Dover progressed to the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a comfortable but narrow victory over local rivals Margate at Crabble.

Following the weekend disaster at Woking, Bill Williams gave his first team players a chance to redeem themselves by fielding a strong side in match that might in different circumstances have prompted some experimentation. There were three changes from Saturday's team. Paul Hyde was out with a suspected fractured arm and Joff Vansittart was also injured. Kevin Hudson replaced Hyde in goal, for his first game of the season and Steve Brown, reportedly a Margate transfer target, wore the number nine shirt. Colin Pluck was relegated to the bench as Jake Leberl started his first game since October. Stuart Munday, who was suspended on Saturday, was also absent. Margate started without forward Leon Braithwaite or ex-Dover players Iain O'Connell and Paul O'Brien.

The game started even with half-chances for both sides. Jimmy Strouts headed over for Dover early on and Hockton planted a thumping header just wide of the post. At the other end Collins forced an excellent save from Hudson. Steve Brown narrowly failed to connect with a left wing cross late in the first period after excellent work from Neil Le Bihan and Steve Norman.

Dover began to dominate in the second half and Kevin Hudson was largely untroubled. Steve Brown, though lacking sharpness, showed his undoubted class with some inventive forward play and clever running whilst Steve Norman and Neil Le Bihan combined well on the left to cause a number of problems for Margate.

Transfer-listed forward Steve Brown was withdrawn from the action after 70 minutes and walked straight to the changing rooms waving to the fans, suggesting that it could have been the last time he'll be seen in a Dover shirt.

Athletic took the lead on 75 minutes when Le Bihan's incisive pass found Norman overlapping on the left and the much sought-after wing-back finished well from a tight angle, finding the back of the net via the inside of the post for his first goal of the season.

Dover's lead was short-lived however as Phil Collins equalised two minutes later with a header from a left-wing corner. Neither side could force a winner in the final 13 minutes and so the game went into extra-time.

With penalties looming Dover snatched victory with a somewhat bizarre goal. Steve Norman, out of position on the right, delivered a 45-yard cross into the area and as Matt Carruthers, the goalkeeper and a defender all converged on the ball it seemed to elude all of them, except for a slight deflection, and rolled tamely into the net. The goal was initially credited to Norman but was claimed by Carruthers who apparently got a slight touch on the ball.

The victory marked the end of over a year without a win in any cup competition for Dover and puts them into the semi-finals. Folkestone Invicta are also in the hat but the other two semi-finalists are still to be decided with Gravesend and Welling and Bromley and Dartford still to play.