*BS*Dover Athletic make the 512 mile round-trip as they travel to Grimsby Town in search of their first league points of the 2014/2015 season.*BF*

Whites suffered a *Link1* away at Braintree on Tuesday night courtesy of a double from Alan Massey and a James Mulley volley.

Manager Chris Kinnear feels Dover have competed well in the two games that they have played so far. *Link2*: “The two teams we’ve played against, I haven’t seen a side that’s been a better football team than us – they’ve just been stronger in both boxes.”

The Whites boss realises the importance of adapting to the Conference as quickly as possible. He said: “We’ve played two games, against the fifth and sixth placed sides last season, and there will be a lot of sides who don’t score against either.

“And the next game will be harder, against one of the favourites for the league but it’s good to get them out of the way.”

After the defeat on Tuesday night, Kinnear highlighted the importance of a quick recovery. He said: “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, there’s no pointing fingers and having a go at the lads – it’s getting their heads up and preparing for the next game.”

There are reasons to be optimistic however, as Grimsby are also yet to find the net this season, plus the Whites had a fantastic away record last season winning 13 and losing just five.

*Lpic1*Matt Lock, who was injured for the Braintree game, could make a full recovery from injury and may feature against Grimsby.

Other than that, the Whites manager has a full squad to choose from for the clash at Blundell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Striker Stefan Payne made his debut for the Whites coming on as a second half substitute against Braintree and will offer plenty of pace up-front.

Grimsby were beaten 4-2 on aggregate to Gateshead in the playoff semi-final last season after finishing 4th in the league.

Last season was the second consecutive time Grimsby made the playoffs having dropped into the top tier of non–league football in the 2009/2010 season.

The Mariners had one of the meanest defences in the league last season. Only Braintree and the two promoted teams Luton and Cambridge conceded less.

Paul Hurst’s Grimsby have made a mixed start to their campaign drawing 0-0 with Bristol Rovers on the opening day in front of the BT Sport cameras. Town then drew another blank on Tuesday night at home to Nuneaton with the game finishing goalless.

*Lpic2*Grimsby have got a long list of players out either injured or suspended, but some of those who are injured may be fit and ready for the weekend.

American striker Jon-Paul Pittman and winger Nathan Arnold are still struggling with injuries which they both picked up in pre-season but could be fit for the big clash with Dover.

Last season’s top scorer Ross Hannah is a major doubt through injury. Hannah has played no part in neither of Grimsby’s first two league games.

Summer signing Jack Mackreth is likely to be fit after pulling his hamstring on the opening day draw with Bristol Rovers and could feature in the starting line-up.

Defender Shaun Pearson is available for selection after completing the last of his three match suspension on Tuesday night.

Other defenders Paul Bignot and Chris Doig have also been injured so far this season for the Mariners but could be fit for Saturday.

DR Congo international Aristote Nsiala also retuned for Grimsby in their last game against Nuneaton Town, after being sent off for his previous club Southport at the end of last season.

Mariners winger Scott Neilson is currently serving the last of his three match suspension and will be unavailable to play against Dover.

*Q1*This will be the first time Dover and Grimsby will meet in both clubs histories.

Whites fans will be located in the Osmond Corner stand at the South End of the ground behind the goal.

Prices for the match on Saturday are £18 for adults, £12 for senior citizens (65+) and young adults (ages 15-18) and £6 for juniors (ages 1-14). It is £2 cheaper if fans are able to get tickets before 1.30pm Saturday.

The closest train station to the stadium is New Clee which is approximately a 10-15 minute walk away from the stadium.

For fans driving to Blundell Park, take the M25 northbound, and then merge onto the M11, A14 in the direction of Peterborough. Take the A46 exit junction towards Lincoln/Newark. Then follow signs for Grimsby on the M180, continue on that road when it becomes the A180. The road runs right past the ground. The ground is adjacent to a McDonalds Drive-thru.

