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Dover’s dependable and long serving left back Tom Wynter was devastated to see Weston-super-Mare snatch a later winner and punch a hole in Whites play-off hopes. ‘It was gutting’, revealed Tom, ‘We created enough chances to win the game and the only way we were going to be beaten was if they scored a worldy, which they did!’

Whites now face a tough game against Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night at the Longmead Stadium and Wynter is in no doubt of the importance of the Kent derby if he and his team mates are going to be able to realise their promotion dream. ‘It’s a must win game if we are to make the play-offs, but we have the squad to do it – we are creating lots of chances at the moment’.

As the games left to play count continues to decrease, Kinnear’s men need to put together a strong run soon to secure a top five spot. The recipe for this lies in the dressing room according to Tom. ‘In terms of bonding, this squad is the closest that I have been with in my time at Dover. We just need to get a big win as soon as possible to get that spark we are missing, but we are all confident that team spirit we have here will help us’.*Lpic1*

Dover’s dependable and long serving left back Tom Wynter was devastated to see Weston-super-Mare snatch a later winner and punch a hole in Whites play-off hopes. ‘It was gutting’, revealed Tom, ‘We created enough chances to win the game and the only way we were going to be beaten was if they scored a worldy, which they did!’

Whites now face a tough game against Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night at the Longmead Stadium and Wynter is in no doubt of the importance of the Kent derby if he and his team mates are going to be able to realise their promotion dream. ‘It’s a must win game if we are to make the play-offs, but we have the squad to do it – we are creating lots of chances at the moment’.

As the games left to play count continues to decrease, Kinnear’s men need to put together a strong run soon to secure a top five spot. The recipe for this lies in the dressing room according to Tom. ‘In terms of bonding, this squad is the closest that I have been with in my time at Dover. We just need to get a big win as soon as possible to get that spark we are missing, but we are all confident that team spirit we have here will help us’.*Lpic1*

*BS*Dover Athletic travel to Somerset on Saturday to face Weston-super-Mare, with both sides sitting just outside the playoff places. Dover fell to a 2-1 defeat when the sides met at Crabble back in September.*BF*

Whites’ 1-0 defeat against Sutton United on Tuesday night ended a run of three consecutive home matches, and whilst six points were picked up from these, an overriding feeling of disappointment was in the cold air at full-time.

The sides meet at Woodspring Stadium on Saturday both on reasonable runs of form – Weston sit fifth in the home form table with four wins from their last six, whilst Dover sit in second in the away form table with three victories from the same period of time.

Weston have never been relegated in their history, and are on track to emulate their highest ever league position of 7th in the Conference South, achieved last season. With just over two months of the season remaining, they currently sit one place higher, just out of the playoff places by virtue of goal difference.

Saturday’s victors could, depending on Bath City’s result, finish the day in fifth place. City host a Basingstoke Town side who have won only once in their last five matches.

Weston’s home record has been up-and-down – whilst impressive victories have been recorded over Eastleigh (3-2) and Concord Rangers (5-0) amongst others, there have also been disappointing defeats when welcoming Ebbsfleet United (0-6) and Gosport Borough (0-1) to the Woodspring Stadium.

It is this inconsistency which Whites will be looking to capitalise upon at the weekend, and the teams’ away form gives hope that a vital victory can be recorded. Having won seven of their twelve matches on the road thus far this season, conceding eight times in the process, is an impressive record and one that has kept the club’s season alive.

If away form had been identical to home form, the side would be flirting with the relegation places. Therefore, performances at Crabble need to improve and away form needs to remain at its current level if this season is to be a success.

At home to top half sides, Weston have won only three of eight matches – failing to score in three of these – and kept just two clean sheets. Away to top half sides, Dover have won three of four clashes – keeping three clean sheets in the process.

