Whites brushed off with challenge of Gosport this afternoon and manager Chris Kinnear was delighted with the manner of the team’s victory against a team recently buoyed by reaching the FA Trophy final, belying their lowly league position.

‘Today we made the right decisions’, said the boss. ‘We drove them back today and we got the ball on the floor – There was a lot of good football played today.’ He added, ‘these drew with Sutton and beat Concord twice and are also in the Trophy final. They are no mugs.’
Dover sported a new formation with a 3 – 4 -1 – 2 to great effect as they bounced back after losing the last two games. ‘We played three at the back and it worked for us. In the last two games we were unlucky what with the sending off against Sutton and the last minute screamer out of nothing against Weston.’*Q1*

His young proteges did their manager proud today with a fine performance and Kinnear is keen for his team to keep their spirits up. ‘It’s how they are going to learn, by sticking together. Tom Wynter said in the programme notes about lots of changes not not being good for stability – All down the spine of the team, we have young lads.’

He added ‘If they do the right things and try and turn the other team early on, then there will be plenty of room for the likes of Rogers and Cogan to be able to knock the ball about. Sides will come here and squash it so we cannot play.’

Tom Murphy headed the opener to bag his first goal in eight games after starting the game in attack alongside Nathan Elder. Kinnear said of the former Margate winger,’ I am pleased he scored and he does give us a lot.’*Lpic1*

One player that has made the headlines recently is Sean Raggett, who has been linked to a number of league clubs after a string of fine performances in a White shirt and Chris had the following to say. ‘Bear in mind that Sean did not have a chance with the first team last year. We could have let him go, but there was something about him and he did well with us in pre season. he was not fit to start the season after his ankle injury. But after those first four games he came in and has done great.’*Q2*

‘He is a local boy and if I could have 11 local lads then I would as they really care about the club. You can never stand in the way of anyone going to the league and all you can do if they get that chance is pat them on the back. I want these young boys to do well. You need people at the club that really want to go on.’

On a sour note, left back Wynter went off injured in the first half, whilst Jeff Goulding and Ricky Modeste are still carrying knocks. ‘Tom spoke to the physio on Friday as his knee was sore, and though we iced it and he felt ok to start, he had to come off. Ricky was not quite right at Weston because of his leg and Jeff was a little bit ill still, though Nathan was immense today.’*Lpic2*

Dover face Dartford on Tuesday night in the Kent Senior Cup with changes in the team in the offing as Kinnear looks to rest players for the league campaign ahead. ‘The lads that did not play today will definitely start on Tuesday and we may look at two or three triallists, but I am not sure on that yet.’