FM09: Dover Athletic FC - From Ryman Isthmian League to European Glory!

[NoSkillz]

Bath's Carey-Bertram Nabs Top Player Award for October

Dover Express
November 1, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
With Dover striker David Ball on the sidelines for the month of October, it finally gave another player a chance to win the Blue Square South player of the month award.

In the end, six goals in six matches earned the award for 25 year old Danny Carey-Bertram of Bath.

The Manager of the Month award went to Maidenhead's Johnson Hippolyte, whose club won four games and lost only one during a 12 point month.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH PLAYER OF THE MONTH -
1st: Danny Carey-Bertram (Bath) - 6 Apps, 6 Goals, 7.67 Avg
2nd: Marvin Robinson (Farnborough) - 5 Apps, 4 Goals, 7.80 Avg
3rd: Damian Batt (Farnborough) - 5 Apps, 1 Goals, 7.60 Avg

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH MANAGER OF THE MONTH -
1st: Johnson Hippolyte (Maidenhead) - 12 Points, 4-0-1 record
2nd: Dean Holdsworth (Newport County) - 11 Points, 3-2-0 record
3rd: Dave Mehmet (Fisher) - 11 Points, 3-2-0 record

[NoSkillz]

Blue Square South Table
AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Dover		13	10	3	0	24	9	+15	33
2nd		Weston-super-Mare		14	8	5	1	29	20	+9	29
3rd		Newport Co		14	7	5	2	17	10	+7	26
4th		Bath		14	7	4	3	22	13	+9	25
5th		Merthyr		13	7	3	3	19	14	+5	24
6th		Havant & W		13	7	1	5	21	13	+8	22
7th		Welling		13	6	4	3	17	12	+5	22
8th		Dorchester		13	6	4	3	15	10	+5	22
9th		Maidenhead		13	5	5	3	11	8	+3	20
10th		Chelmsford		14	4	8	2	18	16	+2	20
11th		Eastbourne Boro		13	6	1	6	19	17	+2	19
12th		Ramsgate		14	5	3	6	12	16	-4	18
13th		Farnborough		14	4	5	5	20	17	+3	17
14th		Ebbsfleet		14	4	5	5	15	17	-2	17
15th		Fisher		14	3	7	4	14	15	-1	16
16th		Hampton & Richmond		14	3	6	5	13	22	-9	15
17th		Basingstoke		12	3	5	4	11	12	-1	14
18th		Team Bath		13	2	3	8	13	20	-7	9
19th		Lewes		14	2	3	9	12	21	-9	9
20th		Hayes & Yeading		14	1	6	7	9	19	-10	9
21st		Thurrock		14	1	6	7	11	22	-11	9
22nd		Bognor Regis		14	1	2	11	9	28	-19	5

Dover Statistics

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Morale	Last 5 Games	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
-	Inj	David Ball	ST	Good		66%	11 (1)	10	7.39
MC	Loa	Nicholas Barrett	M C	Superb		80%	7	1	6.77
-		Darren Behcet	GK	Very Good		100%	14	-	6.88
ML		Ryan Beswick	D/AM L	Very Good		78%	2 (6)	-	6.70
-		Craig Cloke	D C, DM, M C	Superb		98%	1 (7)	-	6.20
-	Wnt	Frannie Collin	AM R, ST	Very Good		99%	8 (8)	3	6.76
DR		Jordan Collins	D R	Very Good		84%	16	-	7.01
ST		Stephen Connor	AM RC, ST	Very Good		82%	2	1	7.05
-		Matt Fish	D RC, WB R	Very Good		100%	11 (3)	1	6.87
DL		Sam Gore	D L	Very Good		82%	4 (1)	-	7.04
-		Dean Hill	D L	Superb		100%	15	-	6.85
ST		Zavon Hines	ST	Superb		87%	14	9	7.15
-		Jerahl Hughes	AM RL	Very Good		93%	3 (12)	-	6.73
MR		Kevin James	AM RC	Very Good		76%	17 (2)	1	6.83
-		Michael Kay	D R	Very Good		99%	2	-	7.10
-		Andrew Pearson	D C	Good		100%	4 (2)	-	6.48
DC	PR	Olly Schulz	D C	Superb		91%	6 (1)	1	6.96
MC		Sam Sheridan	M C	Very Good		76%	16 (1)	-	6.75
-	PR	James Simmonds	AM L	Superb		92%	16 (2)	-	6.82
DC	Wnt	Sam Simmonds	D C	Superb		90%	18 (1)	-	7.05
-	Inj	Robin Stapleton	AM C	Very Good		62%	1	-	6.70
-		Jon Wallis	D R, M RC	Very Good		98%	10 (6)	-	6.61
-		Shaun Welford	ST	Good		97%	4 (3)	-	6.23
GK	PR	John Whitehouse	GK	Good		100%	5	-	6.86

