After a week of turmoil at the Hoverspeed Stadium, which began with an injury time equaliser for Harrow Borough in their last game it turned full circle with impressive midfielder Dean Palmer flicking home in the 92nd minute to give Steve Browne's side a point in their battle to avoid the drop as the off field matters were forgotten for 90 minutes.
A sickness bug around the club saw Craig Wilkins and Lee Shearer missing, which saw Markus Sawyerr become the 14th new signing since the arrival of Browne who was brought in on a trial basis after previously appearing for Team Bath.
He occupied a wide left role as they lined up in the bosses favoured 4-4-2 formation for the first time with Matt Carruthers restored to right midfield with youngster Sam Vallance at right back and they looked a solid if unspectacular outfit for the opening 45 minutes, but lacked a real ball winner against a Leyton side who constantly picked up the loose balls in midfield.
They did create the best openings in the first period with Paul Armstrong once again impressive with his movement, he could have had a hat-trick with his strike on sight policy seeing him blaze wide after a good opening and then with the best move of the first half head Carruthers' cross inches over the bar after slipping his marker.
Leyton were not to be denied and despite seeing both of their strikers substituted before halftime played some fluid football but lacked any cutting edge with Dominic Jean Zepharin controlling his area excellently and dealing with everything that came his way.
The strike of luck that Dover needed came on the stroke of half time when the subdued Stuart Maynard found the previously anonymous Sawyerr who with his first real run at the defence raced past his marker and his cross come shot looped over poorly positioned Leyton keeper James Hassell to give Dover the lead their industry deserved.
The second period began well with Armstrong once again snatching at a half chance, while Craig Cloke was inches away with a 20-yard free kick that whistled past the post.
However, as in previous games the stepping off of the visitors came back to haunt Dover as Leyton particularly down the right hand side caused problems with their pace and movement with James Howes driving wide with his final piece of action before being substituted, while his replacement Michael Deane almost had a dream start when he dribbled past Vallance but pulled his shot into the side netting.
The introduction of Shaun Welford for Dean Readings allowed a switch to 3-5-2 formation and also the bonus of having an outlet for the pressurised defence whose clearance were becoming more and more panicky as the visitors sensed a way back into the game.
The former Corinthians man was immediately in the action muscling off his marker and crossing to Armstrong who continued his off game in front of goal by wasting his opportunity before he repaid the favour after a superb pass from Palmer saw him beat the offside trap but instead of going for goal himself he crossed for Welford who could not reach the inviting cross and with the goal gaping the chance was lost.
This proved the catalyst for Leyton to sense that they could get something from the game and they were level in the 81st minute when Cloke was adjudged to have tripped Scott Curley - who seemed to go down easily - just inches inside the box and Leli Baseda sent Jean Zepharin the wrong way with his spot kick.
Their seemed only side who looked likely to win it and with three minutes remaining it looked as though the East London visitors would be taking the points when the Dover defence was caught square and sub George Gregoriou took advantage of the opening and slotted the ball home after Jean Zepharin was hopelessly caught out of position after being caught in two minds.
There, however, was to be another twist in the tail in the game that was pretty tame for the opening 80 minutes but came to life as tempers frayed when as the clock showed 92 minutes, Palmer who had virtually run the Dover midfield in the final quarter back as the rest went missing flicked a Maynard corner into the net after a scramble to give Dover a lifeline.
The drama was still not over as referee Gary Johnson - who had a poor game due to his lack of letting the game flow - played 9 minutes of injury time, which saw Welford deflect a clearance onto the top of the cross bar and deny Dover a penalty as Cloke was pushed to the ground as he waited for a throw but after consultation with his linesman he only gave a booking much to the dismay of an excitable Dover end crowd.
A victory for Saturday visitors and old rivals Wealdstone on the evening still leave the Whites with a mountain to climb on the pitch as well (eight points inside the drop zone) as off it but progress has been made in the time the new regime has been in charge, but now is the time to turn those performances into results before it is too late.
Dover Express Man of the Match: Dean Palmer - 110% Effort and deserved his match saving goal.
Dover Athletic: Zepherin, Vallance, Cloke, Palmer, Readings (Welford 72), Braithwaite, Carruthers, Maynard, Sawyerr Renner, Armstrong. Subs: Skelton, Gregory, Rogers.P (Gk)
