DOVER head to Gloucestershire on Saturday aiming to get back to winning ways in the National League at promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers.

Whites slipped out of the play-off places after losing 2-1 at Crabble against Dagenham & Redbridge in their last league game.

That was followed by the FA Trophy exit at the hands of Dartford in Tuesday’s first round replay after the draw at Princes Park last Saturday.

Dover beat Forest Green 4-3 in the first meeting between the sides earlier this season after Ricky Miller scored at stunning hat-trick at Crabble in September.

But The New Lawn has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Whites of late – they are winless there on their previous four visits.

The hosts won two of those encounters while the others ended in draws, including the 1-1 in the play-off semi-finals last season.

Assistant boss Jake Leberl is under no illusions about how tough breaking the drought in Nailsworth is going to be.

He said: “There is no questioning their quality – it’s going to be an extremely difficult game, they always are there.

“Saying that, we know we can compete with them and our win against them earlier this season proves it. I thought we were also unlucky not to win there in the final game of last season.

“Yes, we’ve had a bad week, teams do, and we didn’t do ourselves justice during it, but there’s nothing we can do about it now.
“It’s no good wondering what have been – you’ve got to focus on the present and we are sixth in the National League and just a point out of the play-offs.

“We’ve got to go there, get at them and play as well as we know we can.”

FOREST GREEN’S RECENT FORM

Forest Green advanced to the second round of the FA Trophy after a 1-0 win in extra time at Truro City on Tuesday.

Darren Carter got the decisive goal in the 109th minute to secure the win.

City, who are 14th in National League South, had held Forest Green to a 1-1 draw at The New Lawn in the first game on Saturday to force a replay.

In their league campaign, Forest Green are currently third, three places and four points ahead of Whites.

They lost 3-1 at Wrexham in their last league game after being held to a 2-2 draw at home against Tranmere five days earlier.

RECENT MEETINGS

14/11/2015: Forest Green Rovers 3-1 Dover Athletic
30/04/2016: Dover Athletic 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
04/05/2016: Dover Athletic 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
07/05/2016: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Dover Athletic
10/09/2016: Dover Athletic 4-3 Forest Green Rovers

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Ricky Miller with 24.

Miller’s strike partner Ross Lafayette has nine goals while Moses Emmanuel’s has eight to his name.

Christian Doidge is Forest Green’s leading man with eight goals.

TEAM NEWS

Assistant boss Jake Leberl said on Friday that Leyton Orient loanee Sammy Moore has not yet recovered from his hamstring injury.

The midfielder has now missed the past three games.

Forest Green will be without the suspended Dale Bennett following his red card at Truro on Tuesday and the injured Sam Wedgbury.

New striker Shamir Mullings is in contention to make his debut after joining from Chelmsford City.

DOVER COLOURS

For Dover fans wanting to show their colours at The New Lawn by wearing the matching shirts as the players, captain Jamie Grimes and his team-mates will be wearing their blue shirts.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip to Nailsworth, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Macclesfield Town vs Bromley (12.15pm)
Boreham Wood vs Barrow
ChesterFC vs Aldershot Town
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Solihull Moors
Gateshead vs Braintree Town
Lincoln City vs Tranmere Rovers
Maidstone United vs North Ferriby United
Southport vs Eastleigh
Sutton United vs Wrexham
Woking vs Guiseley AFC
York City vs Torquay United

LOOKING AHEAD

The Supporters Club are running a coach to the National League game at Maidstone United on New Year’s Day.

Coach leaves Crabble at 4.15pm and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £10, Adult Non Members £15 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat.