Dover will be out to end a run of two consecutive National League defeats when they host Chester FC at Crabble on Saturday.

Losses at Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City have seen boss Chris Kinnear’s side drop to sixth on the ladder on goal difference behind Barrow.

Whites will also want to secure a first win at home since the 3-1 triumph against Woking on November 22.

But the boss is not letting the formbook get to him.

He said: “It is always disappointing to lose, but we are not going to overreact to recent defeats.

“With second to fifth all facing each other, Saturday will provide a great opportunity for us to make up some ground and hopefully we can end the day in the play-off positions again.”

Chester FC scored five second half goals to beat Dover 5-0 earlier this season and condemn Whites to their heaviest league defeat in two years.

Something captain Jamie Grimes wants to erase from the memory bank.

He said: “We owe Chester after probably our worst performance of the season at their place in October.

“It was possibly a false score in the end after having played 60 minutes with goalkeeper Steve Arnold hobbling around with a fractured foot.

“But that doesn’t make that result any easier to bear – that hurt, so hopefully we can put it right on Saturday.”

CHESTER’S RECENT FORM

The Blues came from behind the draw 1-1 against visiting Wrexham in the cross-border derby last Saturday.

Former Chester man John Rooney put Wrexham ahead in the second half after he scored from close range.

James Alabi levelled for the hosts from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by James Jennings.

Chester finished the game with 10 men after a second yellow card for captain Luke George.

Alabi also scored a double in Chester’s previous league game, a 2-1 win at Braintree Town.

RECENT MEETINGS

01/10/16: Chester 5-0 Dover Athletic

24/11/15: Chester 1-1 Dover Athletic

15/08/15: Dover Athletic 0-0 Chester

11/04/15: Chester 3-1 Dover Athletic

11/10/14: Dover Athletic 2-0 Chester

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Ricky Miller with 25.

Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel are also both in double figures with Emmanuel on 11 and Lafayette with 10 to his name.

Alabi is Chester’s leading man with 11 goals.

DOVER TEAM NEWS

Assistant boss Jake Leberl said on Friday that there are no injury concerns although Ricky Modeste’s involvement remains to be seen as he awaits the birth of his first child.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets can still be purchased on the day and this match is NOT segregated.

 COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip up the hill 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 (3pm)

Aldershot Town v York City

Barrow v Forest Green Rovers

Bromley v Southport

Eastleigh v Woking

North Ferriby United v Macclesfield Town

Solihull Moors v Maidstone United

Torquay United v Gateshead

Tranmere Rovers v Dagenham & Redbridge

Wrexham v Boreham Wood 

AWAY DAYS

Dover hit the road for two National League games at North Ferriby United and Woking Town with Supporters Club coach details as follows for travelling fans.

NORTH FERRIBY UNITED (3pm Saturday, February 18)

Coach leaves Crabble at 7.30am and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £45 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

WOKING TOWN (7.45pm Tuesday, February 28)

Coach leaves Crabble at 4.30pm and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £15, Adult Non Members £30 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

Please call or text Andy Fisher on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot before or after today’s game.

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.

JAMIE Grimes scored his first goal of the season in the 2-0 win against Lincoln City at Crabble in September.

The captain says he wouldn’t mind repeating it when Whites play the now table-topping Imps at Sincil Bank on Friday night.

But the defender, who has scored in his past two National League games, admits that comes way down on his list of priorities as boss Chris Kinnear’s side aim to complete the double over Lincoln for the second consecutive season.

Grimes said: “A win is my first priority, regardless of who scores – I don’t mind at all as long as we get the three points.

“I would then say a win with a clean sheet is next on my list and then a win with goal from yours truly would be nice as I will have about 12 family members in the crowd!

And Grimes is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead in Lincolnshire.

He said: “We want the points – they want them too.

“It’s going to be a massive game with a massive crowd in attendance.

“As player, these are games you want to play in. Me and lads are really looking forward to it.”

