Latrell Humphrey-Ewers netted his first senior goal for the Hoops, after which Olly Sanderson, Zac McEachran both netted, with second-half substitute Klaidi Lolos grabbing a late brace.

Headlining the squad changes was the arrival of emergency goalkeeper loanee Chris Haigh from Ebbsfleet United, following Adnan Kanuric’s injury picked up on Monday’s game against Chelmsford City. He was one of two changes to the team that also saw Humphrey-Ewers replace Alfie Potter.

The Hoops had something of a slow start to the match, with the hosts taking control of the match early on. They were rewarded for their bright start as they took the lead after just five minutes.

Alfie Paxman was rewarded with plenty of space in the centre of midfield, and opted to shoot from range. With swerve on the ball, Haigh was only able to parry out in front, where Joshua Ajayi reacted quickest to slot home.

The early set-back was enough to really fire the Hoops up, who quickly got themselves into the match.

The Hoops may have been level after 12 minutes when a fierce McEachran strike from the edge of the box narrowly flew the wrong side of the post.

City continued to get closer as Reece Fleet forced former Hoops keeper Stuart Nelson into a good save to tip a shot around the bar – the first of several excellent saves he’d pull off in the match.

The ever increasing threat to the Dover goal did eventually reap rewards for City, with the leveller arriving in the 18^th minute.

A corner was delivered into the box, but only cleared as far as Humphrey-Ewers on the edge of the area. With the composure of someone playing the game for years, he stopped the ball dead before poking through a sea of bodies, leaving Nelson with no chance as it nestled in the net.

From that point onwards, City were always on the front foot, looking to take the lead for the first time. This nearly arrived three minutes later as a cross found Aaron Williams-Bushell, who was unable to bury as he cut back to shoot.

But the Hoops didn’t have to wait much longer. Just after the half-hour, a perfectly played ball from McEachran set Olly Sanderson one-on-one with Nelson, the striker not needing a second invitation in poking past the stopper and give the Hoops the lead.

It may even have been three before the break as Lewis Coyle got into the box to shoot, however he saw his shot cannon off the bar.

City were certainly in no mood to have a slow start to the second half as well, as they extended their lead just 60 seconds in. After winning a corner, the Dover defence was caught napping as Ashby played short to McEachran, who turned and drilled across Nelson and into the net.

There was nearly a goal of the season contender moments after, as a clearance from Nelson saw the keeper well out his box, with Ashby taking the effort on from the half-way line, but agonisingly dropped just wide of the post.

Dover, however, were certainly not out of it, and still created some dangerous chances. Chris Haigh proved his worth to City just five minutes later as Ajayi went one-on-one with him, City’s stopper making himself big to block the resulting shot, to keep City’s lead intact.

But Nelson did not want to be outdone, as he made a fine save of his own as McEachran tried to flick a cross into the net, but the Dover keeper got himself in the way to keep his side just about in it.

George Nikaj wasted a golden opportunity to halve the deficit as he was another player to go one-on-one, however wastefully shot wide of the post.

Klaidi Lolos’s introduction saw City become dangerous, and Lolos nearly scored within moments of his introduction as Nelson once again was forced to push behind for a corner. But a clearance was headed back into the box, with Lewis Miccio reacting quickest as the centre-back played across for Lolos, who buried his effort this time around.

McEachran nearly made it five moments later as he curled an effort towards the top corner, but was met by a stunning save from Nelson to push over the bar.

City would earn a 90^th minute penalty when Lolos burst into the box, and was then felled by Nelson, with the referee pointing to the spot. The striker stepped up himself to send Nelson the wrong way to grab his second.

The Hoops had one further attack in them, with Joe Wilson bursting down the left, before cutting in and curling a shot at the far post, once again Nelson sprung across his goal to pull off another stunning goal and deny the youngster his first City goal.

The result was enough to guarantee City’s spot inside the top 7, and at least involvement in the play-offs, however the battle is certainly not over with a coveted place in the top three still very much a fierce battle.

Next up is City’s last home game of the season with Havant & Waterlooville visiting Oxfordshire for the Family Fun Day! Kick-off at 3pm.

Oxford City: Haigh, Miccio (Wilson 86), Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran (Davies 82), Sanderson (Lolos 76), Williams-Bushell, Carroll, Humphrey-Ewers. Unused: Iaciofano, Harrison.