After Saturday’s penalty shootout loss to Yeovil in the FA Cup, Andy Hessenthaler’s men turn their focus back to the National League.

Despite coming from behind twice to draw 3-3 with The Glovers at Huish Park on Saturday, Whites were unable to reach the first round for the first time in three seasons.  Meanwhile our opponents this evening advanced to the first round proper with a 3-1 home win against Weston-Super-Mare.

Ben Strevens’ Spitfires are currently unbeaten after their first four league games.  Following up their 5-1 thrashing of Barnet on the opening day of the campaign with another win and two draws.

It was a very different Dover side who took all three points in this fixture last season, with a brace from Inih Effiong helping Whites to a 3-1 victory.

Both teams were only able to play each other once last campaign as the global pandemic caused the game at the Silverlake Stadium to be postponed.

Manager Strevens has brought in six players over the summer, including Abdulai Bell-Baggie from a Weymouth side promoted from the National South last season.

Prior to playing over 100 games for the Terriers, Bell-Baggie also played for Stockport County and Poole Town.

The winger made an instant impact, scoring his side’s fifth on his debut against Barnet.

Joe McDonnell and Pierce Bird have also been brought in from fellow National League side Notts County.

McDonnell has previous non-league experience with Basingstoke Town, Hendon, Hampton and Richmond and Harrow Borough, as well as experience in League One and League Two with AFC Wimbledon.  Pierce meanwhile, started his career in the East Midlands Counties League with Dunkirk, before moves to Leek Town, Alfreton Town, Grantham Town and Boston United.

Another of their signings, Joe Tomlinson, was chosen as the 2019/20 National League South Young Player of the Season as captain of Hungerford Town.

Finally, centre-forwards Dan Smith and Ben House also joined the club from Bognor Regis Town and Reading respectively.

Smith joined Bognor Regis after a prolific loan spell on the south coast, where he netted 28 goals in 38 games during two separate spells. The frontman opened his account for Eastleigh in their win against Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday.

House has been arguably Eastleigh’s player to watch so far after scoring three in his opening two matches, including a brace against Torquay United.  He started his career in the Reading academy and had a loan spell at fellow National League club Dagenham & Redbridge last season.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can watch the game for £8 with our all new and improved streaming service.

Details on how to buy your match pass can be found here.

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – Follow us and get all the news as it happens.

Tuesday’s National League Fixtures

Aldershot Town Vs Torquay United

Boreham Wood Vs Woking

Bromley Vs Weymouth

Hartlepool United Vs Altrincham

King’s Lynn Town Vs Wealdstone

Maidenhead United Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Stockport County Vs Solihull Moors

Wrexham Vs Barnet

Yeovil Town Vs Sutton United

Andy Hessenthaler’s side take a break from National League competition this weekend as they travel to Somerset to begin their Emirates FA Cup campaign.

Last season’s Cup journey saw Whites reach the Second Round Proper, where they were beaten by League One side Peterborough United, having knocked out another side from the same division, Southend United, in the previous round.

Dover will be hoping qualification for the first round proper for a third consecutive season can also boost their struggling league form, having lost four straight matches.

This weekend’s hosts are also without a victory this season, having drawn four and lost one of their five matches.

Both teams were victorious away from home by a single goal when the two clubs met last season.   Scott Doe’s second half finish live on BT Sport saw Athletic win the first meeting, with Marc Richards netting the only goal as the Glovers took the three points at Crabble four months later.

Yeovil signed nine players in the summer as they bid to return to the Football League following their relegation to non-league’s top tier in 2019, including former Premier League player Jimmy Smith.

Following an early spell with Chelsea, Smith has spent most of his career in League One and League Two with Leyton Orient, Stevenage and Crawley.  He joined The Glovers on a free transfer after a successful loan spell at Huish Park last campaign.

Yeovil boss Darren Sarll has also brought in Matt Warburton on loan from Northampton, a promotion-winner with the Cobblers last season and a player who was previously in the National League North with Curzon Ashton, Salford City and Stockport County.

Also signing on loan for the season are Jack Clarke from Aston Villa, Daniel Leadbitter from Newport County, Ryan Burke from Birmingham City and Adam Smith, who joins for his third loan spell from Forest Green Rovers after two previous spells last season.

Finally, Joe Quigley joined the club his contract at Dagenham and Redbridge was cancelled.   The tall striker made his debut last week as a substitute their goalless draw against the team he joined from last weekend.

Yeovil’s Player to Watch

Striker Rhys Murphy was top scorer for The Glovers last season with 17 goals and has netted once so far this season.

Coverage 

This game will be played behind closed doors, however you can watch the game for £9.99 through Yeovil’s streaming service ‘YTFC Live’.

Details on how to purchase the match can be found here.

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – Follow us and get all the news as it happens.