LINCOLN’S RECENT FORM

The Imps dumped Championship side Ipswich Town out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night after winning the Third Round replay 1-0 at Sincil Bank.

Nathan Arnold scored the all-important goal in injury time after the sides had drawn 2-2 at Portman Road 10 days earlier.

In their last National League game, Lincoln came from behind to beat nine-man Guiseley 3-1 at Sincil Bank on New Year’s Day.

Guiseley took the lead through Sam Habergham’s own goal before the hosts replied with an Alan Power penalty and goals from Sean Raggett and Arnold.

RECENT MEETINGS

31/01/15: Lincoln City 1-0 Dover Athletic

07/03/15: Dover Athletic 1-2 Lincoln City

09/01/16: Lincoln City 2-3 Dover Athletic

15/03/16: Dover Athletic 4-1 Lincoln City

24/09/16: Dover Athletic 2-0 Lincoln City

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the league this season is Ricky Miller with 25.

Miller’s strike partners Moses Emmanuel and Ross Lafayette are also both in double figures with 11 and 10 respectively.

Matt Rhead is Lincoln’s top marksman in the league with 11 goals while Arnold has got 10.

TEAM NEWS

Boss Chris Kinnear says all players are fit for the trip apart from an ill Ricky Modeste.

The squad will also include loan signing, defender Connor Essam. who arrived from Eastleigh last week and played in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup win at Herne Bay on Monday.

Lincoln signed Brighton & Hove Albion winger Joe Ward on a one-month loan deal last week.

The 21-year-old has played four games this season for Albion’s under-21 side in the EFL Trophy.

DOVER COLOURS

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

TICKET NEWS

With the game being broadcast live on BT Sport, and due to the interest in the fixture from Imps’ supporters, the decision has been made to open up the Stacey West Stand for home fans.

That means Dover supporters will now be in blocks 1-3 of the Bridge McFarland Stand and not in the normal away end.

Dover fans will be able to buy tickets at the away turnstiles on Friday night and prices are as follows:

Adult  £18

60+/*Disabled £13

Student (Photo ID)  £7

Junior U18  £7

 *Disabled – Proof of DLA Medium/ High | PIP – enhanced. If travelling disabled supporters have the HIGH or ENHANCED rate they will be entitled to the helpers ticket free of charge.

COVERAGE

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

Coverage starts from 7pm.

COACH TRAVEL

The Supporters Club are running a coach to the game at Lincoln City and it’s not too late to get on it.

Thanks to a generous donation by local businessman and huge Dover Athletic fan Nick Cunningham– who owns Nick Cunningham Plumbing and Heating Engineers, based in Sandwich –seats on the coach are being sold at a reduced price.

We thank Nick for his kind gesture and hope that fans take advantage of his generosity.

Coach leaves Crabble at 1pm and the cost is:

Adults Members £10, Adult Non Members £20 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

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

DOVER will be hoping to improve their fortunes at the Moss Rose when we head to Cheshire on Tuesday to tackle Macclesfield Town in a re-arranged National League match.

The Silkmen led 1-0 in the original game on November 26 before the game was abandoned in the second half due to heavy fog.

But the 528-mile round trip to the venue had not been the best of hunting grounds for boss Chris Kinnear and his sides before Mother Nature intervened last year.

Whites had not scored in their past two games at the venue before the November showdown and have headed home with just a single point out of a possible six.

WHAT MACCLESFIELD ARE SAYING

Assistant manager Steve Watson speaking to the Macclesfield Town website said the squad is full of confidence heading into the rematch.

He said: “I think Dover will be fully aware we were playing very well on the night. They might set up a little bit differently or approach it a little bit differently, but from our point of view with the way we started we’d like to go and do exactly the same.

“No two games are the same though and we don’t know what they’re going to be like with their team, the way they set up.

“We’ll be going into the match with confidence though certainly, from the second-halves of the two games we’ve just had especially.”

Macclesfield were without a game last weekend due to the FA Cup fixtures, having missed out on the opportunity after the defeat to League One side Oxford.

