*BS*Whites will play on home turf for the first time in five weeks this Saturday against Maidenhead.*BF*
The game will mark the end of a five match run of away fixtures, encompassing Woking, Folkestone, Stevenage, Bath and Braintree.
Andy Hessenthaler will hope to rename a similarly strong squad to last weekend, when his side impressed at Braintree. Loan signings Daniel Leach, Michael Abnett and Luis Cumbers have enhanced his squad at a crucial time in the play-off race.
Leach has quickly struck up a good partnership will Olly Schulz at the back and was in the right place at the right time after two minutes at Braintree to prevent a certain goal with a last ditch block.
Cumbers had a brief spell on the right wing, replacing Frannie Collin in the 2nd half at Braintree. Abnett, meanwhile, can provide competition at right back and right wing, especially useful with Matt Fish currently sidelined due to a sore back.
Fish was training with the squad before the game at Braintree, but several others remained in the stands. Lee Hook and Jake Leberl were not involved, the former following the leg injury that resurfaced at Stevenage two weeks ago.
Goalkeeper is one position Hessenthaler has got plenty of options, however, with John Whitehouse back in contention and Ross Flitney settling in well. Flitney made two crucial saves with the score at 1-1 on Saturday, before the Dover onslaught eventually earned the winning goal.
Dover’s longer term casualties are left back Sam Gore and forward Lee Browning. Gore, who hasn’t played since December, requires surgery on a double hernia and Browning’s groin injury is more serious than first thought and he needs to see a specialist.
*Lpic1*
Saturday’s opponents Maidenhead, narrowly beaten 2-1 by Bath at the weekend, were Whites’ first BlueSquare South fixture. We wish the Magpies a smoother journey to the South Coast than our players and supporters endured back in August.
Johnson Hippolyte’s team are 16th in the table but don’t concede too many goals and have plenty of experience in their ranks. Former Dover star Dave Clarke is a coach for the club, while on the pitch ex Yeading centre back Nevin Saroya provides the team with a solid base.
Front man Alex Wall has bagged 10 goals this season, after signing from Thatcham Town in the summer. Dover players should watch out for defender Jamal Fyfield, who has received eight yellow cards and three reds so far this season!
*IS**BS*Statto time:*BF* Maidenhead have scored 58% of their goals in the final 30 minutes of matches, including 32% in the last 15 minutes.*IF*
*BS*DON’T MISS WHITES’ RETURN TO CRABBLE – SATURDAY, 20 FEBRUARY @ 3pm*BF*
*Link1*