*BS*Dover Athletic make the short journey along the south coast to Conference South side Eastbourne Borough in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday.*BF*
Whites suffered a 1-0 defeat in the Vanarama Conference at Macclesfield last Saturday courtesy of Paul Lewis’ third goal of the season. The loss leaves Kinnear’s men in 20th position.
The defeat to Macclesfield is the fourth time Dover have lost by a goal to nil this season.
The FA Cup game at Eastbourne provides an excellent opportunity for Dover to get their away record back on track, having not picked up a win away from Crabble since the 1-4 win at Telford on 6 September.
*Q1*Manager Chris Kinnear spoke about the FA Cup tie saying that the game will be far from easy for his team. He said: ‘It is not easy, but it could have been a lot worse. They are a good side with a decent manager’.
Ricky Modeste, Tyrone Sterling, Mitch Walker and Matt Lock are currently on the injury table for Dover and all those players will play no part against Eastbourne.
Striker Stefan Payne is set to continue up-front for Whites. He has scored three goals so far this campaign and is Whites top scorer with Ricky Miller returning to his parent club Luton Town.
Tommy Widdrington’s Eastbourne Borough, also known as the Sports, entered the FA Cup in the second qualifying round.
*Lpic1*They currently occupy sixth place in the Conference South and have only lost three times this season to date.
The Sports have been in fine form of late and are unbeaten in six games. They scored a last gasp equaliser away at Gosport Borough last Saturday to secure a 1-1 draw.
Midfielder Matt Aldred scored the equaliser in that game. He played last season in Whites’ 0-4 triumph at Priory Lane.
Defender Adam Watts is likely to unavailable due to an injury he picked up earlier in the season.
Club captain Ian Simpemba and striker Elliott Charles are two players that could start for the home side against their former club on Saturday.
Kinnear had this to say about coming up against ex White Simpemba. He said: ‘It will be good to see Ian Simpemba as well, he was a great Captain and we were disappointed when he left’.
*Ppic1*Gavin McCallum is the Sports top scorer so far this season with four goals. He is likely to start upfront with Richard Pacquette who has two goals to his name.
They needed penalties to see off Ryman Premier side Enfield Town and an injury time winner to edge past Kingstonian 2-3 which enables them to be in the fourth qualifying round.
Whites last visit to Priory Lane was exactly one year ago yesterday (22nd October) where Kinnear’s men thrashed the Sports 0-4. Tom Murphy, Ricky Modeste and a brace from Barry Cogan were amongst the goals.
Last season, Dover made it to the second round of the FA Cup having won all three qualifying round games against Guernsey, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Oxford City.
They then beat Corby Town 1-2 in the first round proper and were rewarded with a trip to Stadium MK who they met in the second round.
Despite playing out a goalless first half in front of over 4000 fans, MK Dons narrowly beat Whites 1-0 which knocked Kinnear’s side out of the competition.
The Sports got knocked out by Ebbsfleet United in the third qualifying round last season, losing 2-0 at Stonebridge road.
*Lpic2*During the 2005/06 season, the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, when a battling performance saw them hold League Two club Oxford United to a 1–1 draw.
The game against Oxford marked the first time that Eastbourne Borough played a fully professional league-side.
The last time Eastbourne made it to the first round proper was back in the 2007/2008 season. They lost 0-4 against Weymouth.
Admission for the game is £12 for adults, £8 concessions and under 16’s £1.
Supporters unable to make it to Eastbourne on Saturday can follow live updates during the game. Please follow @DAFCLiveText on twitter.
*BS*OTHER FA CUP FIXTURES*BF*
*Ppic2**BS**IS*Friday 24 October*IF**BF*
Macclesfield Town v Wrexham
*BS**IS*Saturday 25 October*IF**BF*
Spennymoor Town v AFC Telford United
King’s Lynn Town v AFC Fylde
Grimsby Town v Guiseley AFC
Norton United v Shildon
Warrington Town v North Ferriby United
Alfreton Town v Lincoln City
Chorley v FC Halifax Town
Barwell v Altrincham
Leek Town v Blyth Spartans AFC
Stockport County v Chester
Gateshead v Gainsborough Trinity
Tamworth v Southport
Dorchester Town v Bristol Rovers
East Thurrock United v Bath City
Gloucester City v Forest Green Rovers
Dartford v Burgess Hill Town
Maidstone United v Welling United
Willand Rovers v Gosport Borough
Witham Town v Weston-Super-Mare
Weymouth v Braintree Town
Canvey Island v Havant & Waterlooville
St Albans City v Concord Rangers
Basingstoke Town v Harrow Borough
Aldershot Town v Torquay United
Kidderminster Harriers v Eastleigh
Evesham United v Bromley
Chelmsford City v Barnet
Nuneaton Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
Woking v Boreham Wood
*BS**IS*Sunday 26 October*IF**BF*
Worcester City v Greenwich Borough