In the four previous league meetings between the sides at the Woodspring Stadium, Whites have come out on top on two occasions. Almost a year ago to the day, a brace from Ricky Modeste helped the side to a comprehensive 3-0 victory in Chris Kinnear’s third game in charge.

Modeste found the net again in this season’s match at Crabble, but saw his goal cancelled out by strikes from Tristan Plummer and an injury-time winner from Nabi Diallo. That second goal was shrouded in controversy, with a hopeful ball into the penalty area being gathered by goalkeeper Mitch Walker – until he appeared to be impeded by Diallo, resulting in the England C international dropping the ball after landing dangerously on his neck with Weston’s number seven gleefully tucking away the loose ball.

Dover striker Jeff Goulding will be available for selection, as the suspension leading on from his red card against Sutton in midweek does not kick in for a couple of weeks. He will be competing for a starting berth with Nathan Elder, who offers a different attacking threat to Goulding and will be keen to reinforce his first-team credentials after his own sending off in the FA Trophy against Eastleigh.

There are not believed to be any injury worries for Chris Kinnear ahead of Saturday’s match, but after the at-times lacklustre performance in midweek he may opt to rotate his squad. Liam Bellamy and Moses Ademola are fighting for a place in the starting line-up.

Speaking to doverathletic.com after the defeat to Sutton, Kinnear urged fans to keep faith with his side: “’I understand the fans frustration, but look at what has happened here the last few years. It’s easy for me to make lots of changes, but is not good for the long term future of the club.

“I want to build a side and keep them together. You only win things at this level with consistency. At any club where I have been successful, it has taken time. ‘The lads don’t want to wait another year, they think they can get into the play offs.”

*BS*Dover Athletic travel to Somerset on Saturday to face Weston-super-Mare, with both sides sitting just outside the playoff places. Dover fell to a 2-1 defeat when the sides met at Crabble back in September.*BF*

Whites’ 1-0 defeat against Sutton United on Tuesday night ended a run of three consecutive home matches, and whilst six points were picked up from these, an overriding feeling of disappointment was in the cold air at full-time.

The sides meet at Woodspring Stadium on Saturday both on reasonable runs of form – Weston sit fifth in the home form table with four wins from their last six, whilst Dover sit in second in the away form table with three victories from the same period of time.

Weston have never been relegated in their history, and are on track to emulate their highest ever league position of 7th in the Conference South, achieved last season. With just over two months of the season remaining, they currently sit one place higher, just out of the playoff places by virtue of goal difference.

Saturday’s victors could, depending on Bath City’s result, finish the day in fifth place. City host a Basingstoke Town side who have won only once in their last five matches.

Weston’s home record has been up-and-down – whilst impressive victories have been recorded over Eastleigh (3-2) and Concord Rangers (5-0) amongst others, there have also been disappointing defeats when welcoming Ebbsfleet United (0-6) and Gosport Borough (0-1) to the Woodspring Stadium.

It is this inconsistency which Whites will be looking to capitalise upon at the weekend, and the teams’ away form gives hope that a vital victory can be recorded. Having won seven of their twelve matches on the road thus far this season, conceding eight times in the process, is an impressive record and one that has kept the club’s season alive.

If away form had been identical to home form, the side would be flirting with the relegation places. Therefore, performances at Crabble need to improve and away form needs to remain at its current level if this season is to be a success.

At home to top half sides, Weston have won only three of eight matches – failing to score in three of these – and kept just two clean sheets. Away to top half sides, Dover have won three of four clashes – keeping three clean sheets in the process.

In the four previous league meetings between the sides at the Woodspring Stadium, Whites have come out on top on two occasions. Almost a year ago to the day, a brace from Ricky Modeste helped the side to a comprehensive 3-0 victory in Chris Kinnear’s third game in charge.

Modeste found the net again in this season’s match at Crabble, but saw his goal cancelled out by strikes from Tristan Plummer and an injury-time winner from Nabi Diallo. That second goal was shrouded in controversy, with a hopeful ball into the penalty area being gathered by goalkeeper Mitch Walker – until he appeared to be impeded by Diallo, resulting in the England C international dropping the ball after landing dangerously on his neck with Weston’s number seven gleefully tucking away the loose ball.

