Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s men are back in action on Tuesday after an extended break from National League football.

An early FA Cup exit and the postponement of the trip to Wealdstone last weekend due to COVID-19 issues mean Dover have not played since the 1-0 home defeat to Altrincham on the last day of October.

Tuesday’s match was given the green light after all Dover players and staff tested negative for COVID-19.

Woking have played two games in November, drawing 1-1 with Yeovil Town after bowing out of the FA Cup 3-2 to Gillingham despite being two goals ahead.

The Cards took all three points in a dramatic game in this fixture last season, coming from 1-0 down to win 2-1.  Ricky Modeste had slotted 10-man Dover ahead after Kurtis Cumberbatch received an early red card.  Jake Hyde leveled on the half-hour mark and Tony Edser curled in a late winner.

Both teams were only able to play each other once last campaign, with the match at the Laithwaite Stadium, postponed due to the pandemic.

Woking boss Alan Dowson has added a number of players this season, including loanees from the EFL.

Josh Davison and Ben Dempsey have joined on loan from Charlton Athletic, with Both players having featured in the Championship for the Addicks.

Meanwhile, Koran Lofthouse, Slavi Spasov, and Malachi Napa have all joined on loan from Oxford United, with the latter two also making appearances for their parent club. Napa also has played in League Two for now-defunct club Macclesfield Town.

Tyler Reid and Sam Cartwright have also joined from West Brom and Peterborough United respectively.

Dowson has also signed John Goddard on a free transfer from Ebbsfleet. The winger has previous experience of playing in the Football League with Swindon and Stevenage, but in more recent years he has played in the National League with Bromley, Aldershot, and the aforementioned Fleet.

Charlie Cooper also moved to Woking this summer from FC Halifax Town. Like Goddard he has spent the last few seasons in the National League with Boreham Wood and Halifax, but he also featured higher up the football pyramid with Newport and Forest Green Rovers.

Cooper was part of the Rovers’ promotion-winning squad to League Two in 2017.

Finally, former Arsenal and Manchester United youth player Tyler Reid joined the club after leaving Swindon Town in October.

The Cards also have ex-England international and former Premier League player Matt Jarvis on their books.  The 34-year-old, who has over 200 Premier League games to his name, scored on his debut for the Surrey side last season against Maidenhead United.

Woking’s Player to Watch

New signing Davison is in red-hot form at the moment, having scored four in his last five games in all competitions.

Coverage

This game will be played behind closed doors, however, you can watch the game for £8 on DAFCtv.

Details on how to buy your match pass can be found here.

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

Tuesday’s National League Fixtures 

Aldershot Town Vs Maidenhead United

Altrincham Vs Chesterfield

Barnet Vs King’s Lynn Town

Bromley Vs Boreham Wood

Eastleigh Vs Wealdstone

FC Halifax Town Vs Notts County

Hartlepool United Vs Wrexham

Sutton United Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

After Saturday’s penalty shootout loss to Yeovil in the FA Cup, Andy Hessenthaler’s men turn their focus back to the National League.

Despite coming from behind twice to draw 3-3 with The Glovers at Huish Park on Saturday, Whites were unable to reach the first round for the first time in three seasons.  Meanwhile our opponents this evening advanced to the first round proper with a 3-1 home win against Weston-Super-Mare.

Ben Strevens’ Spitfires are currently unbeaten after their first four league games.  Following up their 5-1 thrashing of Barnet on the opening day of the campaign with another win and two draws.

It was a very different Dover side who took all three points in this fixture last season, with a brace from Inih Effiong helping Whites to a 3-1 victory.

Both teams were only able to play each other once last campaign as the global pandemic caused the game at the Silverlake Stadium to be postponed.

Manager Strevens has brought in six players over the summer, including Abdulai Bell-Baggie from a Weymouth side promoted from the National South last season.

Prior to playing over 100 games for the Terriers, Bell-Baggie also played for Stockport County and Poole Town.

