*BS*WHITES will hope to extend their unbeaten run over the festive period at a time when surprise results are the norm.*BF*

January is a month when many of the top sides face each other so if Dover can overcome a couple of Kent derbies next week unscathed, they will be in an enviable position going into 2008.

The festive period may have a surprise up its sleeve, however. Boxing Day, in particular, often throws out the form book.

In a festive round-up of past Christmas matches, Guardian Unlimited this week published the following set of First Division results from Boxing Day 1963:

Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea
Burnley 6-1 Manchester United
Fulham 10-1 Ipswich Town
Leicester City 2-0 Everton
Liverpool 6-1 Stoke City
Nottingham Forest 3-3 Sheffield United
West Bromwich Albion 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Bolton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-3 Aston Villa
West Ham United 2-8 Blackburn Rovers

On Boxing Day last season Dover had two points snatched out of their grasp in the dying minutes by Hastings in yet another one of those exasperating Ryman South matches of old. Anything can happen in the period of Christmas feasts, much mulled wine and knitted jumpers from your Auntie.

Whites are looking strong though. Last Saturday’s tussle against Cray was far from pretty but a good result against a side which is increasingly tough to beat. Matt Fish was a casualty, however, dislocating a shoulder. The young defender has been one of the unsung heroes at the back this season and will be hard boots to fill.

*Lpic1*Star midfielder Jon Wallis is the likeliest to take the right back berth, having done so when Fish went off at Bromley. Andy Hessenthaler should take his place in midfield, unless the player-boss has any further calf problems. If so, Craig Cloke could be pushed up-field.

The returning Laurence Ball could also be an option at right back, after his spell with Ryman Premier club Ramsgate. Hessenthaler is unlikely to want to risk bringing someone ‘new’ in at this time though. Another defensive option back at Crabble is Liam Quinn, who has spent a month on loan Whitstable.

The return of Quinn to Dover is a big blow for the Oystermen. Whites’ opponents at SeaFrance Crabble on Saturday, December 29 have struggled defensively this season and Quinn has impressed at the heart of their back-line adding some much-needed aggression. Whitstable’s form has picked up a little in recent weeks, putting in a strong performance at home to Chatham in a 3-0 victory. They look more comfortable in possession than they did in August but fragility at the back is still a major concern.

Dover will be keen to keep the goals flowing on home turf, where they have been in a hot streak of form recently. This Saturday’s opponents are Horsham YMCA, another club whose form has improved since Hess’s men won 5-1 back in August. Whites will hopefully make sure that YMCA’s 2-1 home victory against Walton & Hersham remains the high point of the first half of their season, which concludes this weekend.

YM picked up their first away win of the season last Saturday, beating Croydon Athletic 2-1. This weekend’s match will be the biggest crowd to watch YMCA this season – the biggest so far was 383 on Dover’s trip to Horsham on the first day. Goalkeeper Dean Ruddy will no doubt be disappointed to miss out on playing against his old club.

All Whites’ festive opponents are languishing in the bottom half of the table but Boxing Day’s trip to Ashford is certain to be a tough task. The Nuts and Bolts were abject in both games against Dover last season but the same cannot be expected this time round, Ashford having brought in a number of experienced players.

*Lpic2*Centre back Sean Ray, skipper of Hastings last season, has steadied the ship a little in defence since he signed last month. His partner at the back is Nicky Humphrey, who is one of eight ex-Dover players now plying their trade at Homelands.

Full backs Tony Browne and Danny Braithwaite have returned from injury. Walid Matata, Danny Lye and Kevin Lott are all regulars in the Ashford squad too. Mark Lovell will play up front against his former club, where he scored five league goals earlier this season.

One man unlikely to feature is former Dover captain Lee Spiller. Having injured his knee in September, Spills returned to the Ashford line-up against Tonbridge last week but a recurrence of the injury means he will probably be out for a while. His unavailability could be construed as either good or bad news for Dover going into the game. As it is the season of goodwill, I will come down on the side of ‘good news’.

As ever, Dover will be aiming to get the full nine points from the three matches. However, a draw or even two draws would not be the end of the world. Going into 2008 having lost only once in the league would be an outstanding achievement, however many points are on the board.

*BS*MERRY CHRISTMAS*BF*

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*BS*As we near the halfway stage of the Ryman League Division One South season, here we round-up some of the statistics that give us an indication of how the teams are shaping up for 2008.*BF*

This round-up includes:
– Crazy Chatham form;
– Ashford’s narrow margin of dropped points;
– How attendances are reflected in table;
– Who will go to the wire in the title race.

