DOVER rose into the playoff places in spectacular fashion after a sumptuous footballing display at Gander Green Lane. Ricky Miller, Moses Emmanuel and Ross Lafayette were on the scoresheet as Dover recorded a comfortable victory against ten-man Sutton United.

Whites remained unchanged from Saturday’s abandoned match at Macclesfield. For the home side, Kevin Amankwaah, Simon Downer, Nicky Bailey, Craig Eastmond, Roarie Deacon and Maxime Biamou all dropped out from their win over Aldershot, presumably with the FA Cup second round clash with Cheltenham in mind. Dean Beckwith, Herson Alves, Ben Jefford, Adam May, Craig Dundas and Craig Mcallister all started instead.

Ricky Miller had Whites off to the perfect start with a bullet header from a deep cross from Sam Magri. Initially, it looked like the ball would evade everyone, but the league’s top scorer used his predatory instincts to bag his 20th of the campaign.

Sutton went for an instant reply and an almighty scramble from a corner almost resulted in an equaliser. Steve Arnold somehow blocked the ball before any attackers could flick the ball in. Dover’s defence then cleared the danger.

Sutton were down to ten men on 23 minutes as Dean Beckwith was given his marching orders for a deliberate elbow as he challenged for the ball in White’s area.

Emmanuel found himself one on one with the keeper but his drive from an angle was well blocked,

Arnold did well to preserve Dover’s lead with a smart save to push Dundas volley around the post.

Emmanuel doubled the away lead on 33 minutes, collecting Richard Orlu’s header to race clear and cooly slot home.

It was three to the good moments later. Sutton, unable to cope with Miller’s strength, only cleared the ball to Lafayette who volleyed home.

Arnold then made a smart double stop to deny Dundas and Martin, before Emmanuel made the game safe, beating the offside trap and slotting home.

It was a hat trick for Moses on 53, as he beat both defender and keeper in a race for the ball and deftly finished from outside corner of the box.

He almost had a fourth, but Worner brilliantly blocked his fierce shot from inside the area.

It was six on 73 minutes, Miller leaving the right back for dead before cutting inside and smashing low past the keeper.

Dover’s biggest win of the season sees them leapfrog Dagenham and Redbridge into fifth, who ironically Athletic face on Saturday at Crabble in a 3 pm kick off.