Match Preview by Fred Deveson.

Dover are back at Crabble this weekend as they host Dartford, who are struggling towards the bottom end of the league. 

The visitors have a particularly poor record in their last five matches, losing every one of them, and only scoring two goals in that tricky period.

The away side are without a win since boxing day, when they came out on top away to Welling United, who are themselves fighting for survival. 

Dartford are not big scorers either, having only scored four goals this calender year, which is something Dover will be looking to exploit this weekend, as the Whites’ defence has largely improved despite letting in six last weekend at Worthing.

The away side have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven games and have been the first to concede in four of their last five, showing just how poor their record is of late.

The visitors have had a slightly busier schedule recently, with postponements making their schedule difficult. Dartford hosted Chippenham during the week; a game in which the visitors took a 0-1 win. 

As for Dover Athletic, their record has not been much better than Dartford’s lately but they did find their scoring boots last week at Worthing, scoring four times in a 6-4 defeat. 

The defence has somewhat weakened in the last two away fixtures, conceding nine in the last two, but at home it is a different story, with Dover keeping a clean sheet against Slough last time out at Crabble.

The two George’s at Dover have scored plenty for Dover in the past few games, with George Wilkinson getting two wonderful goals against Worthing, and George Nikaj netting the winner against Slough and the equaliser at Taunton. 

The Whites will be hoping that the pair can find their form once again against a leaky Dartford defence.

before the game Manager Jake Leberl has said:

We look to bounce back here today & get back to being a lot harder to beat than we have been in the two previous away games, where at home to date we have been, it’s our job to motivate the players & install the correct work ethic & temperament into the group to keep going to the last kick of the season which I feel we have just come away from in last two games, we need to build for whatever lay ahead what we can’t do or accept is down tools.

Jake Leberl

Dover Athletic vs Dartford – Saturday 17 February 2024, 3pm

Ticket Information:

Admission for this match is by turnstile only. We accept both card and cash on the gate.

Adults – £17

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult

We are also offering a five game ticket. These can only be used by one individual per match and not in groups.

Adult – £75 (£10 saving)
Concession – £65 (£10 saving)