Dover striker Jeff Goulding will be available for selection, as the suspension leading on from his red card against Sutton in midweek does not kick in for a couple of weeks. He will be competing for a starting berth with Nathan Elder, who offers a different attacking threat to Goulding and will be keen to reinforce his first-team credentials after his own sending off in the FA Trophy against Eastleigh.

There are not believed to be any injury worries for Chris Kinnear ahead of Saturday’s match, but after the at-times lacklustre performance in midweek he may opt to rotate his squad. Liam Bellamy and Moses Ademola are fighting for a place in the starting line-up.

Speaking to doverathletic.com after the defeat to Sutton, Kinnear urged fans to keep faith with his side: “’I understand the fans frustration, but look at what has happened here the last few years. It’s easy for me to make lots of changes, but is not good for the long term future of the club.

“I want to build a side and keep them together. You only win things at this level with consistency. At any club where I have been successful, it has taken time. ‘The lads don’t want to wait another year, they think they can get into the play offs.”

Sutton went home with all three points this evening after a 1-0 win over ten man Dover thanks to Craig Dundas’ 2nd minute strike.

Manager Chris Kinnear was pleased with his teams efforts in what was an enthralling battle between two play off rivals. ‘I think we deserved something out of the game – They started very quickly and scored. We more than matched them and it was not easy on the pitch – the sending off killed us really.’

Jeff Goulding was sent off in the second half after two bookings and though his dismissal seemed harsh, Chris Kinnear was critical of his star striker. ‘You set yourself up once you are booked and he was stupid to lunge in. He is new here and anybody that gets sent off lets everyone down – He has to buck his ideas up’.*Q1*

Kinnear revealed his plans to get something from the game had to change radically as the team adjusted to going a man down. ‘We were going to bring on Elder, Bellamy and Ademola for the last twenty minutes and go for it, but we had to wait to see how the other team would change before we did. We matched them for enthusiasm and the spirit was good – No one felt sorry for themselves.’

He added, ‘The main thing is that you stay in the game because you know you are going to get a chance. Tom Wynter had a great opportunity at the end, but had it fallen to Barry Cogan or someone like that, then maybe he would have scored and we would have got a point with ten men. You don’t just throw things about and end up losing 4 or 5, though I thought we were just as good as them with ten men.’

Chris also pointed out the experience that Sutton have compared to his own ranks. ‘They killed the game and there could have been twenty minutes added time, but we did not look bad considering they have players on big money and have been at this level for a long time. We don’t quite have the experience that they do quite yet.’*Lpic1*

With that Chris urged patience from fans towards his young charges. ‘We have good young players. Walker (21), Wynter (23), Murphy (21), Raggett (20), Chris Kinnear (23), Stone (24), Bellamy (21). The problem here is that with all the players coming in and out for the last 10 years, we have not been consistent. We need to make sure we keep that core along with the experienced players so that in the summer we won’t have to bring in eleven new players again.’

He continued. ‘I understand the fans frustration, but look at what has happened here the last few years. It’s easy for me to make lots of changes, but is not good for the long term future of the club. I want to build a side and keep them together. You only win things at this level with consistency. At any club where I have been successful, it has taken time.’

However promotion is still not being ruled out of the equation. ‘The lads don’t want to wait another year, they think they can get into the play offs’ said Kinnear of his men.

Dover will look to bounce back with a trip to Weston Super Mare on Saturday, weather permitting.

Sutton went home with all three points this evening after a 1-0 win over ten man Dover thanks to Craig Dundas’ 2nd minute strike.

Manager Chris Kinnear was pleased with his teams efforts in what was an enthralling battle between two play off rivals. ‘I think we deserved something out of the game – They started very quickly and scored. We more than matched them and it was not easy on the pitch – the sending off killed us really.’