But first…

*BS*Cray yet to be ‘locked out’, as the Americans would say…*BF*

The Wanderers of Ryman South have scored in every league game they have played so far this season, which is a total of 21 – half the fixture list. Michael Power’s first half penalty against Dover on Saturday kept up their impressive record, which amounts to an average of 2.1 goals per game.

Surprisingly, the team placed 2nd in the list of ‘most consecutive games scored in’ is Ashford, with 13 games on the trot. The Nuts and Bolts have failed to score in only three league matches. Unforunately for them, they have lost 2-1 five times and drawn 1-1 five times also. Had these losses and draws been improved into draws and wins, Ashford would be lying 8th in Ryman South instead of 16th. Their lack of fire power has cost them so far; Dover have scored 21 more goals than Steve Lovell’s side in the same number of games. Their defensive record is comparable to Tooting, Cray and Met Police.

Dover’s ‘goals in consecutive games’ record is nine matches. It would be all 18 had Whites managed to score against Chatham.

*BS*Speaking of Chatham…*BF*

*Lpic1*Arguably the most inconsistent team in Ryman South this season is the Chats. Some of their sequences of results this season are extraordinary…

Lost at Croydon Athletic 6-2, then beat Met Police 2-0 at home, Dover 1-0 away and Kingtonian 1-0 away. These three wins against promotion-chasing opponents were followed up by two home losses against Sittingbourne and Burgess Hill. Having conceded no goals against the Police, Dover or K’s, Chats conceded SIX goals in those two matches at Maidstone Road.

After conceding six in two, Chatham then both scored and conceded no goals in the next two games. However, that was followed by a 4-3 defeat at Walton Casuals and a 3-0 drubbing at Whitstable (which I witnessed due to Whites’ postponed match at Walton Casuals and the game could barely have been more one-sided).

Having scored just three goals in four games, Chats have scored six in their last two league matches, drawing 3-3 at Horsham YMCA and winning 3-2 at home to basement club Molesey. Perhaps Chatham’s directors should publicise their team’s high-scoring matches in a bid to improve attendances.

*BS*Talking of bigger sides…*BF*

It is easy to see why the league table stands as it is, with the top eight pulling away from the rest. With the exception of Met Police and Walton & Hersham (who have surprisingly low attendances), the top sides vying for promotion are the better supported teams.

That may seem like an obvious thing to say but it’s not always the case that having a big support guarantees a high position in the table. Look at Lewes as an example of a team who started out with a very small fanbase and have gained numerous promotions in the past 10 years, gradually increasing their support. It still remains quite small today, in Conference South, with gates below 600. However, Conference South on the whole is littered with teams whose support base is lower than seven or eight Ryman League clubs.

*BS*Ryman South league table…*BF*

Rounding up, we can see at almost the halfway stage of the season how the promotion chase is shaping up. It is looking increasingly unlikely that last seasons incredible turnarounds will be repeated. Champions Maidstone, play-off victors Hastings and runners-up Tooting all lost at least five league games prior to December in 2006-07. Tooting and Hastings started particularly poorly and went on long unbeaten runs. In fact, Tooting’s stretched from January to the end of April.
*Lpic2*
Whites then must be wary of the rise of teams around mid-table. However, as I said, I don’t think the same kind of rise up the table is likely. The top and bottom halves are much more separated this season. Barring a miracle, every team from Burgess Hill downwards can be ruled out of the title race (not the play-offs, admittedly). A higher points total than last season is almost certainly going to be needed to win the title, so any side on less than 30 points currently is going to have to win more than 90% of their remaining matches to challenge for top spot.

If I was to pick one side that could put a bad start behind them and go on to gain more than 80 points, it would be Dulwich Hamlet. Despite losing six matches prior to December, they have gradually become more and more solid defensively and are able to unsettle the title favourites too, as seen in their 2-2 draw at Dover and 1-0 victory at Tooting. The sticking point is their goalscoring record. 30 goals in 20 games will probably need to be doubled in the next 20 if they are to be contenders.

It is hard to see beyond Whites at the moment, with the quality in midfield and attack so much better than the previous two years. Some people are still expecting Andy Hessenthaler’s team to trip up as Clive Walker’s did. We shall find out in the next two or three months if that belief has anything to support it.