For those of you who cannot make the game, you can keep updated on twitter via the live text. Follow *Link3* for full live updates.

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*BS*Chris Kinnear spoke of his disappointment after the side’s 3-0 defeat at Braintree Town on Tuesday night, but assures fans that mistakes will be learnt from.*BF*

After seeing his side fall to their second defeat in two games, Kinnear admitted: “It’s a big learning curve in this league – that’s what we were talking about in the dressing room after the game. There was no screaming and shouting.

“Tonight it was all about dead balls – their number 6 has won the game for them really. We’ve got to be stronger in both boxes if we want to score, and that’s what we talked about.

“The two teams we’ve played against, I haven’t seen a side that’s been a better football team than us – they’ve just been stronger in both boxes. I knew the lads weren’t going to lie down, it’s not in their make-up – what was disappointing was that we gave a couple of free-kicks and silly corners away and they got on the end of them. That’s what makes it difficult.

“We said that we’re going in there with a few lads who haven’t played in this league before, and they know now that they’ve got to be brave and put their heads in more. Before you could get away with it but that won’t happen now.

“We’ve played two games, against the fifth and sixth placed sides last season, and there will be a lot of sides who don’t score against either. And the next game will be harder, against one of the favourites for the league but it’s good to get them out of the way.

“To prepare for it and improve what we’ve seen in these two games we’ll be working through things in training. We have got to create a few more chances and get on the end of them, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.

“Against Halifax, I thought it was close but we weren’t switched off as we came out for the second half and today it was from dead balls. Last season we didn’t give concede many from set pieces but we need to be stronger. Even the full-backs and midfielders in this league have got shoulders twice the size of what we came up against last season.

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, there’s no pointing fingers and having a go at the lads – it’s getting their heads up and preparing for the next game.

“If you want to play at a decent standard then you have to accept the travelling will be longer – we’ll go as far as we need to if it gets up three points. It’s part of football – the higher you play, the more you travel.

“We have got to create a few more chances and get on the end of them, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.

“The first two games are what we expected – we thought they would be strong and competitive, there’s no doubt about that. We are all disappointed, we’re all in it together. As long as we know where we’re going wrong then there is a chance to move on and learn.”

Whites travel to face Grimsby Town on Saturday.

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*BS*Chris Kinnear spoke of his disappointment after the side’s 3-0 defeat at Braintree Town on Tuesday night, but assures fans that mistakes will be learnt from.*BF*

After seeing his side fall to their second defeat in two games, Kinnear admitted: “It’s a big learning curve in this league – that’s what we were talking about in the dressing room after the game. There was no screaming and shouting.

“Tonight it was all about dead balls – their number 6 has won the game for them really. We’ve got to be stronger in both boxes if we want to score, and that’s what we talked about.

“The two teams we’ve played against, I haven’t seen a side that’s been a better football team than us – they’ve just been stronger in both boxes. I knew the lads weren’t going to lie down, it’s not in their make-up – what was disappointing was that we gave a couple of free-kicks and silly corners away and they got on the end of them. That’s what makes it difficult.

“We said that we’re going in there with a few lads who haven’t played in this league before, and they know now that they’ve got to be brave and put their heads in more. Before you could get away with it but that won’t happen now.

“We’ve played two games, against the fifth and sixth placed sides last season, and there will be a lot of sides who don’t score against either. And the next game will be harder, against one of the favourites for the league but it’s good to get them out of the way.

“To prepare for it and improve what we’ve seen in these two games we’ll be working through things in training. We have got to create a few more chances and get on the end of them, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.

“Against Halifax, I thought it was close but we weren’t switched off as we came out for the second half and today it was from dead balls. Last season we didn’t give concede many from set pieces but we need to be stronger. Even the full-backs and midfielders in this league have got shoulders twice the size of what we came up against last season.

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, there’s no pointing fingers and having a go at the lads – it’s getting their heads up and preparing for the next game.

