Category: First Team News

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER VS WREXHAM

Andy Hessenthaler’s squad returns to National League action at home on Saturday when promotion-chasing Wrexham are the visitors at Crabble.

Whites continue to look for their first win of the season and while the seventh-placed Red Dragons will be hoping to close the gap on those ahead of them.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US?

You can read Wrexham’s preview of the game HERE

You can also see what their manager Phil Parkinson had to say ahead of the trip to Crabble HERE

TEAM NEWS

Defenders Seth Twumasi (knee), Reda Johnson (thigh), and Alex Green (ankle) are all still not available.

Forward Ben Williamson is back in the squad after missing the Yeovil game through injury.

Defender Danny Collinge also misses the game through suspension after picking up a yellow card at Yeovil.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for this game must be bought at the turnstile only. Both cash and card are accepted.

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s free with paying adult

PROGRAMME

You can buy your digital matchday magazine HERE

COVERAGE

If you are unable to make the game, which kicks-off at 3pm, BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Wales will both have commentaries available HERE

Unfortunately, due to a lack of staff, there will be no LiveText coverage on our Twitter account for this game.

SATURDAY’S NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES 

Aldershot Town vs Altrincham

Barnet vs Maidenhead United

Bromley vs Wealdstone

Dagenham & Redbridge vs Grimsby Town

Solihull Moors vs Woking

Weymouth vs Torquay United

STRIKER LEAVES CRABBLE

Dover Athletic Football Club can confirm that Ricky Miller has departed the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

The 32-year old striker returned to Crabble as Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s first summer signing in June 2021 after leaving fellow National League side Aldershot Town.

We would like to thank Ricky for his efforts whilst at the club and wish him all the very best in the future.

VIP Hospitality almost SOLD OUT!

We have limited availability remaining for the VIP Platinum Suite for our National League game against Wrexham on Saturday at Crabble, so don’t delay, book today!

To see the match from the best seats in the house and to enjoy a very special experience costs £28 per person.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay entry on the turnstile on the day.

The experience includes:

  • Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and projector showing the game

  • A three-course meal, served at your table

  • Reserved undercover premium padded seating

  • Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus dedicated paid bar before and after the match

  • Complimentary matchday team sheet

Arrival at the ground should be at 1pm and food will be served at 1.30pm.

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your passes please email [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373

We very much look forward to welcoming you to the suite soon.

FA TROPHY DRAW

Our Buildbase FA Trophy campaign begins with a Third Round tie against National League rivals Bromley at Crabble.

The tie will take place on Saturday, December 18th.

Winning clubs at this stage collect £4500 while the losing clubs collect £1250.

There are no replays at this stage, so if a match is drawn after 90 minutes, the winner shall be determined by a penalty shootout.

If a match is postponed, this must be rescheduled and played within the postponement window, on or before Thursday 23 December.

FULL DRAW

1 Boston United v Kidderminster Harriers
2 Matlock Town or Marske United v York City
3 Stockport County v Grimsby Town
4 Stourbridge v AFC Telford United
5 Morpeth Town v Liversedge or Lancaster City
6 Chesterfield v Ashton United or Guiseley
7 King’s Lynn Town v Whitby Town or Nantwich Town
8 Notts County v Altrincham
9 Farsley Celtic or Stalybridge Celtic v Southport or Darlington
10 Wrexham v Gloucester City
11 Bradford (Park Avenue) or Marine v FC Halifax Town
12 AFC Fylde v Solihull Moors
13 Curzon Ashton v Alfreton Town
14 Radcliffe v Spennymoor Town or Chorley
15 Eastleigh v Enfield Town
16 Cheshunt v Bishop’s Stortford
17 Aldershot Town v Kingstonian
18 Cray Wanderers v Dartford
19 Southend United v Dorking Wanderers
20 Larkhall Athletic v AFC Totton
21 St Albans City v Braintree Town
22 Dover Athletic v Bromley
23 Yeovil Town v Woking
24 Truro City v Dagenham & Redbridge
25 Slough Town v Eastbourne Borough
26 Barnet v Boreham Wood
27 Tonbridge Angels v Torquay United
28 Hungerford Town v Weymouth
29 Needham Market v Wealdstone
30 Folkestone Invicta v Uxbridge
31 Plymouth Parkway v Dulwich Hamlet
32 Maidenhead United v Maidstone United

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Manager Andy Hessenthaler speaks to BBC Radio Kent after the 1-1 National League draw at Yeovil Town.

Apologies for the audio … it was windy at Huish Park !!

MATCH PREVIEW: YEOVIL TOWN VS DOVER

Andy Hessenthaler and his squad head to Somerset today to play Yeovil Town in the Vanarama National League at 3pm.

Whites will hope to get their first win of the season while the hosts will be aiming to extend their impressive unbeaten run of form.

YEOVIL’S FORM GUIDE:

The Glovers are unbeaten in their past five National League games after wins at Bromley and Dagenham & Redbridge, and against Eastleigh and Woking at Huish Park.

