Assistant boss Jake Leberl has issued an impassioned rallying call to Dover fans as his team prepares for what could be their final home game of their National League campaign against Macclesfield Town tonight..
Dover are sixth on the table ahead of the clash with the ninth-placed Cheshire visitors and are currently four points behind fifth-placed Aldershot Town but with a game in hand on the Shots.
It means nothing else but a win will do tonight to keep alive any hopes of Dover have of reaching the play-offs heading into Saturday’s final day of the regular season.
Leberl said: “You cannot under-estimate how much the fans matter at this club. They’re our 12th man and I know that because I’ve played here.
“Saturday’s loss to Torquay was extremely disappointing and frustrating after knowing going into that game how big it was and coming away with nothing – nobody needs telling that, especially the fans.
“We have two games to go and we need two wins – we need the fans to stay behind us. We need to be together, we need to be united because this play-off race has not been won yet.
“Football is a funny old game and anything can happen.”
MACCLESFIELD’S RECENT FORM
The Silkmen were unable to gatecrash Lincoln City’s promotion party on Saturday as the home side came from behind to win 2-1 in front of a crowd of 10,031.
Mitch Hancox stunned the Imps after he gave the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute before Terry Hawridge pounced on an loose ball to level the scores six minutes later.
The winger grabbed his second late on with a curling finish to seal the title and a return to the Football League for Lincoln after a six year absence.
LAST MEETING
10/01/17 Macclesfield 2-1 Dover
Captain Jamie Grimes’ second goal in as many games was not enough to prevent Whites losing at the Moss Rose.
Grimes (pictured above celebrating his goal in January) beat goalkeeper Scott Flinders to James Hurst’s free-kick to head his side infront in the eighth minute.
That’s the way it stayed until Chris Holroyd scored from close range in the 67th minute before the striker claimed his second of the night after raced clear to slot the winner past goalkeeper Steve Arnold seven minutes later.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
12/4/16 Macclesfield 0-0 Dover
17/10/15 Dover 2-1 Macclesfield
18/10/14 Macclesfield 1-0 Dover
HITMEN
Ricky Miller remains the top scorer in the National League with 36 goals.
Moses Emmanuel and Ross Lafayette both have 11.
Macclesfield’s leading marksman is Holroyd with 13.
DOVER TEAM NEWS
Assistant boss Leberl said on Monday evening that there are no injury concerns ahead of the game
COVERAGE
The game starts at 7:45pm 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 7pm.
MATCH SPONSOR
Today’s match is being sponsored by EXCLUSIVE HOUSEHOLD STAFF.
MATCH BALL SPONSOR
Today’s match ball is jointly being sponsored by JOHN MARTIN and the CORNWALLIS COMPANY.
All of us at Dover Athletic thank all our sponsors for your support and we hope that you enjoy your time with us this evening.
TUESDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURE
Maidstone United v Lincoln City
AWAY TRAVEL
There will be a Supporters Club coach making the trip to Barrow on Saturday 29th April and it’s not too late to reserve your seat on it.
It leaves Crabble at 3am and thanks to a donation from the Supporters club, the cost is as follows:
Adults Members £20, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.
Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot tonight.
Please note you are now required to pay for your seat in advance by cash or by cheque or via bank transfer.
Visit http://www.dasc.co.uk/ for all the details.