Jeff Goulding was sent off in the second half after two bookings and though his dismissal seemed harsh, Chris Kinnear was critical of his star striker. ‘You set yourself up once you are booked and he was stupid to lunge in. He is new here and anybody that gets sent off lets everyone down – He has to buck his ideas up’.*Q1*

Kinnear revealed his plans to get something from the game had to change radically as the team adjusted to going a man down. ‘We were going to bring on Elder, Bellamy and Ademola for the last twenty minutes and go for it, but we had to wait to see how the other team would change before we did. We matched them for enthusiasm and the spirit was good – No one felt sorry for themselves.’

He added, ‘The main thing is that you stay in the game because you know you are going to get a chance. Tom Wynter had a great opportunity at the end, but had it fallen to Barry Cogan or someone like that, then maybe he would have scored and we would have got a point with ten men. You don’t just throw things about and end up losing 4 or 5, though I thought we were just as good as them with ten men.’

Chris also pointed out the experience that Sutton have compared to his own ranks. ‘They killed the game and there could have been twenty minutes added time, but we did not look bad considering they have players on big money and have been at this level for a long time. We don’t quite have the experience that they do quite yet.’*Lpic1*

With that Chris urged patience from fans towards his young charges. ‘We have good young players. Walker (21), Wynter (23), Murphy (21), Raggett (20), Chris Kinnear (23), Stone (24), Bellamy (21). The problem here is that with all the players coming in and out for the last 10 years, we have not been consistent. We need to make sure we keep that core along with the experienced players so that in the summer we won’t have to bring in eleven new players again.’

He continued. ‘I understand the fans frustration, but look at what has happened here the last few years. It’s easy for me to make lots of changes, but is not good for the long term future of the club. I want to build a side and keep them together. You only win things at this level with consistency. At any club where I have been successful, it has taken time.’

However promotion is still not being ruled out of the equation. ‘The lads don’t want to wait another year, they think they can get into the play offs’ said Kinnear of his men.

Dover will look to bounce back with a trip to Weston Super Mare on Saturday, weather permitting.

*BS*Dover Athletic is excited to announce the launch of Happy Feet Soccer School, the first initiative as part of the new Dover Athletic in the Community Scheme.*BF*

Happy Feet Sessions are run every Saturday and last for 1 hour. Qualified coaches will teach children between 5 and 16 years of age and of all levels and abilities.

Happy Feet will initially take place at *BS*Dover Christchurch Academy*BF*, before relocating to new facilities at Crabble Stadium, currently being developed by the club.

Sessions are split by age group as follow:
*BS*JUNIORS:*BF* 5-10 years old from 9am until 10am
*BS*SENIORS:*BF* 11-16 years old from 10.15am until 11.15am

The cost for all age groups is £3 per child, per session.

*BS*Sessions continue Saturday 22nd February.*BF*

Football in the community officer, Matt Harris said “We are really pleased to be launching Happy Feet; this represents an important milestone for everyone at the club. We have been working on bringing our community project to fruition for some time now and it will be nice to see local young people benefiting from the scheme.”

The Happy Feet project is funded by Dover Athletic Football Club and The Football Conference Trust and will run for an initial 10 months.

Harris said “The Soccer School is just part of the first phase of the project, as we get closer to the summer we will roll-out an inter-schools football tournament, to be held at Crabble before every first team home game, the competition will run over 10 weeks.”

Phase two of the project extends the clubs offering further by providing sport sessions aimed at developing the gross motor, literacy and mathematical development of children between the ages of 2.5 to 5 years. Running alongside this the scheme will create sporting
opportunities for children with a disability where they can develop, not only their interest in sport, but also their personal and social skills in a warm, calm and friendly environment.