*BS*As we near the halfway stage of the Ryman League Division One South season, here we round-up some of the statistics that give us an indication of how the teams are shaping up for 2008.*BF*

This round-up includes:
– Crazy Chatham form;
– Ashford’s narrow margin of dropped points;
– How attendances are reflected in table;
– Who will go to the wire in the title race.

But first…

*BS*Cray yet to be ‘locked out’, as the Americans would say…*BF*

The Wanderers of Ryman South have scored in every league game they have played so far this season, which is a total of 21 – half the fixture list. Michael Power’s first half penalty against Dover on Saturday kept up their impressive record, which amounts to an average of 2.1 goals per game.

Surprisingly, the team placed 2nd in the list of ‘most consecutive games scored in’ is Ashford, with 13 games on the trot. The Nuts and Bolts have failed to score in only three league matches. Unforunately for them, they have lost 2-1 five times and drawn 1-1 five times also. Had these losses and draws been improved into draws and wins, Ashford would be lying 8th in Ryman South instead of 16th. Their lack of fire power has cost them so far; Dover have scored 21 more goals than Steve Lovell’s side in the same number of games. Their defensive record is comparable to Tooting, Cray and Met Police.

Dover’s ‘goals in consecutive games’ record is nine matches. It would be all 18 had Whites managed to score against Chatham.

*BS*Speaking of Chatham…*BF*

*Lpic1*Arguably the most inconsistent team in Ryman South this season is the Chats. Some of their sequences of results this season are extraordinary…

Lost at Croydon Athletic 6-2, then beat Met Police 2-0 at home, Dover 1-0 away and Kingtonian 1-0 away. These three wins against promotion-chasing opponents were followed up by two home losses against Sittingbourne and Burgess Hill. Having conceded no goals against the Police, Dover or K’s, Chats conceded SIX goals in those two matches at Maidstone Road.

After conceding six in two, Chatham then both scored and conceded no goals in the next two games. However, that was followed by a 4-3 defeat at Walton Casuals and a 3-0 drubbing at Whitstable (which I witnessed due to Whites’ postponed match at Walton Casuals and the game could barely have been more one-sided).

Having scored just three goals in four games, Chats have scored six in their last two league matches, drawing 3-3 at Horsham YMCA and winning 3-2 at home to basement club Molesey. Perhaps Chatham’s directors should publicise their team’s high-scoring matches in a bid to improve attendances.

*BS*Talking of bigger sides…*BF*

It is easy to see why the league table stands as it is, with the top eight pulling away from the rest. With the exception of Met Police and Walton & Hersham (who have surprisingly low attendances), the top sides vying for promotion are the better supported teams.

That may seem like an obvious thing to say but it’s not always the case that having a big support guarantees a high position in the table. Look at Lewes as an example of a team who started out with a very small fanbase and have gained numerous promotions in the past 10 years, gradually increasing their support. It still remains quite small today, in Conference South, with gates below 600. However, Conference South on the whole is littered with teams whose support base is lower than seven or eight Ryman League clubs.

*BS*Ryman South league table…*BF*

Rounding up, we can see at almost the halfway stage of the season how the promotion chase is shaping up. It is looking increasingly unlikely that last seasons incredible turnarounds will be repeated. Champions Maidstone, play-off victors Hastings and runners-up Tooting all lost at least five league games prior to December in 2006-07. Tooting and Hastings started particularly poorly and went on long unbeaten runs. In fact, Tooting’s stretched from January to the end of April.
*Lpic2*
Whites then must be wary of the rise of teams around mid-table. However, as I said, I don’t think the same kind of rise up the table is likely. The top and bottom halves are much more separated this season. Barring a miracle, every team from Burgess Hill downwards can be ruled out of the title race (not the play-offs, admittedly). A higher points total than last season is almost certainly going to be needed to win the title, so any side on less than 30 points currently is going to have to win more than 90% of their remaining matches to challenge for top spot.

If I was to pick one side that could put a bad start behind them and go on to gain more than 80 points, it would be Dulwich Hamlet. Despite losing six matches prior to December, they have gradually become more and more solid defensively and are able to unsettle the title favourites too, as seen in their 2-2 draw at Dover and 1-0 victory at Tooting. The sticking point is their goalscoring record. 30 goals in 20 games will probably need to be doubled in the next 20 if they are to be contenders.