MACCLESFIELDƒ’S RECENT FORM

The Silkmen beat second-place Tranmere Rovers 4-2 at Moss Rose last time out on New Year’s Day.

RECENT MEETINGS

13/09/14: Dover Athletic 0-1 Macclesfield Town
18/10/14: Macclesfield Town 1-0 Dover Athletic
17/10/15: Dover Athletic 2-1 Macclesfield Town
12/04/16: Macclesfield Town 0-0 Dover Athletic

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the league this season is Ricky Miller with 25 following his penalty in the 2-2 draw with York City at Crabble on Saturday

Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel are also both in double figures after both scored in the 4-1 win at Maidstone on New Year’s Day.

Emmanuel’s double sees him on 11 goals while Lafayette has 10 to his name.

Chris Holroyd is Macclesfield’s top marksman in the league with nine goals.

TEAM NEWS

Assistant boss Jake Leberl says all players are fit for the trip north.

Meanwhile, Macclesfield have signed goalkeeper Scott Flinders on a free transfer after he left York City by mutual consent on Thursday.

The 30-year-old spent time on loan with the Silkmen earlier this season between September and October.

Macclesfield have also signed striker Anthony Dudley on loan from Bury.

DOVER COLOURS

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

TICKET NEWS

Macclesfield Town have confirmed all supporters with a valid match ticket for the original fixture are able to attend Tuesday’s game for free.

For those without a valid ticket from the original fixture, standard ticket prices apply for the game.

COVERAGE

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

Coverage starts from 7pm.

TUESDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Barrow v Southport

Braintree Town v Sutton United

Eastleigh v Forest Green Rovers

LOOKING AHEAD

The Supporters Club are running a coach to the National League games at  Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City.

Details for both are as follows:

Macclesfield Town (Tuesday, January 10)

Coach leaves Crabble at 12.45pm and the cost is

Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

Lincoln City (Friday, January 20)

Thanks to a generous donation by local businessman and huge Dover Athletic fan Nick Cunningham– who owns Nick Cunningham Plumbing and Heating Engineers, based in Sandwich –seats on the coach are being sold at a reduced price.

We thank Nick for his kind gesture and hope that fans take advantage of his generosity.

Coach leaves Crabble at 1pm and the cost is:

Adults Members £10, Adult Non Members £20 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

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

DOVER assistant boss Jake Leberl stressed that there will be no room for complacency when Whites take on rock bottom York City at Crabble on Saturday.

The Minstermen, relegated from League Two last season, have won only four League games all season and arrive in Kent one point adrift at the foot of the table.

Whites are fifth and 27 points better off, but Leberl said nothing would be taken for granted.

He said: “It is unbelievable a club such as York is struggling at the bottom of this league.

“Saying that, we cannot worry about them and their current situation.

“This is an extremely tough league – there are no easy games in it.  This game will be no different.

“We have got to ensure that we go out there and put on a professional performance and hopefully get some more points.

“We are in the play-off positions now and we’ve got to show grit, desire and determination to stay in there.”

Three points on Saturday would also secure a first win at home for boss Chris Kinnear’s side since the  3-1 win against Woking on November 22

WHAT YORK BOSS GARY MILLS IS SAYING ABOUT DOVER

“They are doing well and have got themselves back in the play-offs, so we’ve got to work hard and fight for everything,” he told Minstermen PlayerHD.

“Not many people think we can beat anybody at the moment, so let them think that.

“We know what we are capable of and we’ll be going there not to get a draw, but a win. They play a man-marking game that I’ve never seen anybody else play, but it works for them home and away.

“They’ve also got a striker who’s the hottest property in the league and all their forwards are on fire at the moment, but it’s a challenge we’ve got to overcome and we’ve got to make sure we have more of the ball than we did against North Ferriby on Sunday.”

 YORK CITY’S RECENT FORM

York lost 1-0 at home against fellow strugglers North Ferriby United on New Year’s Day.