The winger made an instant impact, scoring his side’s fifth on his debut against Barnet.

Joe McDonnell and Pierce Bird have also been brought in from fellow National League side Notts County.

McDonnell has previous non-league experience with Basingstoke Town, Hendon, Hampton and Richmond and Harrow Borough, as well as experience in League One and League Two with AFC Wimbledon.  Pierce meanwhile, started his career in the East Midlands Counties League with Dunkirk, before moves to Leek Town, Alfreton Town, Grantham Town and Boston United.

Another of their signings, Joe Tomlinson, was chosen as the 2019/20 National League South Young Player of the Season as captain of Hungerford Town.

Finally, centre-forwards Dan Smith and Ben House also joined the club from Bognor Regis Town and Reading respectively.

Smith joined Bognor Regis after a prolific loan spell on the south coast, where he netted 28 goals in 38 games during two separate spells. The frontman opened his account for Eastleigh in their win against Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday.

House has been arguably Eastleigh’s player to watch so far after scoring three in his opening two matches, including a brace against Torquay United.  He started his career in the Reading academy and had a loan spell at fellow National League club Dagenham & Redbridge last season.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can watch the game for £8 with our all new and improved streaming service.

Details on how to buy your match pass can be found here.

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

Tuesday’s National League Fixtures

Aldershot Town Vs Torquay United

Boreham Wood Vs Woking

Bromley Vs Weymouth

Hartlepool United Vs Altrincham

King’s Lynn Town Vs Wealdstone

Maidenhead United Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Stockport County Vs Solihull Moors

Wrexham Vs Barnet

Yeovil Town Vs Sutton United

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

 

 

Dover won’t just welcome Aldershot to Crabble tonight, they will also welcome back a couple of familiar faces. 

Shadrach Ogie, who scored a brilliant solo goal in our 2-0 win in this fixture last season during a loan spell at Crabble, may well line up for our opponents having joined The Shots on a one-month loan from Orient earlier this month.

Visiting Goalkeeper Mitch Walker is no stranger to Dover supporters, having spent seven years with Athletic prior to his departure last year.

Dover and Aldershot will be looking to avoid an unwanted hattrick, with both sides losing back-to-back league matches.  Andy Hessenthaler’s men conceded three second half goals at Stockport County on Saturday afternoon, having lost 4-1 at Bromley four days earlier, with Town losing 2-1 to both Hartlepool and Sutton United.

The Shots did defeat Brentford B on Saturday in a friendly after their league match, scheduled for the same day, was cancelled due to the demise of Macclesfield Town.

Aldershot have added nine players to their squad for this season, including former Scotland International Ross McCormack on a free transfer following his release from Aston Villa at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

The 34-year-old featured in the Championship for the likes of Cardiff, Leeds, Fulham and Aston Villa, scoring 120 goals in 333 appearances.  He also netted for Glasgow Rangers against Portuguese giants and then European Champions League winners Porto in 2005.

Searle has appointed Jamie Sendles-White as his new captain following Dean Rance’s departure to Dagenham & Redbridge.  The defender won the National League South with Torquay United and has also been joined at the EBB Stadium by former Daggers forward Chike Kandi.

Aldershot’s Player to Watch

Striker Mo Bettamer scored his first of the season against Sutton last Tuesday and also netted twice against Brentford B in a friendly on Saturday.

He was also second top scorer last season for The Shots, only being beaten by Ethan Chislett, who joined AFC Wimbledon in the summer.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can watch the game for £8 with our all new and improved streaming service.

Details on how to buy your match pass can be found here.

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

Tuesday’s National League Fixtures

Altrincham Vs Solihull Moors

Barnet Vs Weymouth

FC Halifax Town Vs Yeovil Town

Hartlepool Vs Bromley

King’s Lynn Town Vs Boreham Wood

Macclesfield Town Vs Eastleigh

Sutton United Vs Notts County

Torquay United Vs Chesterfield

Wealdstone Vs Stockport County

Woking Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

A first trip outside of Kent  this season awaits Andy Hessenthaler’s men when they travel to Stockport on Saturday.