It is hard to see beyond Whites at the moment, with the quality in midfield and attack so much better than the previous two years. Some people are still expecting Andy Hessenthaler’s team to trip up as Clive Walker’s did. We shall find out in the next two or three months if that belief has anything to support it.

.

.

*BS*WHITES will hope to stretch their winning run on Saturday at promotion-chasing Cray Wanderers in another top-of-the-table clash for Andy Hessenthaler’s team.*BF*

Dover will come up against an in-form side, which seems to be the present theme, for what promises to be a tough encounter.

Cray seem to be finding their feet after an inconsistent start to the season and more secure at the back than when Whites won more comfortably than the 3-2 scoreline suggests at Crabble in August.

The presence of holding midfielder Danny Chapman in their starting line-up is undoubtedly one reason for the improved defensive record. Despite being a player who split opinion during his years with Dover, Chapman arguably drove Whites to the Ryman One play-offs in 2006. His determination and will to win is a key strength but also his main weakness too.

This was evident on any number of occasions in a Dover shirt. Away to Weymouth during that awful slide down the Southern Premier table in 2004 and last season’s never-to-be-forgotten clash with Anton Innocent being prime examples. In keeping with this character trait, ‘Chappers’ undid his string of forceful displays in 2006 by lashing out at a Leatherhead player on one of those horrid nights away in the Clive Walker reign, suspending himself from the all-important play-off ties.

He will no doubt relish Saturday’s clash with Whites’ excelling midfield trio. John Keister will effectively ‘return’ from a one match ban that the Dartford Kent Senior Cup reserve outing took care of, adding a bit of spark no doubt to the midfield contest. The last time the two played alongside each other was that contentious game against Godalming last season. Let’s hope Whites do not see red this weekend.
*Lpic1*
Other key men for Cray will include former Maidstone centre back Ryan Royston, who, despite being vulnerable to pace, is a rugged defender and was renowned last season at Maidstone for scoring headers from set pieces.

The Wood brothers, Jamie and Lewis, continue to score plenty of goals for manager Ian Jenkins’ attacking outfit. Michael Power and George Fenwick also provide some strength and movement that should keep the Dover back-line on its toes.

Making the Cray side tick is usually young midfield play-maker Ross Lover and it will be interesting to see how he fares against Alan Pouton and company in a congested midfield with stronger players.

There is some more experience for Cray to call upon in last season’s no.1 at Crabble Glen Knight and former Kingstonian left back Colin Luckett. What they lack in pace, they tend to make up in experience. Dover should be keen to test that with some movement, pace and pressure from the likes of Frannie Collin at the weekend though.

It was Collin who glided through the Worthing defence last Saturday time and time again, scoring twice and providing Welford with the other goal. Those who stayed at home missed some delightful interplay between the young forward and Jon Wallis in particular.

However, the 2-0 victory against Walton & Hersham the previous Monday proved that Dover can win and entertain when Collin is not on song. Looking jaded, Frannie was a peripheral figure in a comfortable win against a team who have lurched from a strong run to a nightmare in recent weeks. Other players are there to steal the show if their team-mates are not quite at the races. Dover fans eagerly await the game when they all click together.
*Ppic1*
Let us not get carried away here though. Dover have worked hard to put themselves in a strong position at the top of the table. However, the club has been there before in previous seasons – later in the fixture list than 17 games – and surrendered its lead.

Last season Dover had tough spells in November and December but the titanic damage was done in January and February with losses against Dulwich, Tooting, Maidstone, Met Police and Molesey. Last January Dulwich looked absolutely nailed on for the title until they sold their leading goalscorer.

As for this season, Dover have yet to play a current top eight club away from home. That will change on Saturday and there are a lot of twists and turns possible yet in a title race that doesn’t usually take shape until February.

Finally, team news is good for Hessenthaler. Goalkeeper Dean Ruddy came through Tuesday’s match at Princes Park well and loan stopper David Wilkinson will stay for another month. Lee Browning and Hessenthaler himself are still a week away from fitness, however.

*BS*ANDY HESSENTHALER does not want the vacant Brentford managerial post – contrary to today’s Daily Mail.

*BF*The paper wrongly reports that Hess wants to take over from Terry Butcher, who was sacked by the League Two club this week.

Hess was pipped to the post 18 months ago by Leroy Rosenior.

However, since then he has become our player-manager, guided Whites four points clear at the top of Ryman One – and told anyone who cares to listen how much he is enjoying himself at SeaFrance Crabble.