[NoSkillz]

Whites Welcome Martyrs in BSS Midweek Action

Dover Express
November 4, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
The suddenly punchless Whites hope some home cooking will inspire them to a better performance as the club faces fifth placed Merthyr Tydfil in Blue Square South action tonight at Crabble Athletic Ground.

Dover is coming off a drab draw against Farnborough on Saturday and will have to be better if they are to get a result against a tough Martyrs club.

Both teams are missing key personnel through injury. The Whites are still without the services of leading goal scorer David Ball, who is getting close to returning to the pitch. They also lost two key contributors in a Sunday reserve match against Basingstoke Town, with both Frannie Collin and Jerahl Hughes going down with longterm injuries. Both will miss at least a month of action.

For Merthyr, leading goal scorer Mike Jones will miss the contest with a thigh strain and the club will also be without Matthew Glassey and Sam O'Sullivan.

This will be the last game for Dover before a two week break in the schedule, with the team's next contest coming in the FA Challenge Trophy qualifying round against fellow BSS club Bognor Regis Town.

Game time tonight is 7:45pm.

OTHER NOTES -

Dover took advantage of an injury time penalty to draw Basingstoke Town 2-2 in reserve league action on Sunday. Defender Kevin Halliday was the hero in injury time, levelling the contest with a rocket blast off the woodwork. Shaun Welford also scored for Dover in the contest, one that was costly due to the injuries to Hughes and Collin, two key contributors on the first team.

As indicated, the draw for the 3rd Round of qualifying for the FA Trophy took place the other day, with Dover drawing BSS basement dwellers Bognor Regis Town in an away contest. That match will take place on November 21st.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Dover Athletic vs. Merthyr Tydfil
Wednesday November 4, 2009
Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK
Competition:	Blue Square South
Odds:	Dover: Evens (Favourite) Draw 9-4 Merthyr Tydfil: 9-4
Weather Forecast:	Drizzle 10°C
Referee:	Ken Powell
	Dover	Merthyr Tydfil
Overall Record:	10-3-0 33 pts	7-3-3 24 pts
Standings:	1st in Blue Square South	5th in Blue Square South
Form:	WDWWD	WLWDW
Preferred Formation:	4-4-2	Defensive 4-4-2
Goal Leader:	David Ball and Zavon Hines - 9	Mike Jones - 5
Assist Leader:	Zavon Hines - 5	Marcus Griffiths and Parys Okai - 3
Average Rating Leader:	David Ball - 7.52	Andrew Pew - 7.14
Injuries/Suspensions:	Lawrence Ball (Knee)	Mike Jones (Thigh Strain)
	David Ball (Sprained Ankle)	Matthew Glassey (Pulled Hamstring)
	Jerahl Hughes (Groin Strain)	Sam O'Sullivan (Twisted Ankle)
	Frannie Collin (Twisted Ankle)

[NoSkillz]

Connor Bags Brace as Dover Edge Merthyr

Dover Express
November 5, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
Recent signing Stephen Connor bagged his first two league goals for Dover in a 2-1 win over rival Merthyr Tydfil in Blue Square South action Wednesday night at Crabble Athletic Ground.

