Following Saturday's excellent late equaliser against Chichester City, the Blues are back on the road on Saturday taking the long trip to the Kent coast to face Dover Athletic.
Our Opponents
Dover Athletic were relegated from the National League South last season, after a disappointing season which saw The Whites finish bottom of the table with just 27 points, only managing to secure four victories in their 46 games. This relegation closely followed the relegation from the National League which happened in 2021-22, with Athletic only securing one point that season, partly due to a points deduction.
Prior to this, the Kent side were in the National League for eight seasons, from 2014-15 through to 2021-22, and were not far away from reaching the EFL, having secured a playoff spot in 2015-16, before losing 2-1 over two legs to Forest Green Rovers in the playoff semi-finals. The following season, the Whites narrowly missed out on a playoff spot by three points. Since then, league performances have declined, seeing Dover relegated twice in three seasons to return to the Isthmian Premier League this year for the first time since 2008-09, when they were promoted as champions to secure back-to-back promotions, having also been crowned champions of the Isthmian South in 2007-08.
This season, Dover have made a good start to the season, sitting in second place in the division behind Lewes. The Whites have 14 points from seven games with four wins, two draws and one defeat. Dover made their presence known in the division on the opening day of the season with a 8-0 win over Potters Bar Town, before their only defeat so far, 3-2 at home against Folkestone Invicta in a fiery Kent coast derby in front of nearly 2,500 fans at the Crabble Athletic Ground. Other convincing wins have come against our weekend opponents Chichester City, with Dover running out 5-2 winners, and also putting five goals past fellow relegated side Dartford, beating them 5-1 at the start of September.
Did you know? Dover's highest ever attendance was 5,645 when they faced Premier League side Crystal Palace at the Crabble Athletic Ground in the FA Cup 3rd Round in 2015. The Premier League side won 4-0 thanks to goals from Scott Dann (2), Dwight Gayle and Kevin Doyle in Alan Pardew's first game in charge of the Eagles.
Head to Head
After our first ever clash against Chichester City on Saturday, this looks to be our first ever league encounter with Dover Athletic since our formation, with Dover's previous season at this level in 2008-09 occurring before the Blues were promoted to this division, and historically the Whites have been at a higher level of the non-league pyramid.
Last Time Out
It was very similar stories for the Whites and the Blues on Saturday, as both teams were reliant on 92nd minute equalisers to secure a point. Dover travelled to Carshalton Athletic where a George Nikaj goal in additional time secured a point. Meanwhile for the Blues, Ayo Tanimowo scored an excellent long-range strike in additional time to steal a deserved point against Chichester City.
Players To Watch
Dover Athletic have the league's current top scorer, with 21-year old academy product striker George Nikaj netting nine goals so far this season, with Saturday's late equaliser ensuring that he has scored in every game that he has appeared in so far this season, including a hat-trick in that opening day demolition of Potters Bar. Meanwhile Blues fans may remember midfielder George Wilkinson who appeared for Wingate & Finchley on loan last season, making five appearances in October/November 2023, he has been an ever-present in the Dover midfield this season.
For the Blues, new signing Jaiden Drakes-Thomas made his debut in midfield on Saturday, having most recently played for Dover at the start of this season, including netting a late goal as a substitute in the defeat to Folkestone Invicta, and he will be looking to prove a point to his former club at the weekend. Meanwhile, if Rhamar Garrett-Douglas plays on Saturday, it will be his 50th game in Blue, having been a regular in the side since signing at the start of 2023/24.
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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