Once fully rolled out the Happy Feet project is set to benefit over 300 children from within the local community. The club will be rolling out further initiatives as part of its ‘in the Community’ scheme, over the next 12 months.

Dover Athletic Chairman, Jim Parmenter commented “We have been developing our Community Scheme for several years, but have now reached a stage where we have the personnel and resources to make things really happen. We believe that this Football Club should play a pivitol role in the community; this is just the start of our plans. We hope to have a really positive impact here in Dover and the surrounding area.”

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*BS*Fourth-placed Sutton United make the trip to Crabble on Tuesday, rounding off Whites’ run of three home matches in a week.*BF*

With victories already sealed against Maidenhead and Bath, the side will be aiming to win three consecutive home games for the first time in a year.

Whilst it may be too soon to say that the corner has been turned when it comes to results at Crabble, performances have certainly improved.

The run of three consecutive home matches could potentially have all but ended Whites’ dreams of a playoff place, instead they are well on the way to reviving promotion hopes.

With wins recorded against Maidenhead United and Bath City in the seven days, Whites welcome Sutton United to Crabble in what should prove to be the toughest of the triple-header of games.

Having surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead against both Bishops Stortford and Chelmsford City, for the side to record back-to-back wins has given fresh impetus and hope that a playoff place is within reach. Saturday’s win saw the side climb to 6th in the Skrill South table, two points behind Bath City but with three games in hand over the Somerset side Whites impressively dispatched.

A win against Sutton United on Tuesday night could see Dover rise to 4th place, a position the side have not occupied in almost six months. A slow first-half of the season saw the side slump to 15th at one point, but the feeling around the club is that the experience gained can now help the side to push forward, as Chris Kinnear Jr states: “I don’t think we have anything to fear from any side in the division. We’ve played everyone now and know what to expect from sides, so hopefully the experience from the first half of the season can play into our hands in these last few months.”

Sutton are certain to provide a stern test, one that will certainly give some indication as to how far Dover have come in recent weeks – Paul Doswell’s side have picked up ten points from their last four games, with wins against Chelmsford City (2-0), Basingstoke Town (1-0) and Weston-super-Mare (3-0) adding to a point picked up away at Gosport Borough (2-2).

Contrary to their opponents, Sutton have occupied a top-five position for the majority of the season thus far. Since their arrival in the division for the 2011/12 season, United have finished in 4th and 6th, confirming their status as one of the most consistent and strongest side in the league. Indeed, in the five league meetings between the two sides during this time, Dover are yet to record a victory – whilst Sutton have picked up three wins.

The clash between the sides earlier on in the season, at Gander Green Lane in September, saw a solitary Dean McDonald strike enough to give the hosts all three points. That defeat was Dover’s fourth on the spin at the time, the worst run of games suffered under Chris Kinnear since his return to the club.

McDonald, who had featured for Dover in pre-season, has now moved on – after a brief spell at Margate, the midfielder has joined Whitehawk. He is one of a number of key players who have departed Gander Green Lane in the past couple of months, with Jamie Stuart, Anthony Riviere and Sam Rents all joining Margate.

One player familiar to Whites fans this season is Lee Sawyer, who endured an unsuccessful spell on loan at Crabble earlier on in the campaign. The midfielder signed for United in December after his release from Woking.

Chris Kinnear opted to stick with the same starting line-up for Saturday’s match against Bath City, and after two consecutive victories he is unlikely to rotate the side for Tuesday’s game, meaning Nathan Elder will likely to have to settle for a place on the bench considering the red-hot form of fellow striker Jeff Goulding.

The ex-Chelmsford man has netted seven goals in his five games for Dover so far, with Saturday’s win being the first match he had failed to score in, but his all-round play has impressed Whites fans and he will be more disappointed than anyone that he failed to net for the fifth consecutive match.

The weather forecast for Tuesday shows that rain is expected, although there is no pitch inspection currently planned. First news of any inspection that may be required will appear on doverathletic.com