Category: First Team News

PREVIEW: BOREHAM WOOD VS WHITES

Dover will be looking to get back in the play-off places when we head to Hertfordshire to play Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side had no game last Saturday due to Tranmere’s FA Trophy involvement and dropped a place from fifth to sixth after Gateshead won 2-0 at Wrexham.

Whites, who will start Tuesday’s game one point behind Gateshead but with a game in hand, will also want to end a two-game losing streak against Boreham Wood, which includes a 3-0 defeat at Meadow Park in the corresponding game last March.

Boreham Wood made it two-from-two against Dover earlier this season after they came from 1-0 down at half-time to win 4-1 at Crabble in the first home game of the campaign.

Ricky Miller gave Whites the lead from the penalty spot (pictured above) before the striker was sent off for a second yellow four minutes after the break.

Wood took full advantage of having the extra man by scoring three times in seven minutes before adding the fourth 13 minutes from time to complete a miserable night for Kinnear’s side.

BOREHAM WOOD’S RECENT FORM

The Wood are currently 14th on the National League ladder after the 0-0 draw at Woking last Saturday.

They also drew their previous home game 0-0 against Bromley, four days after a 2-1 defeat at Sutton United.

RECENT MEETING

09/08/16: Dover Athletic 1-4 Boreham Wood

HITMEN

Whites’ leading scorer in the National League this season is Miller with 30, but he will miss the game through suspension.

Moses Emmanuel (11) and Ross Lafayette (10) are also in double figures in the league.

Boreham Wood’s leading man with 10 league goals is Morgan Ferrier.

DOVER TEAM NEWS

Dover will be without Miller while Hartlepool midfielder Nicky Deverdics has returned to his parent club after his month-long loan.

Assistant boss Jake Leberl said on Monday that defender Richard Orlu (knee) is the only injury concern.

DOVER COLOURS

For Dover fans wanting to show their colours at Boreham Wood by wearing the matching shirts as the players, captain Jamie Grimes and his team-mates will be wearing their blue shirts.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 7.45pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

TUESDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Macclesfield Town v Gateshead

Sutton United v Forest Green Rovers

Torquay United v Tranmere Rovers

AWAY TRAVEL

There will be a Supporters Club coach heading to Tuesday’s game and it’s not too late to get on it.

It leaves Crabble at 4.15pm and the cost is:

Adults Members £15, Adult Non Members £30 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

Please call or text Andy Fisher on 0793 4300335 to book your seat.

Please note that you are now required to pay for your seat in advance in cash or by cheque or via bank transfer.

Visit http://www.dasc.co.uk/ for all the details.

DEVERDICS RETURNS TO HARTLEPOOL

Nicky Deverdics’ loan spell with Dover has come to an end.

The midfielder has been recalled by injury-hit Hartlepool United and is in their squad for Saturday’s League Two clash at Notts County.

The 29-year old Geordie, who spent two seasons at Crabble before joining Pools last summer, played in five National League games during his month with Whites, helping boss Chris Kinnear’s side win two of them.

Two others ended in draws while the other ended with a 1-0 defeat at Woking.

Pools boss Dave Jones told the Hartlepool Mail: “I’ve called Nicky back, we are short of senior players, losing Kav (Sean Kavanagh) and everything else.

“It’s been good for Nicky, he had to go out and play games and he’s done well.

“Dover wanted to keep him but I’ve had to drag him back. That tells you he’s back in the squad, I wouldn’t pull him back if he wasn’t.”

With Deverdics heading back north, that will now give James Caton and James Hurst an opportunity to fill the void.

Dover are next in action at Boreham Wood on Tuesday (7.45pm).

FIXTURE NEWS

We can now confirm that our home National League games against Bromley and Macclesfield Town have now been rescheduled.

Bromley’s visit to Crabble, originally scheduled for 7.45pm on Tuesday 21st March, has been moved to Saturday 18th March at 3pm.

Macclesfield’s continued progress in the FA Trophy sees our game with the Silkmen now rearranged for Tuesday 25th April at 7.45pm.

GOALSCORER CATON TAKES HIS CHANCE

James Caton talks goals, accents and reveals who he supports after scoring in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup semi-final win against Folkestone Invicta at Crabble on Monday.

WHITES REACH CUP FINAL

Goals from Moses Emmanuel, Bondz N’Gala (pictured)and James Caton sealed Dover’s place in the final of the Kent Reliance Senior Cup.

LADIES NIGHT ON CUP NIGHT

We host Folkestone Invicta in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup semi-final at Crabble tonight and there will be an added incentive for female fans attending the game.

