A poor first-half performance ensured Dover lost their opening-day National League South match at home against fellow newly-promoted side AFC Totton on Saturday.

Goals from Christos Batzelis, Brandon Haunstrup and Ralph Vigrass left last campaign’s Isthmian Premier play-off victors chasing the game.

Whites did get two back through striker George Nikaj, the second coming in injury time to set up a grandstand finish, but it finished 3-2 to the visitors.

The Hampshire team, who had gone up themselves through the Southern League Premier Division South play-offs last season, had started brightly and took a deserved lead on a glorious afternoon.

Left-sided player Batzelis drilled a 12th-minute effort past blind-sided Dover keeper and captain Mitch Walker from defender Tyler Cordner’s lay-off after centre-back Joe Tennent failed to get enough on an attempted headed clearance.

Midway through the half, away skipper Scott Rendell found space, only to drill inches wide of Walker’s right-hand post in front of a crowd of 759 at Crabble.

Dover finally threatened for the first time as York City loanee Cordner intervened to clear midfielder Alfie Matthews’ effort.

But AFC Totton doubled their advantage. Haunstrup came forward and thundered his powerful drive beyond a helpless Walker to find the top corner shortly before the half-hour mark.

Soon after, Whites left-back Fuad Sesay sent a shot whistling wide of keeper Ryan Gosney’s right-hand post, Matthews’ free-kick having been half-cleared.

Jimmy Ball’s team had the opportunity to effectively seal the points with 38 minutes played but Walker used his feet to deny forward Tony Lee, who had broken through.

Dover midfielder Ryan Hanson then couldn’t get enough power on a header from a long throw by Roman Charles-Cook to seriously test Gosney.

But it got even worse for Jake Leberl’s men before half-time.

Goalkeeper Walker and defender Jacob Mensah got in each other’s way, attempting to clear Haunstrup’s left-wing delivery. That left teenager Vigrass with a simple finish which just summed up a nightmare opening 45 minutes for Whites.

Nine minutes after the restart, local Dover lad Hanson was forced to hobble off with a knee problem and was replaced by George Wilkinson.

It could have got even better for the away team midway through the second half, only for substitute Luke Bennett to blaze over when he should have done better.

Whites finally gave their fans something to shout about with 16 minutes to play, though, as Nikaj converted from close range after substitute Francis Mampolo had beaten several players and crossed from the left.

Nikaj again netted for rapidly-improving Dover in the fourth minute of seven of stoppage time to set up a grandstand finish, heading home after good work by Charles-Cook and substitute Decarrey Sheriff on the right wing.

There was still time for the forward to attempt to complete his hat-trick but his long-range effort was gathered by Gosney.

Gosney was again in the action at the very death, going down under a challenge from Sheriff, who nodded over Matthews’ right-wing cross as AFC Totton held on.

The hosts’ boss, Leberl, had named an unchanged starting line-up from the side that won last campaign’s Isthmian Premier play-off final 2-0 at Kent rivals Dartford.

That meant No.1 Walker was fit enough to return from a knee injury, replacing Jordan Gillmore between the sticks, while summer signing defender Harry Beadle was suspended.

Among the visitors’ team were midfielder Craig Tanner and defender Cordner, both formerly of Ebbsfleet, and ex-Gillingham defender Ryan Jackson, who played for the Gills between 2015 and 2017 and 2020 and 2022.

Whites’ first away match of the season sees them visit Bath next weekend.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Charles-Cook, Mensah, Tennent (Jones 75mins), Sesay (Coker 94mins), Cocoracchio (Sheriff 78mins), Hanson (Wilkinson 54mins), Matthews, Soares-Junior, Nikaj, Baptiste (Mampolo 66mins). Subs not used: Lukombo, Gillmore.

AFC Totton: Gosney, Oastler, Haunstrup (Bennett 66mins, Hallett 83mins)), Rendell, Lee (Linton 66mins), Ward, Jackson, Batzelis, Vigrass (Kasimu 78mins), Cordner, Tanner. Subs not used: Evans, Rose, Martin.

Referee: Matthew Norton.

Attendance: 759.