DOVER Athletic slumped to seventh in Blue Square South - their lowest position since the first day of the season - following Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with mid-table Maidenhead at Perrys Crabble.

Andy Hessenthaler's side failed to build on a dream start after Adam Birchall fired them in front after only two minutes.

Collins levelled for the visitors six minutes into the second period and Whites failed to take hold of the game to force the win they needed to revitalise their play-offs challenge.

But perhaps on a day of big, surprise away wins, Dover might even be happy with a point.

One-time loanee at Crabble, Andy Pugh, scored a hat-trick as Welling hammered Woking 5-0 at Kingfield while Eastleigh were thrashed 8-2 at home by Thurrock in a truly astonishing result.

Elsewhere, however, runaway leaders Newport County ran away even further as their 4-0 victory over Hampton and Richmond at The Beveree took them 18 points clear at the top.

For all the best Dover Athletic news and views read Mark Winter in the Dover Express every Thursday.