacAuley's shimmy helped the midfielder find space but his effort was once again straight at Walker.
On the stroke of half time, Sills' hook found his strike partner Delano Sam-Yorke whose shot was kept out by Walker, Jordace Holder-Spooner's follow up was blocked before another Sam-Yorke effort was quickly hacked away by Ian Simpemba.
HALF TIME: BASINGSTOKE 0-1 DOVER
The home side came out quickest for the second half and 5 minutes after the interval a Holder-Spooner cross from the right was on a plate for Sills who hit wide of the left-hand post.
After 53 minutes, a Jay Gasson back post header from an ouswinging corner was brilliantly kept out by Walker, keeping the score at 0-1.
Sills missed again after 64 minutes, his header whistling just wide from a Rice cross.
The visitors were struggling to get McMahon on the ball but had a chance to make the game safe on 70 minutes; Ricky Modeste's superb ball into the box flicked off the head of Gasson, Bayes reacting wonderfully to stick out a big right hand and flick away from danger.
A succession of substitutes soon ensued with Bricknell, McMahon and May made way for Jamie Smith, Dean Rance and Calum Willock respectively. Stoke bringing off Stuart Lake and Holder-Spooner for Callum McNish and Stefan Brown.
One final chance fell to the home side to find a last gasp equaliser as after a weaving run from Sam-Yorke, the big striker hit a fight footed shot only to see Walker keep the scores as they had been for the last 87 minutes.
BTFC: Bayes (c) Rice, Warner, Bergqvist, Gasson, Lake (McNish 81), Daly, MacAuley, Sills, Sam-Yorke, Holder-Spooner (Brown 86)
UN-USED: Nathan Campbell, Simon Dunn, Chris Paterson
DAFC: Walker, Sessegnon, Wynter, Thomson (c), Simpemba, Webb, Modeste, McMahon (Smith 76), May (Willock 86), Bricknell (Rance 76), Cogan
UN-USED: Shane Huke, Lee Hook
FULL TIME: BASINGSTOKE 0-1 DOVER
Dover rise to 7th, Basingstoke drop to 20th.
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