“If you want to play at a decent standard then you have to accept the travelling will be longer – we’ll go as far as we need to if it gets up three points. It’s part of football – the higher you play, the more you travel.

“We have got to create a few more chances and get on the end of them, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.

“The first two games are what we expected – we thought they would be strong and competitive, there’s no doubt about that. We are all disappointed, we’re all in it together. As long as we know where we’re going wrong then there is a chance to move on and learn.”

Whites travel to face Grimsby Town on Saturday.

*BS*Dover Athletic are looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat to FC Halifax Town at Crabble as they travel to Braintree Town on Tuesday evening in their next Vanarama Conference fixture.*BF*

Whites fell to a narrow *Link1* at the hands of Halifax on Saturday afternoon thanks to a Scott McManus goal early into the second half.

However, both manager Chris Kinnear and his team remain upbeat after putting in a reasonable shift against the Shaymen – who reached the play-offs of this division last season.

And plenty of optimism is being brought in ahead of Dover’s fixture at the Cressing Road Stadium where they look to secure their first Conference Premier victory since winning 3-1 at Stevenage Borough in April 2002.

*Lpic1*Matt Lock (injury) is a doubt ahead of Tuesday night’s game but a player set to return for Whites is fellow new signing Stefan Payne after completing a two-match suspension.

The striker – who served his suspension for getting sent off at Canvey Island whilst playing for AFC Hornchurch last season – will offer more pace up front for Dover, should he be selected to make his competitive debut.

Meanwhile, Braintree – nicknamed ‘the Iron’ – will be without utility player Matt Paine after suffering an injury following a tackle at their opening day defeat at Macclesfield Town.

But one player who may take part for the hosts on Tuesday is striker Michael Bakare – a name that will sound familiar to Whites fans after featuring on the books for Dover last season, scoring four times in all competitions.

The Iron are currently enjoying their fourth season in the top-tier of non-league football after gaining promotion through winning the Conference South title in the 2010/11 season.

*Q1*They enjoyed a superb season after finishing 6th in the Conference Premier last season, having just fell short of the play-offs by three points despite suffering a huge backlog of fixtures due to several postponements midway through the season.

They were not known for their goal-scoring but they finished with the third best defence in the league after conceding only 39 goals, with only Luton Town and Cambridge United – both promoted, of course – having a better record with only 35 goals each.

However, they have not started the new season as they would have wished after losing 1-0 at Macclesfield on the opening day, courtesy of a first-half goal from Chris Holroyd.

But they will still prove tough opposition for Kinnear’s men as they look to go at least one step further in their quest for the play-offs this season, although Kinnear remains optimistic as he told doverathletic.com: “Braintree were 6th last season and Alan Devonshire has a lot of experience and they have done quite well, but why shouldn’t we try and win?

“I saw them in pre season, but they have changed their side a bit since then.”

*Lpic2*Whites possess a good record at Braintree after remaining unbeaten in their last three visits at the Cressing Road Stadium.

Craig Wilkins’ equaliser helped Dover claim a point in a 1-1 draw in April 2005, although it did not help Whites avoid relegation from the Ryman Premier that season.

That was before they also recorded two 2-1 wins in the Conference South, thanks to goals from Adam Birchall and Olly Schulz in the 2009/10 season and strikes from Ben Hunt and Birchall in the following season – with the latter result one of only two home losses Braintree suffered in their Conference South-winning campaign.

Whites are expected to take a bigger number of fans than usual after chairman Jim Parmenter has kindly paid for a supporters coach, with Parmenter explaining to doverathletic.com: “it is our first away game in the Conference Premier and it would be nice to celebrate it by getting as many fans as possible to the match – it seems like a good way to mark the occasion”.