They also drew 0-0 at Solihull Moors and are currently 13th.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US

Yeovil’s preview can be found HERE

TEAM NEWS

Ben Williamson (groin) and Alex Green (ankle) join Ricky Miller (calf), Seth Twumasi (knee), and Reda Johnson (thigh) on the injury list and all will miss the trip.

Williamson picked up his knock against Wealdstone while Carney got injured playing for the Academy this week.

Miller, who was running and doing some work at Crabble pre-Wealdstone on Tuesday, is back training with the squad but not ready for selection yet.

Defender Danny Collinge is back in the squad after missing the Wealdstone game through illness.

DOVER COLOURS

For travelling fans wanting to wear the same shirts as the players, we will be wearing our all-purple kit.

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, BBC Radio Somerset will be broadcasting live and the link is HERE

Unfortunately, due to a lack of staff, there will be no LiveText coverage on our Twitter account for this game.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets can be bought in advance HERE or at the turnstile.

SATURDAY’S NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Altrincham vs Southend United

Eastleigh vs Solihull Moors

Grimsby Town vs Boreham Wood

King’s Lynn Town vs Aldershot Town

Notts County vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Torquay United vs FC Halifax Town

Wealdstone vs Stockport County

Woking vs Barnet

Wrexham vs Bromley

ONE IN AND TWO OUT

Manager Andy Hessenthaler has today added to his goalkeeping options with the arrival of Alexis Andre Jr on a non-contract basis.

The 24-year-old Frenchman spent four years with Bristol Rovers, making his EFL debut for the Gas against Walsall in September 2017.

A product of the Nike Academy, Andre Jr, who will wear the number 44 shirt for us, recently made six appearances for Folkestone Invicta while incumbent Tim Roberts was injured.

Meanwhile, in other squad news.

Winger Marshall Wratten has today joined Isthmian South East side Faversham Town on a 90-day loan, while forward Matt Bentley, who arrived on a non-contract basis in September, has now left the club.

ALFIE IS BACK!

Dover Athletic is delighted to announce that striker Alfie Pavey has rejoined the club on loan from Maidstone United for a month.

The 26-year-old, who will wear the number 26 shirt, scored 12 goals in 38 appearances for us in his previous spell at Crabble after arriving from Havant & Waterlooville in November 2018.

He left Dover to sign for Barnet for an undisclosed fee in September 2019 before joining Maidstone in June 2021.

After spending his youth career with Maidstone, where he scored 300 goals in three years for the Stones’ academy and youth sides, Pavey earned a move to Championship side Millwall.

In his three years with the Lions, Pavey, who trained with his new teammates on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s National League clash at Yeovil Town, spent time on loan with Barnet, Bromley, Aldershot, Hampton and Richmond, and Dartford.

Following a brief spell with Welling United, Pavey returned to Dartford, scoring 28 goals in 38 matches and winning the National League South Player of the Season award.

He then joined promoted Havant & Waterlooville and scored four times in 19 appearances before making the move to Crabble.

Welcome back, Alfie !!

VIDEO: MATCH REACTION

Coach Nicky Southall spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 3-2 defeat against Wealdstone at Crabble.

MATCH REPORT: DOVER 2 – 3 WEALDSTONE

Despite coming from behind twice, Whites remain winless this season as they fell to defeat against Wealdstone on a cold night at Crabble.

Jayden Sweeney gave the visitors an early lead, but Harry Ransom levelled shortly after with his first goal of the season.

Joshua Umerah put The Stones back infront midway through the first half, but Henry Woods levelled for Whites with 25 minutes to go.

Moments later, the visitors took the lead for the third time as Sweeney got his second of the game.

The away side were ahead within five minutes through Sweeney when the defender found himself with the ball at the back post after a great cross from Rhys Browne. The defender had enough space to take a touch before firing it across Josh Bexon in the Dover goal.

Whites reacted well from going behind and were level five minutes later through Ransom as he latched onto the end of a Woods’ corner to back heel it into the back of the net.

That goal looked to give the home side abit of confidence but chances came and went for Aaron Cosgrave who first hit his shot just wide of the far post, before Ben Williamson’s great run couldn’t be finished off by the AFC Wimbledon loanee who couldn’t direct the ball the right side of the post.

These chances came back to haunt Whites as moments later the visitors were back ahead through Umerah who did well to shrug of Ransom before shooting across Bexon and into the top corner.

Substitute Jay Bird went close to doubling The Stones’ lead with just over half an hour to go, however after opening his body up for the shot, he could only aim his attempt wide of the far post.

Despite starting the second half slowly, Dover grew into it and after a massive goalmouth scramble, Woods collected the ball and smashed a shot from outside the box into the top corner.

However, they weren’t level for long as Sweeney got his second of the game, latching onto a Charlie Cooper cross to poke home.

Chances came and went late on, with young Noah Carney forcing two good saves from the Wealdstone stopper as Whites fell to their ninth league defeat in a row.