Connor was in brilliant form, scoring on both a header and a rebound in the first 26 minutes but went off injured late in the first half and didn't return to the game. Merthyr striker Craig Steins scored the Martyrs only goal.

Dover manager Matt Bosela said afterwards that Connor's injury isn't serious.

"He just was suffering from some cramps", he said. "Thankfully, we have some downtime coming up over the next couple weeks so he should be good to go when we play again. He was dominant out on the pitch this evening and it's been quite the positive development for our squad."

Dover solidify their position at the top of the table and now sit seven points clear of second placed Weston-super-Mare.

The Whites have a prolonged break in league action, with their next contest being an F.A. Trophy qualifying match against BSS basement dwellers Bognor Regis Town on November 21st. The Dover manager indicated that the team will get a full week of vacation starting on Sunday this weekend.

OVERVIEW
Full Time from Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK.
Dover Athletic			2	Merthyr Tydfil			1
Stephen Connor (11, 26)				Craig Steins (38)
Stephen Connor injured (45)
Blue Square South				November 4, 2009
Attendance: 1686				Score at Halftime: 2-1

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Dover Athletic					Merthyr Tydfil
GK	D. Behcet			GK	A. Morris
DR	J. Collins			DR	C. Forbes
DL	D. Hill ( c )			DL	A. Burton
DC	M. Fish			DC	A. Thomas
DC	S. Simmonds			DC	A. Pew		sub 61
MR	K. James		sub 71	MR	J. Edwards
ML	J. Simmonds		sub 55	ML	M. Harris
MC	S. Sheridan			MC	A. Evans
MC	N. Barrett			MC	C. Morgan		sub 61
ST	S. Connor		inj 45	ST	C. Steins
ST	Z. Hines			ST	M. Griffiths		sub 72
SUB	S. Gore			SUB	R. Griffiths
SUB	O. Schulz			SUB	P. Okai		on 61
SUB	R. Beswick		on 55	SUB	R. Porter
SUB	C. Cloke		on 71	SUB	S. Keefe		on 72
SUB	S. Welford		on 45	SUB	S. Martin		on 61
Man of the Match - Stephen Connor

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Dover Athletic					Merthyr Tydfil
10			Shots		10
5			On Target		5
3			Off Target		4
2			Blocked Shots		1
2			Clear Cut Chances		4
54%			Possession		46%
6			Corners		3
19			Free Kicks		11
37			Throw-Ins		21
5			Fouls		16
6			Offsides		3
62%			Passes Completed		56%
16%			Crosses Completed		25%
100%			Tackles Won		100%
75%			Headers Won		48%
0			Yellow Cards		2
0			Red Cards		0

[NoSkillz]

Dover Striker Ball Returns to Full Training

Dover Express
November 13, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
Dover supporters got a wonderful piece of news on Thursday, as lethal striker David Ball resumed full training at Crabble Athletic Ground.

Ball missed over six weeks of action due to a foot injury but still leads the club in goals with 10 in 12 appearances.

Dover manager Matt Bosela indicated that he'd like to see Ball play one or two reserve league games before returning to action with the first team, who next play in a week's time against Bognor Regis Town in an FA Trophy qualifying match.

The reserve team's next game is on Wednesday November 18th and Ball will suit up for that contest.

The Whites roster is currently on a one week vacation with the break in the schedule.

OTHER NOTES -

The Dover reserve squad were victorious in a 1-0 match against Bath City reserves on Sunday November 8th. Striker Shaun Welford, who has struggled in first team action this season, scored the only goal in the contest. The Dover reserves move up into second place in the 18 team English Reserves Group Ten Division.