Whites beat Notts County on the opening day, however the elation of that win soon turned to disappointment on Tuesday night with a 4-1 defeat at Kent rivals Bromley.

Meanwhile, Stockport made up for their opening day defeat at Torquay with a 2-1 victory against visiting FC Halifax Town.

Dover took all three points in this fixture last season thanks to a second half brace from Inih Effiong. However, Effiong is one of six players who started that day that have since left the club.

Only Josh Passley, Will De Havilland, Jack Munns, Oscar Gobern and Steve Rigg started that game and are still at the club, whilst Kurtis Cumberbatch and Paul Rooney who are also still under contract were on the bench.

This afternoon’s hosts have made 11 signings this summer, including John Rooney who scored 17 goals last season for Barrow as they were promoted to League Two.

They have also signed Jamie Stott on a permanent deal after two previous loan spells at the club.

Interestingly, County have also signed brothers Connor and James Jennings. Both have previous experience of playing in the EFL. Connor has played in the Football League with Tranmere, whilst older brother James has had spells in League Two with Macclesfield, Mansfield, Cheltenham and Morecambe.

Mark Kitching has also joined The Hatters this summer, signing from fellow National League side Hartlepool United. He scored the equaliser in his home debut for the club in their win against Halifax on Tuesday night.

Stockport’s Player to Watch 

As already mentioned, attacking midfielder John Rooney joined County from Barrow this summer and this season will be his ninth campaign in a row in the National League.

In the eight previous seasons he has played for four different clubs and has scored 70 goals and got 37 assists in 268 games.

His 17 goals last season had him tied for fourth in the overall goalscoring ranks and he was only three goals off the top spot.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can watch the game for £7.50 via Stockport’s live streaming service.

More details on how to buy your match pass is here

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

Boreham Wood Vs FC Halifax Town

Bromley Vs Torquay United

Chesterfield Vs Woking

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Wealdstone (5:20pm)

Eastleigh Vs Altrincham

Maidenhead United Vs Hartlepool United

Notts County Vs Barnet

Solihull Moors Vs King’s Lynn Town

Weymouth Vs Sutton United

Yeovil Town Vs Wrexham

Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side will be looking to make it back to back wins in the National League when they travel to Bromley for the first Kent derby of the season​ this evening.

Coverage  

 

 

Whites open their 2020/21 National League campaign with a behind closed doors clash against Notts County at Crabble on Saturday.

Both teams tasted defeat in their final pre-season games with Dover losing 3-0 at Maidstone United while the Magpies were beaten at home by the same margin by York City.

Nothing could separate the two sides last season with both games finishing in draws, but manager Andy Hessenthaler’s line-up will have a very different look about it from the one that drew at Meadow Lane in January.

Just four of the starting side that day, Oscar Gobern, Steven Rigg, Will De Havilland and Josh Passley, remain at the club, along with Jack Munns and Paul Rooney, who were both substitutes.

Our opponents, who lost in the play-off final against Harrogate Town, have also had a summer of change with a number of players leaving the club, including Kristian Dennis, who scored 14 goals last season,  a total which included a last-minute equaliser in this corresponding fixture last October.

Notts Player to Watch  

Forward Kyle Wooton was Notts’ top-scorer last season with 15 goals.

Previous Meetings  

5^th October 2019 – Dover Athletic 2 – 2 Notts County

18^th January 2020 – Notts County 0 – 0 Dover Athletic

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors; however, you can watch the game for £8 thanks to our new live streaming service from DAFCtv.

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  

Altrincham V Weymouth

Barnet V Eastleigh

FC Halifax Town V Dagenham & Redbridge

Hartlepool United V Aldershot Town

Sutton United V Maidenhead United

Torquay United V Stockport County

Wealdstone V Chesterfield

Woking V Solihull Moors

Wrexham V Boreham Wood