Dover endured a miserable afternoon in Blue Square Bet South, slumping to a 4-2 defeat at Boreham Wood as manager Nicky Forster saw his side lose in the league for the first time.

Whites actually went ahead inside four minutes when Donovan Simmonds strode forward and crossed for Harry Baker (pictured) to finish superbly high into the net.

However they were pegged back inside two minutes when Tom Wynter's mis-control allowed Wood striker Micheal Thalassitis a clear run on Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz's goal and he made no mistake.

The game turned on its head on 12 minutes when some slack Dover defending allowed the hosts to swing in a cross which was converted at the back post by former Thurrock striker David Bryant to leave Dover trailing.

Whites looked shell-shocked but were handed a lifeline on 20 minutes when Wood skipper Luke Wilkinson was sent-off for a professional foul after pulling back James Walker, who would have been clean through.

Dover took a while to impose themselves on the game and Barry Cogan's low drive, easily held by the keeper, was their only chance before the break and seconds before the half-time whistle the hosts broke from a Dover corner, wasted by Phil Starkey, and Thalassitis rounded Jamiez-Ruiz to make it 3-1.

After the break Dover's frustration grew and their misery was compounded when the hosts made it 4-1 on 58 minutes, Agustin Battipiedi's wayward pass across his own goal handing Thalassitis the chance to complete his hat-trick.

Battipiedi was subsituted almost immediately and nine minutes later Dover were given the chance to reduce the deficit from the spot, Walker converting after Glen Southam was tripped.

Dover felt they should have had at least one more spot-kick but in the end they were made to pay for four moments of defensive madness in an otherwise decent performance and slipped down one place to sixth.

What did you make of Dover's defeat at Boreham Wood? Have your say in the comments section below.