Category: First Team News

PREVIEW: WHITES V GATESHEAD

Dover will be aiming to get back to winning ways after two consecutive league draws and go into Saturday’s match with an impressive home record against the Heed.

Whites have won the last four meetings between the two sides at Crabble, including a thrilling 3-2 win back in April to keep Athletic’s slim play-off hopes alive at the end of last season.

Gateshead have a stat of their own they will be looking to eradicate with the Tyne and Wear side arriving in Kent still searching for their first victory of 2019.

However, Ben Clark, installed as manager last month following Steve Watson’s decision to join National League North York City, has yet to taste defeat with draws against Salford City and Boreham Wood in his two games in charge.

Clark has some Premier League experience he can call upon this weekend in the form of Mike Williamson.

The 35-year-old defender, who made his debut for Gateshead in a 2-1 win against Dover back in August, featured 134 times for Newcastle United in England’s top flight and was appointed as Heed player / coach last month.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS – MATCH REPORTS

11/08/18: Gateshead 2-1 Dover
21/04/18: Dover 3-2 Gateshead
28/10/17: Gateshead 0-0 Dover
01/04/17: Dover 2-0 Gateshead

HIGHLIGHTS OF GATESHEAD’S LAST FIVE MATCHES

26/01/19: Gateshead 1-1 Boreham Wood
19/01/19: Salford 1-1 Gateshead
08/01/19: Gateshead 1-2 Solihull
05/01/19: Gateshead 0-1 Maidenhead
01/01/19: Hartlepool 2-1 Gateshead

TOP SCORERS

Inih Effiong leads the way for Dover with eight league goals this season, while Scott Boden, who moved to fellow National League side Chesterfield earlier this week for an undisclosed fee, was Gateshead’s top-scorer with 11 strikes this campaign in the league.

MATCHDAY TICKET PRICES

The match kicks off at 3pm and the prices are as follows:

Adults: £17
Over 60s: £14
Under 18s: £8
Under 11s (Accompanied by a paying adult): Free

COVERAGE

If you are unable to make the game, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

Coverage starts from 2:15pm

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

BOREHAM WOOD P-P WREXHAM
EBBSFLEET UNITED P-P HARTLEPOOL UNITED
MAIDENHEAD UNITED P-P DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach going to Salford on Saturday 16th February and it’s not too late to book your place on it!

The coach leaves Crabble at 7am and the prices are as follows:

Adult member £35, Adult non-member £50, youth member (U18) £20, youth non-member £25 and accompanied under 16 £20.

There is also a coach leaving Crabble at 11:15 for our match at Maidenhead on Saturday 23rd February and the costs are:

Adult member £20, Adult non-member £35, youth member (U18) £10, youth non-member £15 and accompanied under 16 £10.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat, or see him in the Centre Spot after the games against Gateshead and Harrogate.

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

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

NATIONAL LEAGUE GETS REBRAND

The National League is pleased to announce a rebranding of its title sponsorship from the Vanarama National League to the Motorama National League from next season.

‎In doing so, the new agreement adds a further three seasons to a sponsorship arrangement with the Autorama Group which has enjoyed great success for both parties over the past five seasons.

Motorama- sister brand of Vanarama- is a personal car leasing broker and the latest arm of the Autorama Group.

The involvement of Motorama with The National League will see the introduction of a brand new affiliation scheme, which will provide supporters with an opportunity to earn money for their Club with every vehicle leased.

Michael Tattersall, Chief Executive Officer of The National League, said: “Following five seasons as the Vanarama National League, we are delighted to be signing up for a further three seasons as the Motorama National League.

“Our relationship with the Autorama Group goes from strength to strength, and is a classic case of football sponsorship delivering value and helping to create a leading consumer brand.”

Title sponsorship of The National League propelled Vanarama into the homes of millions of people around the UK, driving huge engagement with the brand and the wider football community.

The Motorama National League will receive incredible exposure with BT Sport regularly broadcasting live matches and highlights from the competition.

CEO of Autorama Group, Andy Alderson added: “We’re delighted to be continuing our relationship with The National League.