Prior to that, they won the reverse clash by the same scoreline on Boxing Day with Forest Green Rovers loanee Aarran Racine getting the goal.

RECENT MEETINGS

Dover won the only previous meeting between the two clubs, 1-0 at Bootham Crescent in September.

Ricky Miller scored the all-important goal in the first half.

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Miller with 24.

Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel are also both in double figures after both scored in the 4-1 win at Maidstone on New Year’s Day.

Emmanuel’s double sees him on 11 goals while Lafayette has 10 to his name.

The trio’s form in front of goal mean Whites are the equal joint leading scorers in the league alongside table-topping Lincoln City with 55.

Midfielder Aidan Connolly is York’s leading man with three goals, but he will miss the clash at Crabble with a thigh injury.

TEAM NEWS

Leberl says there are no injury concerns while new signing James Hurst is in contention to make the matchday squad.

Midfielder Joe Healy is also available.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets can still be purchased on the day and this match is SEGREGATED.

 COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip up the hill 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 SOUTHPORT

BRAINTREE TOWN V CHESTER FC

BROMLEY V FOREST GREEN ROVERS

GUISELEY AFC V MAIDSTONE UNITED

NORTH FERRIBY UNITED V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

SOLIHULL MOORS V GATESHEAD

TORQUAY UNITED V BOREHAM WOOD

WREXHAM v WOKING

LOOKING AHEAD

The Supporters Club are running a coach to the National League games at  Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City.

 Details for both are as follows:

Macclesfield Town (Tuesday, January 10)

Coach leaves Crabble at 12.45pm and the cost is

Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

Lincoln City (Friday, January 20)

Thanks to a generous donation by local businessman and huge Dover Athletic fan Nick Cunningham– who owns Nick Cunningham Plumbing and Heating Engineers, based in Sandwich –seats on the coach are being sold at a reduced price.

We thank Nick for his kind gesture and hope that fans take advantage of his generosity.

Coach leaves Crabble at 1pm and the cost is:

Adults Members £10, Adult Non Members £20 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot on Saturday

DOVER will be aiming to get back to winning ways in the National League when we travel to Kent rivals Maidstone United on New Year’s Day.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s team have not won in the league since the 6-0 triumph at Sutton United on November 29.

That impressive performance was followed by a defeat at home against Dagenham and Redbridge and draws with Forest Green Rovers and today’s hosts at Crabble on Boxing Day.

That 1-1 draw with Stones kept Dover sixth, one point out of the play-off positions.

Ricky Miller’s first-half penalty put Whites ahead before Jamar Loza’s second-half equaliser for Stones.

Sunday’s re-match will be shown live on BT Sport at 6pm.

TICKET NEWS

It’s an all-ticket match and ticket sales are now CLOSED.

Please be aware that NO tickets will be available on the turnstiles on the night.

Gates open at 3.30pm and Dover fans should enter the ground at turnstile eight.

This entrance is off James Whatman Way, opposite Kent History & Library Centre.

 MAIDSTONE UNITED’S RECENT FORM

Prior to the 1-1 draw at Crabble, the Stones had lost their past two National League games, losing 2-1 at home against North Ferriby United and 2-0 at Bromley.

Maidstone had ended a four-game losing streak before the loss at Bromley by beating Eastleigh 2-1 at the Gallagher.

RECENT MEETINGS

Honours finished even after the draw on Boxing Day.

Dover last beat Maidstone United in a Kent Senior Cup match at Sittingbourne when Whites triumphed 6-3 in October 2011.

The previous league meetings between the sides was in the Isthmian Premier during the 2008-09 season.

Dover won both contests, 3-0 at Crabble, and 2-0 at Sittingbourne.

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Ricky Miller with 25.

Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel both have nine each.

Bobby-Joe Taylor is Maidstone’s leading man with six league goals.

TEAM NEWS

Assistant boss Jake Leberl says there are no injury concerns.

