Joff Vansittart (above) and Danny Hockton caused a number of problems for the ineffective Rushden defence.

Dover Athletic moved back into the top half of the Conference with an excellent performance against title challengers Rushden & Diamonds, suitable revenge for the 4-0 defeat the Whites suffered in the corresponding fixture last season.

Brian Talbot has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds assembling his squad of full-time professionals. The side he fielded today had a combined price tag in the region of half a million pounds, with forward Justin Jackson and goalkeeper Billy Turley costing over £300,000 between them. In contrast, Bill Williams' team of part-timers were almost all free transfers, the Whites have only paid fees for two players in the last two seasons, one of whom was Danny Hockton, signed this week from Stevenage Borough for £7,500.

The mis-match in terms of resources was compounded for Athletic by the absence of five first team regulars, as the season-long injury crisis shows no sign of easing. Long-term casualties Jake Leberl and James Virgo are still both some way off a return to first team action, and they were joined on the sidelines by key defender Stuart Munday, right back Tony Browne and forward Steve Brown. With an entire back four out of action, Bill Williams looked to the transfer market to provide cover, bringing in 22-year-old former Watford defender Colin Pluck. The good news was that Dave Clarke was on the bench for the first time this season having been out since July with ruptured ankle ligaments. Midfielder Jimmy Strouts also returned to the side having served his one match suspension.

Dover continued with their three centre-back system, with Pluck filling in for Munday. With Tony Browne injured, Matt Carruthers was asked to play the unfamiliar position of right wing-back. Danny Chapman and Jimmy Strouts provided a solid central midfield with Neil Le Bihan providing the creativity. Danny Hockton partnered Joff Vansittart in attack.

Dover took the game to Rushden right from the first whistle. Debutant Danny Hockton beat two defenders and shot past Turley but the heavy goalmouth stopped the ball from going over the line.

There were a couple of scares in the Dover area, as Paul Hyde twice fumbled the ball. Firstly he failed to hold on to a cross and then minutes later he let a shot through his legs but the sand and mud in the goalmouth helped spare his blushes.

Rushden ought to have taken the lead on 19 minutes but Mark Peters shot over from six yards with only the keeper to beat.

The Whites caused several problems for Rushden on the break. Jimmy Strouts' curling shot from a tight angle beat Turley but also went just wide. Lee Shearer also came close with a couple of headers, both of which were saved by Turley, although not convincingly.

Just before the half hour Dover took the lead. Vansittart found himself in a wide position on the Dover left and beat his man to deliver a first class cross that Jimmy Strouts converted expertly with his head from six yards.

Dover looked good value for their lead and continued to pressure the visitors. The Whites doubled their advantage just before the half-time whistle when Danny Hockton beat Carey and Mustafa before firing a low shot past Turley.

Vansittart, Hockton and Strouts tore apart the visitors' back line.

Athletic fully deserved to be 2-0 up but they gave the opposition a way back into the match eight minutes into the second period. Pluck fouled Jackson in the area. A spot-kick was awarded and Underwood converted it, sending Hyde the wrong way.

Dover took a few minutes to regain their composure but they soon reasserted their hold on the game. Le Bihan came close to making it 3-1 on the hour with a spectacular 35-yard effort that flew over Turley, dipped and hit the bar.

The main talking point of this hugely entertaining match came on 69 minutes when Joff Vansittart was through on goal. Billy Turley came rushing out of his area and fouled the Dover striker just outside the box. Both Turley and Vansittart were injured by the collision and required lengthy treatment. Turley did not get back up again and was eventually stretchered off with what looked to be a serious injury. The referee however had no sympathy for the Rushden goalkeeper and showed him the red card for the foul as he was carried off. This forced Rushden to sacrifice defender Ray Warburton in order to bring on a replacement goalkeeper. That goalkeeper was none other than Andy Iga, a player who was signed on a non-contract basis by Dover last season and has since been on the books of several different clubs.

Dover secured the points eight minutes from time when Lee Shearer converted Steve Norman's corner for his fifth goal of the season.

The rout was completed on 87 minutes when Hockton collected the ball, advanced on goal and fired an unstoppable shot past Iga.

Before the game was over, there was just time for a brief cameo from Dave Clarke for the final minute of the match and the seven minutes of injury time.