As part of the celebrations for International Women’s Day on March 8th, the club has donated a Dover shirt and all ladies attending the game will get a ticket entering them into the half-time draw to win it.

Whites reached this stage of the competition after beating visiting Ryman League North side VCD Athletic 4-0 earlier this month.

James Caton, Moses Emmanuel, Connor Essam and Ira Jackson jnr scored the goals.

The club have reduced the admission price for the game down to just £5 for all, while under-11s get into Crabble for free, to allow as many fans and members of the community as possible to come along.

The game kicks-off at 7.45pm.

REACTION: DOVER ATHLETIC 0-0 SOLIHULL MOORS

Dover boss Chris Kinnear gives his reaction after the National League draw with Solihull Moors at Crabble.

WHITES SIGN ESSUMAN

George Essuman played against us this year – now he’s going to play for us.

The centre-back has joined from Ryman League North side VCD Athletic on a two-year contract.

Essuman, whose previous clubs include Norwich City, West Ham United and Sheffield Wednesday, played for VCD in their 4-0 defeat in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup at Crabble last month.

A powerful, ball playing defender, Essuman’s career started at Hemel Hempstead Town.

It was while he was with Town, he played for Norwich City’s Under-18s against Aston Villa in 2013, a game the Canaries won 1-0.

He later played for Leverstock Green and London Colney before joining Waltham Forest in February 2014.

In August 2016, he signed for Ryman League side Maldon & Tiptree United from Ware.

He then spent time with Grays Athletic before joining VCD Athletic in January 2017.

Welcome to Crabble George!!

WHITES DRAW BLANK AT CRABBLE

PREVIEW: WHITES VS SOLIHULL MOORS

An opportunity to secure a National League double and remain in the race for the play-offs is on the line at Crabble on Saturday when Solihull Moors come calling.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side remained fifth, despite losing 1-0 at Woking on Tuesday, and need to get back to winning ways to stay in the hunt for promotion.

Whites have already beaten the National League newcomers this season after Ricky Miller (pictured above in action at Solihull) scored a stunning second half hat-trick to inspire a 10-man Dover to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-2 win last November.

Dover had lost Jack Parkinson to a straight red in the 26th minute after he slipped while last man and made a tap tackle on striker Andy Brown as he raced towards goal.

Liam McDonald took over as Solihull boss a couple of day’s after the defeat against Whites and he is well aware of the threat that Dover will pose in the return match.

Speaking to the Solihull club website, McDonald said: “Like all games, we study the opposition to arrive at a game plan for the particular match. Of course we know of the ability of Ricky Miller and we have to be 100% aware of exactly where he is on the pitch at any time, but really that applies to the whole Dover team!

“They are high in the league because of the team effort and it is a very good side. Miller will inevitably receive most of the plaudits, but so should the defence and midfield.

“It is they who supply the passes to him and get the team their clean sheets.

“So we will not specifically target any one individual in out tactical approach. It will be a tight game and we need to make sure that Ricky Miller does not make the difference.”

McDonald is looking forward to the trip.

He said: “There should be a real atmosphere at Crabble this weekend and my players will enjoy it. For me personally it evokes a bit of nostalgia because that is where I made by debut for my first club, Worcester City, when I was 17 years old.

“We will be the under dogs this weekend, so I am sure the lads will rise to the occasion, particularly to put their last performance against Wrexham behind them.”

SOLIHULL MOORS RECENT FORM

The Moors are currently 15th on the National League ladder.

Their home clash against Torquay United on Tuesday was called off due to a waterlogged pitch while their previous game ended with a 1-0 defeat against visiting Wrexham last Saturday.

On their travels, Solihull won 1-0 at Bromley on their last venture away from the West Midlands on February 18.

Former Barnsley striker Harry White scored the all-important goal.

RECENT MEETING

12/11/16: Solihull Moors 2-3 Dover Athletic

HITMEN

Whites’ leading scorer in the National League this season is Ricky Miller with 30 following his hat-trick against Eastleigh at Crabble last Saturday.

Moses Emmanuel (11) and Ross Lafayette (10) are the other Dover players in double figures.

Solihull’s leading man with seven goals is Omari Sterling-James while former Barnsley striker Harry White has six to his name.

DOVER TEAM NEWS

Striker Tyrone Marsh (knee) is still not available while Parkinson joined Maidenhead United on loan earlier this week.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make it to Crabble, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Aldershot Town v Lincoln City

Barrow v Sutton United

Boreham Wood v Bromley

Braintree Town v Wrexham

Forest Green Rovers v Macclesfield Town

Gateshead v Dagenham & Redbridge

Maidstone United v Southport

North Ferriby United v Woking

Torquay United v Guiseley AFC

York City v Eastleigh