Hessenthaler's Dover were in Ryman One South last year
Dover manager Andy Hessenthlaer says his side's first back-to-back defeats in the league for more than two years has capped his worst week at the club.
Their 2-0 defeat by Blue Square South promotion rivals Woking came just days after they lost to Basingstoke, and were knocked out the FA Cup by Bromley.
"It's been a poor week for us - the poorest week we've ever had at Dover," Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent.
"But these things happen and you have to deal with them."
He added: "I've been in this situation before where it's been tough for a few weeks, certainly at Gillingham and as a player at Watford I had some real rough times, so it's not new to me.
Hopefully it'll be a bit of a reality check for everybody at the club
Andy Hessenthaler
"It's where you've got to show your character as players, a manager and staff, but it's not the end of the world."
Hessenthaler's side are bidding for their third promotion in three years, and are currently second in the league, but the Whites boss hopes that their recent poor run will quell expectation.
He said: "Hopefully it'll be a bit of a reality check for everybody at the club.
"We've just come out of the Ryman Premier League, Woking have just come out of the Conference.
"They're still full-time, their budget's double our budget and that showed on the night.
I think Woking are without the best side we've played this season. You can see they're a full-time outfit and for me, they'll win the league
Andy Hessenthaler
"This is the first time we've had back-to-back losses in the league for two and a bit years. That's a credit to the players really and what they've achieved to be able to do that.
"We've got to look at the bigger picture, we're still second in the league, we're having a little bit of a spell, and we've got quite a few injuries.
"It's quite an open league but I think Woking are without the best side we've played this season.
"You can see they're a full-time outfit and for me, they'll win the league. If they can keep that up, it'll be very hard to beat them. "
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