“It will allow Motorama to enjoy the prestige of being title sponsor of one of the UK’s most popular football leagues and get its message that people CAN lease the cars they want – rather than settle for something they can find on a used dealer’s forecourt – to an engaged audience of enthusiastic fans.”

GOMIS SAYS SORRY

Remorseful midfielder Bedsente Gomis has issued a public apology after his red card in the National League Kent Derby against Bromley at Crabble.

The Frenchman will serve a three-match suspension as a result of the incident during the 1-1 draw.

Gomis said: “I let the manager down, my team-mates and the supporters. It’s something that I’m incredibly sorry about.

“I have apologised to the manager and my team-mates and want to say sorry to the supporters and everyone else connected with the club as well.

“I know people will be saying I am not responsible enough and not to put me back in the team but I won’t make the same mistake again.

“I know actions speak louder than words but I can promise everyone that it won’t happen again.”

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Andy Hessenthaler has his say following Whites’ goalless draw at Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

REPORT: HAVANT 0-0 WHITES

PREVIEW: HAVANT V WHITES

Whites travel to Westleigh Park for a second time this month on Saturday.

Alfie Pavey’s first half goal was the difference in the FA Trophy first round replay on Tuesday 8th January, however with Dover also out of the cup competition, the focus for opposition bosses Andy Hessenthaler and Lee Bradbury is National League survival.

Both sides, currently 18th (Havant) and 19th, (Dover) are separated by goal difference on the National League ladder and will be aiming to put extra distance between themselves and the bottom four.

Athletic travel to a team in fine form on their own patch.

The Hawks have won five of their last seven home league games, including a 2-0 victory against Barrow earlier this month.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

08/01/19: Havant 0-1 Dover (FA Trophy)
15/12/18: Dover 2-2 Havant (FA Trophy)
14/08/18: Dover 4-3 Havant
10/01/15: Havant 0-1 Dover (FA Trophy)

HIGHLIGHTS OF HAVANT’S LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES

26/12/18: Havant 2-2 Eastleigh
29/12/18: Havant 0-3 Bromley
01/01/19: Eastleigh 2-1 Havant
05/01/19: Havant 2-0 Barrow
19/01/19: Boreham Wood 1-3 Havant

TOP SCORERS

Inih Effiong has scored eight National League goals for Dover this season, while Alfie Rutherford leads the Havant scoring charts with nine.

TEAM COLOURS

For fans wanting to show the same colours as the players, captain Mitch Brundle and his teammates will be wearing their blue shirts.

MATCHDAY TICKET PRICES

The match kicks off at 3pm and the prices are as follows:

Adults: £16
Concessions: £12
Children (5-16): £2

COVERAGE

If you are unable to make the game, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

Coverage starts from 2:15pm

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

BROMLEY V EASTLEIGH
CHESTERFIELD V BARROW
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE V ALDERSHOT TOWN
FC HALIFAX TOWN V SALFORD CITY
GATESHEAD V BOREHAM WOOD
HARTLEPOOL UNITED V BRAINTREE TOWN
LEYTON ORIENT V MAIDSTONE UNITED
SOLIHULL MOORS V AFC FYLDE
SUTTON UNITED V EBBSFLEET UNITED
WREXHAM V MAIDENHEAD UNITED

AWAY TRAVEL

There is a coach going to Salford on Saturday 16th February and it’s not too late to book your place on it!

The coach leaves Crabble at 7am and the prices are as follows:

Adult member £35, Adult non-member £50, youth member (U18) £20, youth non-member £25 and accompanied under 16 £20.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat, or see him in the Centre Spot after the games against Gateshead and Harrogate.

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

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

YOUNG LION JOINS ON LOAN

Dover Athletic have completed the loan signing of defender Danny McNamara from Championship club Millwall.

The 20-year-old right-back will remain at Crabble for a month and is eligible for Saturday’s National League clash at Havant & Waterlooville.

McNamara, who will wear the No.20 shirt, has captained the Millwall under-23’s on numerous occasions this season and has also spent time on loan with National League South club Welling United during the current season.

Welcome to Dover Danny!!