The Dover Under 18 squad also garnered a 1-0 victory over the Fisher Athletic U18 squad last weekend. Gareth Harvey set up fellow striker Alex Edwards in the first minute for the only goal in that game. The U18 squad currently lie in 11th position in the 14-team division.

[NoSkillz]

Dover Face Bognor Regis Town in FA Trophy Qualifying

Dover Express
November 21, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
Dover is an overwhelming favourite in FA Challenge Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying today against Blue Square South basement dwellers Bognor Regis Town.

Bognor Regis have only won five points thus far in league play and look to be relegation fodder this season. They already have dropped a 4-0 match against Dover in the season opener for both clubs and come into this contest on a five match losing skid. The club has only scored nine goals in 14 league appearances.

Dover, on the other hand, continue to roll in league play and haven't lost a Blue Square South match this season. However, the club has not fared well in cup competition this year and will need to maintain their focus should they get a result here.

Leading scorer David Ball will be available for the Whites but isn't scheduled to start after a very strong performance in a recent Reserve Team match.

Game time this afternoon is 3:00pm at Nyewood Lane in Bognor Regis.

OTHER NOTES -

Dover's reserve team drew 1-1 with Hayes & Yeading Reserves on Wednesday night. Striker David Ball returned after six weeks on the sidelines with a foot injury and scored the Whites' only goal in a tremendous performance. Left fullback Kevin Halliday was equally as good and won man of the match honours. Olly Schulz was issued two yellows and the subsequent red and will be suspended for today's game due to the sending off.

Last Saturday, the Dover U18 squad dropped a 2-1 decision to Eastbourne Boro's U18 team. Stellar young central defender Martyn Kenyon scored for Dover.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Bognor Regis Town vs. Dover Athletic
Saturday November 21, 2009
Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis, UK
Competition:	FA Challenge Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Odds:	Bognor Regis: 13-2 Draw: 11-4 Dover: 2-5 (Favourite)
Weather Forecast:	Dry 7°C
Referee:	Stuart Chapple
	Bognor Regis Town	Dover Athletic
Overall Record:	1-2-11 5 pts	11-3-0 36 pts
Standings:	22nd in Blue Square South	1st in Blue Square South
Form:	LLLLL	WWLDW
Preferred Formation:	4-4-2	4-4-2
Goal Leader:	Carl Butterfield - 3	David Ball - 10
Assist Leader:	Matthew Barnes-Homer - 2	Zavon Hines - 5
Average Rating Leader:	Lewis Dunk - 6.80	Stephen Connor - 7.47
Injuries/Suspensions:	Paul Dorman (Twisted Ankle)	Lawrence Ball (Cruciate Ligaments)
	Gary MacDonald (Pulled Hamstring)	Michael Kay (Pulled Hamstring)
	Sean Bardsley (Twisted Knee)	Jerahl Hughes (Groin Strain)
	Craig Street (Suspended)	Frannie Collin (Twisted Ankle)
		Olly Schulz (Suspended)

[NoSkillz]

Dover Dominate Bognor Regis in FA Trophy Qualifier

Dover Express
November 23, 2009 (Bognor Regis, UK) -
Zavon Hines, shown at left, bagged a brace while strikers Stephen Connor and Shaun Welford scored singles in a 4-0 Dover thrashing of BSS relegation candidates Bognor Regis Town in a 3rd Round FA Trophy qualifying match.

There was barely a doubt who would prevail in this contest, as the Whites threw an incredible 23 shots at the beleaguered Bognor Regis goalkeeper and constantly poured pressure in the opposing third.

Hines' first goal was off a penalty when he was tackled in the penalty area on a shot attempt and his second was on a rebound. New signing Connor got into the act in the 77th minute, converting a header off a Sam Sheridan corner and substitute Shaun Welford finally notched his first goal of the season with the first team, converting yet another penalty after winger Kevin James was fouled in the box.

Dover manager Matt Bosela was thrilled with the outcome.