*Q2*If fans have missed out on the free coach, then anyone driving to the game are suggested to leave the M25 at junction 27 and head north on the M11, before leaving the M11 at junction 8 and heading east on the A120 before following the A120 for 16 miles until reaching ‘Galley’s Corner’ roundabout (with McDonalds on the right). Then they should take the first exit into Cressing Road, with the entry to the ground approximately three-quarters of a mile on their left (Clockhouse Way) – which is sign posted.

The nearest rail station to the Cressing Road Stadium is Braintree – which is just under a mile away.

However, if fans are unable to get to the game, then live text coverage will be provided on Twitter via *Link2*.

*BS*Dover Athletic are looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat to FC Halifax Town at Crabble as they travel to Braintree Town on Tuesday evening in their next Vanarama Conference fixture.*BF*

Whites fell to a narrow *Link1* at the hands of Halifax on Saturday afternoon thanks to a Scott McManus goal early into the second half.

However, both manager Chris Kinnear and his team remain upbeat after putting in a reasonable shift against the Shaymen – who reached the play-offs of this division last season.

And plenty of optimism is being brought in ahead of Dover’s fixture at the Cressing Road Stadium where they look to secure their first Conference Premier victory since winning 3-1 at Stevenage Borough in April 2002.

*Lpic1*Matt Lock (injury) is a doubt ahead of Tuesday night’s game but a player set to return for Whites is fellow new signing Stefan Payne after completing a two-match suspension.

The striker – who served his suspension for getting sent off at Canvey Island whilst playing for AFC Hornchurch last season – will offer more pace up front for Dover, should he be selected to make his competitive debut.

Meanwhile, Braintree – nicknamed ‘the Iron’ – will be without utility player Matt Paine after suffering an injury following a tackle at their opening day defeat at Macclesfield Town.

But one player who may take part for the hosts on Tuesday is striker Michael Bakare – a name that will sound familiar to Whites fans after featuring on the books for Dover last season, scoring four times in all competitions.

The Iron are currently enjoying their fourth season in the top-tier of non-league football after gaining promotion through winning the Conference South title in the 2010/11 season.

*Q1*They enjoyed a superb season after finishing 6th in the Conference Premier last season, having just fell short of the play-offs by three points despite suffering a huge backlog of fixtures due to several postponements midway through the season.

They were not known for their goal-scoring but they finished with the third best defence in the league after conceding only 39 goals, with only Luton Town and Cambridge United – both promoted, of course – having a better record with only 35 goals each.

However, they have not started the new season as they would have wished after losing 1-0 at Macclesfield on the opening day, courtesy of a first-half goal from Chris Holroyd.

But they will still prove tough opposition for Kinnear’s men as they look to go at least one step further in their quest for the play-offs this season, although Kinnear remains optimistic as he told doverathletic.com: “Braintree were 6th last season and Alan Devonshire has a lot of experience and they have done quite well, but why shouldn’t we try and win?

“I saw them in pre season, but they have changed their side a bit since then.”

*Lpic2*Whites possess a good record at Braintree after remaining unbeaten in their last three visits at the Cressing Road Stadium.

Craig Wilkins’ equaliser helped Dover claim a point in a 1-1 draw in April 2005, although it did not help Whites avoid relegation from the Ryman Premier that season.

That was before they also recorded two 2-1 wins in the Conference South, thanks to goals from Adam Birchall and Olly Schulz in the 2009/10 season and strikes from Ben Hunt and Birchall in the following season – with the latter result one of only two home losses Braintree suffered in their Conference South-winning campaign.

Whites are expected to take a bigger number of fans than usual after chairman Jim Parmenter has kindly paid for a supporters coach, with Parmenter explaining to doverathletic.com: “it is our first away game in the Conference Premier and it would be nice to celebrate it by getting as many fans as possible to the match – it seems like a good way to mark the occasion”.