However, midfielder Joe Healy is not available while Ira Jackson Jnr has joined Margate on a 28-day loan.

DOVER COLOURS

For Dover fans wanting to show their colours at the Gallagher Stadium 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 6pm but if you are unable to make the trip to the Gallagher Stadium, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

The Centre Spot will be also be screening the game live and will be open from 5pm.

SUNDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Woking v Aldershot Town

Chester FC v Solihull Moors

Forest Green Rovers v Torquay United

Lincoln City v Guiseley AFC

Macclesfield Town v Tranmere Rovers

Southport v Wrexham

Sutton United v Bromley

York City v North Ferriby United

LOOKING AHEAD

The Supporters Club are running a coach to the National League game at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday, January 10 and details are:

Coach leaves Crabble at 12.45pm and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

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

PLENTY of friendships will be set aside come kick-off when Dover host Kent rivals Maidstone United in the National League at Crabble on Boxing Day.

Players and officials on both sides know each other well, but with three valuable points on offer on the day and another in the return fixture at The Gallagher on New Year’s Day, there will be no room for any sentiment.

Dover boss Chris Kinnear, who spent ‘four or five’ seasons as a player with Maidstone, insists his emotion will be no different to any other matchday – a massive desire to win, like he has for every game.

Kinnear said: “I have a lot of fond memories of my time there and it will be good to see a lot of the old faces from those days again.

“I got to know a lot of people well in that time and we are still friends, well, we won’t be for 90 minutes on Monday.

“I’m really looking forward to the game and it should be played in a cracking atmosphere.”

But it’s not only some of the Maidstone fans that Kinnear knows.

Stones manager Jay Saunders played under Kinnear and alongside now Dover assistant boss Jake Leberl at Margate.

Kinnear said: “Jay and I go back a long way, but he’s got a job to do with Maidstone and I’ve got a job to do too.

“There is no doubt he will want the three points just as much as me – that goes without saying.”

Tickets

Tickets are not available in advance. Pay at the turnstiles for both home and away supporters. The fixture is segregated.

MAIDSTONE UNITED’S RECENT FORM

The Stones have lost their past two National League games, losing 2-1 at home against North Ferriby United last Saturday and 2-0 at Bromley.

Half-time substitute Jack Paxman was on target for the hosts after North Ferriby led 2-0 at one stage.

Maidstone had ended a four-game losing streak before the loss at Bromley by beating Eastleigh 2-1 at the Gallagher.

Midfielder Dan Sweeney, who joined League Two Barnet this week , got the first goal before Bobby-Joe Taylor scored a penalty to secure three points.

RECENT MEETINGS

The last time Dover played Maidstone United they beat today’s visitors 6-3 in a Kent Senior Cup match at Sittingbourne in October 2011.

The last league meetings between the sides was in the Isthmian Premier during the 2008-09 season.

Dover won both contests, 3-0 at Crabble, and 2-0 at Sittingbourne.

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Ricky Miller with 24.

Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel both have nine each.

Bobby-Joe Taylor is Maidstone’s leading man with six league goals.

TEAM NEWS

Assistant boss Jake Leberl said after training on Friday that Leyton Orient loanee Sammy Moore is back in contention after his hamstring injury.

The midfielder has missed the past four games.

COVERAGE

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

TODAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Aldershot Town v Woking

North Ferriby United v York City

Barrow v Gateshead

Braintree Town vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Bromley v Sutton United

Guiseley AFC v Lincoln City

Solihull Moors v Chester FC

Torquay United v Forest Green Rovers

Tranmere Rovers v Macclesfield Town

Wrexham v Southport

LOOKING AHEAD

The Supporters Club are running a coach to the National League games at Maidstone United and Macclesfield Town and details are as follows:

MAIDSTONE UNITED (Sunday, January 1)

Coach leaves Crabble at 4.15pm and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £10, Adult Non Members £15 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN (Tuesday, January 10)

Coach leaves Crabble at 12.45pm and the cost is as follows:
Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot on Monday.