MANAGER Chris Kinnear has received a much-needed fitness boost with goalkeepers Mitch Walker and Steve Arnold both in contention to play in the FA Cup clash at Burgess Hill Town on Saturday.
Walker (leg) was in doubt after getting injured during the defeat at Gateshead last Saturday while Arnold (ankle) has been absent since the loss at Chester a week earlier.
Ricky Modeste is also fit to play against the Ryman Premier League side after missing the past four matches while Sam Magri is back from international duty with the Malta under 21’s.
But it’s not all good news for Whites as they aim to reach the first round for the fourth consecutive season.
Aswad Thomas and Moses Emmanuel are both suspended while midfielders Chris Kinnear jnr and Leyton Orient loanee Sammy Moore will also both be missing at the Green Elephant Stadium.
Kinnear has a back injury while Moore’s parent club won’t let him play in the fourth round qualifying tie.
Dover’s other loanee, Eastleigh’s Ayo Oblieye is available to play at a ground where Whites have tasted FA Cup success before.
Goals from Andy Hessenthaler and Matt Carruthers sealed a 2-0 win in September 2007.
Whites also won both Ryman 1 South league meetings between the sides that season 1-0 with both goals scored by Jimmy Dryden.
*BS* BURGESS HILL TOWN’S RECENT FORM *BF*
The Hillians booked their place in the round after crushing Cadbury Heath, who play their football in The Toolstation Western Football League – Premier Division, 6-1.
They are unbeaten in their past 11 games in all competitions, a run that includes six wins.
They beat visiting Leatherhead 3-2 last Saturday.
*BS*RECENT MEETINGS *BF*
15/09/07: Burgess Hill Town 0-2 Dover Athletic (FA Cup)
27/10/07: Burgess Hill Town 0-1 Dover Athletic
05/04/07: Dover Athletic 1-0 Burgess Hill Town
*BS*HITMEN *BF*
Whites’ top-scorer this season is Ricky Miller with 10 following his strike at Gateshead last Saturday.
Miller is now the joint National League leading scorer alongside Dagenham & Redbridge frontman Ollie Hawkins.
The Hillians leading man is Pat Harding with five, a haul which includes a hat-trick in the FA Cup win against Cadbury Heath.
*BS*DOVER COLOURS *BF*
For Dover fans wanting to show their colours by wearing the matching shirts as the players, Whites will be wearing their blue shirts.
*BS*COVERAGE *BF*
The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!
Coverage starts from 2pm.
*BS*COACH TRAVEL *BF*
There will be a Supporters Club coach making the trip to Sussex and it’s not too late to get on it.
It leaves Crabble at 11am and the cost is as follows:
Adults Members £15, Adult Non Members £20 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.
Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat.
*BS*SATURDAY’S OTHER FA CUP FIXTURES *BF*
1 Southport v Chester
2 Alfreton Town v Gateshead
3 North Ferriby Utd v Macclesfield Town
4 FC United of Manchester/Harrogate Town v FC Halifax Town
5 Stockport County v Bishop Auckland
6 Barrow v Tranmere Rovers
7 Halesowen Town/Nantwich Town v Stourbridge
8 Altrincham v Matlock Town/Workington
9 Lincoln City v Guiseley
10 Lincoln Utd v Spennymoor Town
11 Stamford v Wrexham
12 York City v Curzon Ashton
13 Welling Utd v Whitehawk
14 Westfields v Leiston
15 Sutton Utd v Forest Green Rovers
16 Chesham Utd v Potters Bar Town/Bath City
17 Dagenham & Redbridge v Wealdstone
18 Torquay Utd v Woking
19 Taunton Town v Gloucester City/Hemel Hempstead Town
20 Braintree Town v Bromley
21 Beaconsfield SYCOB v Brackley Town
22 Tonbridge Angels v Dartford
23 Faversham Town/Egham Town v St Albans City
24 Boreham Wood v Hendon
25 Aldershot Town v Eastbourne Borough/Hadley
26 Harrow Borough v Margate/Hastings Utd
27 Maidstone Utd v Billericay Town
28 Kidderminster Harriers v Weymouth
29 Solihull Moors v Kettering Town
30 Burgess Hill Town v Dover Athletic
31 Merstham v Ebbsfleet Utd
32 Eastleigh v North Leigh