He said: “The story is rubbish. I was interviewed at Brentford a year and a half ago and Leroy got the post.

“I’ve not spoken to the club since and not had any burning ambition to manage there once I heard Terry left this week.

“Some journalists like to play guessing games and the Daily Mail have obviously thrown my name into the mix.

“I’m enjoying my time at Dover and want to get the club back into the Blue Square Premier in the next few years. That’s my ambition.”

Due to Hess’s profile and the fact he is doing a great job at Dover Athletic, it is only natural that his name will be mentioned for jobs at a higher level.

But the Whites boss is a unique figure in the game and has no intention of walking out on the club with his race to bring honours to the club only on the first bend of the first lap.

*BS*WHITES will hope to stretch their winning run on Saturday at promotion-chasing Cray Wanderers in another top-of-the-table clash for Andy Hessenthaler’s team.*BF*

Dover will come up against an in-form side, which seems to be the present theme, for what promises to be a tough encounter.

Cray seem to be finding their feet after an inconsistent start to the season and more secure at the back than when Whites won more comfortably than the 3-2 scoreline suggests at Crabble in August.

The presence of holding midfielder Danny Chapman in their starting line-up is undoubtedly one reason for the improved defensive record. Despite being a player who split opinion during his years with Dover, Chapman arguably drove Whites to the Ryman One play-offs in 2006. His determination and will to win is a key strength but also his main weakness too.

This was evident on any number of occasions in a Dover shirt. Away to Weymouth during that awful slide down the Southern Premier table in 2004 and last season’s never-to-be-forgotten clash with Anton Innocent being prime examples. In keeping with this character trait, ‘Chappers’ undid his string of forceful displays in 2006 by lashing out at a Leatherhead player on one of those horrid nights away in the Clive Walker reign, suspending himself from the all-important play-off ties.

He will no doubt relish Saturday’s clash with Whites’ excelling midfield trio. John Keister will effectively ‘return’ from a one match ban that the Dartford Kent Senior Cup reserve outing took care of, adding a bit of spark no doubt to the midfield contest. The last time the two played alongside each other was that contentious game against Godalming last season. Let’s hope Whites do not see red this weekend.
*Lpic1*
Other key men for Cray will include former Maidstone centre back Ryan Royston, who, despite being vulnerable to pace, is a rugged defender and was renowned last season at Maidstone for scoring headers from set pieces.

The Wood brothers, Jamie and Lewis, continue to score plenty of goals for manager Ian Jenkins’ attacking outfit. Michael Power and George Fenwick also provide some strength and movement that should keep the Dover back-line on its toes.

Making the Cray side tick is usually young midfield play-maker Ross Lover and it will be interesting to see how he fares against Alan Pouton and company in a congested midfield with stronger players.

There is some more experience for Cray to call upon in last season’s no.1 at Crabble Glen Knight and former Kingstonian left back Colin Luckett. What they lack in pace, they tend to make up in experience. Dover should be keen to test that with some movement, pace and pressure from the likes of Frannie Collin at the weekend though.

It was Collin who glided through the Worthing defence last Saturday time and time again, scoring twice and providing Welford with the other goal. Those who stayed at home missed some delightful interplay between the young forward and Jon Wallis in particular.

However, the 2-0 victory against Walton & Hersham the previous Monday proved that Dover can win and entertain when Collin is not on song. Looking jaded, Frannie was a peripheral figure in a comfortable win against a team who have lurched from a strong run to a nightmare in recent weeks. Other players are there to steal the show if their team-mates are not quite at the races. Dover fans eagerly await the game when they all click together.
*Ppic1*
Let us not get carried away here though. Dover have worked hard to put themselves in a strong position at the top of the table. However, the club has been there before in previous seasons – later in the fixture list than 17 games – and surrendered its lead.

Last season Dover had tough spells in November and December but the titanic damage was done in January and February with losses against Dulwich, Tooting, Maidstone, Met Police and Molesey. Last January Dulwich looked absolutely nailed on for the title until they sold their leading goalscorer.

As for this season, Dover have yet to play a current top eight club away from home. That will change on Saturday and there are a lot of twists and turns possible yet in a title race that doesn’t usually take shape until February.

Finally, team news is good for Hessenthaler. Goalkeeper Dean Ruddy came through Tuesday’s match at Princes Park well and loan stopper David Wilkinson will stay for another month. Lee Browning and Hessenthaler himself are still a week away from fitness, however.