Andy Hessenthaler’s side take a break from National League competition this weekend as they travel to Somerset to begin their Emirates FA Cup campaign.

Last season’s Cup journey saw Whites reach the Second Round Proper, where they were beaten by League One side Peterborough United, having knocked out another side from the same division, Southend United, in the previous round.

Dover will be hoping qualification for the first round proper for a third consecutive season can also boost their struggling league form, having lost four straight matches.

This weekend’s hosts are also without a victory this season, having drawn four and lost one of their five matches.

Both teams were victorious away from home by a single goal when the two clubs met last season.   Scott Doe’s second half finish live on BT Sport saw Athletic win the first meeting, with Marc Richards netting the only goal as the Glovers took the three points at Crabble four months later.

Yeovil signed nine players in the summer as they bid to return to the Football League following their relegation to non-league’s top tier in 2019, including former Premier League player Jimmy Smith.

Following an early spell with Chelsea, Smith has spent most of his career in League One and League Two with Leyton Orient, Stevenage and Crawley.  He joined The Glovers on a free transfer after a successful loan spell at Huish Park last campaign.

Yeovil boss Darren Sarll has also brought in Matt Warburton on loan from Northampton, a promotion-winner with the Cobblers last season and a player who was previously in the National League North with Curzon Ashton, Salford City and Stockport County.

Also signing on loan for the season are Jack Clarke from Aston Villa, Daniel Leadbitter from Newport County, Ryan Burke from Birmingham City and Adam Smith, who joins for his third loan spell from Forest Green Rovers after two previous spells last season.

Finally, Joe Quigley joined the club his contract at Dagenham and Redbridge was cancelled.   The tall striker made his debut last week as a substitute their goalless draw against the team he joined from last weekend.

Yeovil’s Player to Watch

Striker Rhys Murphy was top scorer for The Glovers last season with 17 goals and has netted once so far this season.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can watch the game for £9.99 through Yeovil’s streaming service ‘YTFC Live’.

Details on how to purchase the match can be found here.

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – Follow us and get all the news as it happens.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side travel to in-form Torquay United on Saturday, looking to put Tuesday’s poor performance at Crabble behind them.

Tuesday night’s 5-0 home defeat against Aldershot Town saw Whites extend their losing streak to three matches following an opening day 1-0 victory against Notts County.

Meanwhile, Torquay have won three of their opening four league games, including a last-minute winner against Chesterfield in midweek.

A 2-0 win at Plainmoor in November 2017 was the last time Whites played at Plainmoor, with last season’s fixture cancelled following the curtailment of the season due to the Nationwide pandemic.

The two sides did meet in August 2019, though it was The Gulls who left Kent with three points thanks to a 2-1 win.

Of the current Dover squad, Will De Havilland, Oscar Gobern, Jack Munns and Bilel Hinchiri started that game at Crabble, with Yusuf Mersin, Kurtis Cumberbatch and Steve Rigg named as substitutes.

Summer signing Ade Azeez knows our hosts well, having spent two separate loan spells at the club during the 2013-14 campaign and last season.  Overall he scored three goals in 10 games for United.

Saturday afternoon’s hosts have made nine summer signings, including former Premier League player Dean Moxey.

Gary Warren and Andrew Nelson plied their trade in Scotland before their switch to Devon earlier this year.  Warren joined from Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle and rejoins Torquay following three matches during a month-long loan spell last season, with Nelson signing from Championship club Dundee having previously been on the books at Sunderland.

Ex-Boreham Wood and Ebbsfleet striker Josh Umerah also joined, whilst Connor Lemonheigh-Evans has made his move to United a permanent one after three previous loan spells at Plainmoor.

Torquay’s Players to Watch

The Gulls snapped up striker Danny Wright to replace last season’s top scorer Jamie Reid, who moved to League Two side Mansfield Town in June.

Former Solihull Moors and Cheltenham Town man Wright, has already opened his account up for the new campaign, netting a last-minute penalty in their 2-1 victory against Bromley last weekend.

Asa Hall and Louis Britton have both scored twice.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can buy a match pass here via Torquay United’s website.

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – Follow us and get all the news as it happens.

Saturday’s other National League Fixtures

Barnet Vs Hartlepool United

Chesterfield Vs Stockport County (5:20pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Yeovil Town

Eastleigh Vs Aldershot Town

Notts County Vs Maidenhead United

Solihull Moors Vs Boreham Wood

Wealdstone Vs Wrexham

Weymouth Vs King’s Lynn Town

Woking Vs FC Halifax Town