*Q2*If fans have missed out on the free coach, then anyone driving to the game are suggested to leave the M25 at junction 27 and head north on the M11, before leaving the M11 at junction 8 and heading east on the A120 before following the A120 for 16 miles until reaching ‘Galley’s Corner’ roundabout (with McDonalds on the right). Then they should take the first exit into Cressing Road, with the entry to the ground approximately three-quarters of a mile on their left (Clockhouse Way) – which is sign posted.

The nearest rail station to the Cressing Road Stadium is Braintree – which is just under a mile away.

However, if fans are unable to get to the game, then live text coverage will be provided on Twitter via *Link2*.

*BS*Dover Athletic’s first league game since returning to Conference football ended in defeat at the hands of Halifax Town at Crabble.*BF*

Scott McManus scored the only goal of the game when his left footed effort from distance bounced in off the inside of the post shortly after half-time.

Dover can take a lot of heart from their performance in the game going forward, knowing that they were not outplayed or over matched against a side that was knocked out in the playoffs last time around.

*Lpic1*Click *Link1* to read new DAFC writer Ross McHugh’s full match report.

Click *Link2* to view Simon Harris’ photo gallery.

Click *Link3* to read Jason Burns’ post-match interview with Chris Kinnear.

*BS*Dover Athletic’s first league game since returning to Conference football ended in defeat at the hands of Halifax Town at Crabble.*BF*

Scott McManus scored the only goal of the game when his left footed effort from distance bounced in off the inside of the post shortly after half-time.

Dover can take a lot of heart from their performance in the game going forward, knowing that they were not outplayed or over matched against a side that was knocked out in the playoffs last time around.

*Lpic1*Click *Link1* to read new DAFC writer Ross McHugh’s full match report.

Click *Link2* to view Simon Harris’ photo gallery.

Click *Link3* to read Jason Burns’ post-match interview with Chris Kinnear.

Athletic’s return to non league’s elite did not quite go according to plan as Halifax Town ran out 1-0 winners. Scott Mcmanus’ crisp strike just after half time made the difference in what was a tight affair, but Chris Kinnear saw plenty to encourage him ahead of the next 45 games. ‘I thought we played well. We had chances against a team that got into the play off semi final last year. We caused them problems and I am very pleased, though disappointed as we should have gotten something from the game. I know that we can easily compete at this level now and we just have to move on.’

He also added, ‘perhaps we were patting our backs a bit to early at half time as we switched off for ten minutes. We thought the game was there to be won and if it had been 0-0 with twenty minutes to go, then we could have brought the subs on and gone on to win the game – That was the plan. But it was easy for them to leave one up top and let us try and break them down. But that is their strength which is fair enough and something we should learn. You saw how big their defenders were today and they bombed in the corners and throw ins – That was the longest throw on I have ever come across!’

Ten of last season’s promotion winning squad started the game, much to the surprise of some after Kinnear had added six new additions to the squad over the summer. ‘There was a bit of loyalty involved’ admitted Chris, ‘but also as well we thought those lads are used to the big competitive games and as you saw, they did really well. Plus Lock (Injured) and Payne(Suspended) were unavailable.’ *Q1*

A strong crowd of 1321 witnessed the game and Kinnear was delighted with the positive vibes created by the crowd, in spite of the loss. ‘I said to the lads at the end that the fans appreciated how well they did against a side that are massive in the league as they were last year. As long as the lads give everything, then they will appreciated it. I think everybody here appreciated how well we had done and we have come a long way. It should be a good season.’

Whites face a tough August fixture wise, with games against Braintree, Grimsby, Woking, Eastleigh and Kidderminster coming up. Kinnear though is relishing the challenge. ‘We will find out what the teams are like at the top and we can hopefully go on from strength to strength and that is what we are planning to do.’

Dover’s next chance to put some points on the board is away at Braintree on Tuesday night. ‘Braintree were 6th last season and Alan Devonshire has a lot of experience and they have done quite well, but why shouldn’t we try and win?. I saw them in pre season, but they have changed their side a bit since then.’ *Q2*

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