Dover Athletic and Dorking Wanderers meet for the second successive Saturday as the two sides go head-to-head in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup at the Megger Community Stadium. Just seven days after sharing the points in a dramatic 1-1 National League South draw at Crabble, the Whites and Wanderers renew their rivalry with a place in the First Round Proper at stake. Jack Bates’ stoppage-time equaliser ensured there was nothing to separate the sides in their league encounter, setting up another eagerly anticipated contest between two teams enjoying strong runs of form.
With a big crowd expected and the possibility of a memorable FA Cup afternoon at Crabble, supporters are encouraged to arrive early and get behind Jake Leberl’s side as they look to take the next step in their cup journey.
Dover Athletic
The Whites head into Saturday’s cup tie unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, having extended their encouraging run with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Dorking Wanderers last weekend. The visitors made a bright start to the National League South encounter, with former Dover forward George Nikaj causing problems in the opening exchanges. Dorking thought they had taken an early lead when Brennan Camp converted from close range, only for the assistant referee to rule the effort out for offside. Dover grew into the contest, with Jack Bates forcing an excellent save from Glenn Morris midway through the first half, while Harry Beadle also went close with a header. The breakthrough eventually came for Dorking in the 58th minute. A corner from Josh Pybus created an opportunity inside the Dover penalty area, with Alfie Rutherford reacting quickest to fire home from close range.
Leberl introduced fresh attacking options as the Whites searched for a response, but Dorking continued to threaten on the counterattack and looked set to secure all three points. However, the afternoon took a dramatic turn in stoppage time when Dover were awarded a penalty. Bates stepped forward and saw his initial effort saved by Morris, but reacted quickest to convert the rebound and rescue a point in front of 985 supporters.
The result followed Dover’s 2-1 victory away at Hanwell Town in the previous round of the FA Cup, when goals from Luke Baptiste and Decarrey Sheriff secured progression to the Fourth Qualifying Round. Having also overcome Folkestone Invicta earlier in the competition, the Whites now stand one victory away from reaching the First Round Proper.
Dorking Wanderers
Dorking Wanderers return to Crabble just a week after coming within moments of securing all three points in their National League South meeting with Dover. Marc White’s side demonstrated their attacking quality throughout the encounter, with George Nikaj, Alfie Rutherford and Charlie Wood all creating problems for the Dover defence. Rutherford’s second-half strike appeared to have secured victory for the visitors, but Bates’ late equaliser ensured the points were shared. Wanderers have enjoyed an encouraging spell of form in recent weeks, with their attacking performances helping them establish themselves among the sides competing towards the upper end of the National League South table.
Their journey to the Fourth Qualifying Round has included some dramatic encounters. Dorking required a replay against Southall after an initial 2-2 draw, eventually progressing with a thrilling 5-4 victory after extra time. They followed that result with a narrower victory over Chatham Town in the Third Qualifying Round. Harry Pinchard scored directly from a corner in the 54th minute to secure a 1-0 win at Meadowbank, with goalkeeper Glenn Morris producing several important saves to preserve the advantage. Now the Surrey side travel to Dover for a second consecutive weekend, with both teams familiar with one another following Saturday’s competitive league meeting.
Last Time
The two sides could hardly be more familiar heading into this weekend’s FA Cup encounter, having met at the Megger Community Stadium just seven days earlier. Dorking enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with George Nikaj twice threatening the Dover goal and Brennan Camp having an effort ruled out for offside. Dover responded positively, using an energetic high press to disrupt the visitors’ attempts to play out from the back. Jack Bates came closest to opening the scoring for the Whites during the first half, unleashing a powerful strike from around 25 yards that required an excellent save from Glenn Morris. The sides went into the interval goalless, but Dorking broke the deadlock shortly before the hour mark. Josh Pybus delivered a corner into the penalty area, where Camp’s initial contact left the ball loose for Alfie Rutherford to fire through a crowd of bodies and past Mitch Walker. Dover made several substitutions in search of an equaliser, with Decarrey Sheriff going close and Euan Williams unable to convert a late opportunity. With the clock ticking into stoppage time, the Whites were awarded a penalty and Bates was handed the chance to level the scores. Although Morris saved his initial effort, the midfielder reacted immediately to fire home the rebound, sparking celebrations around Crabble and ensuring the points were shared. The dramatic conclusion extended Dover’s unbeaten run to six matches and provided an intriguing introduction to Saturday’s FA Cup rematch. Attendance: 985
Matchday Information
With a large crowd expected for this Emirates FA Cup fixture, supporters are strongly advised to arrive early to avoid congestion at the turnstiles and around the stadium ahead of the 3pm kick-off. Additional bar outlets will be available around the ground to help accommodate the anticipated attendance and improve service throughout the afternoon. Supporters can also take advantage of a special matchday drinks offer, with four Budweisers available for £10.
The game is not segregated. Admission will be available on the day, with supporters able to pay at the turnstiles. There is no requirement to purchase tickets in advance.
Please note that as this is an Emirates FA Cup fixture, season tickets are not valid and all supporters, including season ticket holders, must pay for admission.
The stadium operates a cashless system, with card payments accepted at the turnstiles and outlets around the ground.
VIP Hospitality
Supporters looking to make the most of the FA Cup occasion can enjoy our VIP hospitality experience, with packages available for £32.50 per person. The package includes access to our hospitality lounge, a three-course meal served at your table, reserved undercover padded seating, complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water, a dedicated paid bar and a complimentary matchday programme.
The menu for Saturday’s fixture is:
Starter: Vegetable Soup served with a Ciabatta Roll
Main: Roast Chicken Breast served with Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Vegetables and Gravy
Dessert: Pistachio, White Chocolate and Raspberry Roulade served with Cream
Hospitality is available for individual and group bookings, with a smart casual dress code. Please note that the hospitality package does not include match admission, which must be purchased separately for this cup fixture. To book, email enquiries@doverathletic.com or call 01304 822373. Full details: https://doverathletic.com/news/hospitality-dorking-wanderers-fa-cup/
The Venue
We look forward to welcoming supporters of both clubs to the Megger Community Stadium for another exciting Emirates FA Cup afternoon.
Megger Community Stadium
Crabble Athletic Ground
Lewisham Road
Dover, Kent
CT17 0JB
Saturday 17 October 2026
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission
Admission prices for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round fixture are as follows:
Adults: £18
Under 18s: £10
Under 7s: FREE
More information on visiting Crabble, including directions and stadium facilities, can be found here:
With a place in the First Round Proper on the line, everything is set for another memorable cup occasion at Crabble.