"That was definitely our finest effort of the season", he said.

"We never stopped moving forward, even with the lead and the lads showed great composure and resilience even when the game was still in doubt. I thought James especially was brilliant on the right wing and he was always creating chances for the club."

The win moves Dover into the main draw of the competition and they will find out their next opponent shortly.

The Blue Square South schedule resumes on Tuesday after an extended break, with Dover hosting Ebbsfleet United at Crabble Athletic Ground.

OVERVIEW

Full Time from Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis, UK.

Bognor Regis Town			0	Dover Athletic			4

				Zavon Hines (pen 22, 50)
				Stephen Connor (77)
				Shaun Welford (pen 90+2)
FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying				November 22, 2009
Attendance: 171				Score at Halftime: 0-1

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Bognor Regis Town					Dover Athletic
GK	C. Tardif			GK	D. Behcet
DC	M. Bloomer			DR	J. Collins
DC	J. Ward			DL	D. Hill ( c )		sub 62
DC	L. Dunk		sub 51	DC	S. Simmonds
WBL	F. Logan			DC	M. Fish
WBR	S. Downes		sub 64	MC	N. Barrett
MC	C. Pettefer			MC	S. Sheridan
MC	D. Smith ( c )			MR	K. James
MC	C. Butterfield			ML	J. Simmonds		sub 84
ST	R. Kear		sub 51	ST	Z. Hines		sub 67
ST	M. Barnes-Homer			ST	S. Connor
SUB	M. Baines			SUB	K. Halliday		on 62
SUB	B. Cullen		on 51	SUB	C. Cloke
SUB	K. Woodward		on 64	SUB	R. Beswick		on 84
SUB	M. James		on 51	SUB	S. Welford		on 67
SUB	T. Clarke			SUB	D. Ball
Man of the Match - Zavon Hines

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Bognor Regis Town					Dover Athletic
4			Shots		23
0			On Target		7
3			Off Target		9
1			Blocked Shots		7
1			Clear Cut Chances		5
46%			Possession		54%
0			Corners		7
13			Free Kicks		12
18			Throw-Ins		25
14			Fouls		9
0			Offsides		4
61%			Passes Completed		66%
14%			Crosses Completed		47%
92%			Tackles Won		94%
52%			Headers Won		69%
3			Yellow Cards		0
0			Red Cards		0

[NoSkillz]

Whites Host Disappointing Fleet in BSS Play

Dover Express
November 24, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
The first placed Whites host disappointing outfit Ebbsfleet United tonight at Crabble Athletic Ground as Blue Square South play resumes after a prolonged break.

The Fleet were many experts pick for promotion this year but are currently mired in 14th position on the table, with only four victories in 14 matches. This after the club took home the Setanta Shield last year. The club is on a three game unbeaten run at the moment, however, and will be a tough match for the Whites.

Ebbsfleet are led up front by striker Michael Gash, formerly of Cambridge United and he forms a potent duo with Scott Boden, as the two players have combined for 11 goals this season.

The Whites will likely field a very similar lineup that dominated Bognor Regis Town on Saturday night in FA Trophy qualifying. Stephen Connor is expected to once again start at striker over David Ball, who picked up another knock in Sunday's reserve team match against Havant & Waterlooville. Ball will be available as a substitute in the game.

Game time at Crabble is 7:45pm.

OTHER NOTES -

The Dover reserves got pasted by Havant & Waterlooville 3-1 in a shocking upset at Crabble Athletic Ground on Sunday. H&W dominated from the outset and only an Olly Schulz goal in the 84th minute prevented the shutout. Lee Cartwright was stretchered off the field after suffering broken ribs on a tackle and will miss up to two months while David Ball picked up a minor injury and was quickly substituted. Ball's injury isn't serious and he'll miss no time.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Dover Athletic vs. Ebbsfleet United
Tuesday November 24, 2009
Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK
Competition:	Blue Square South
Odds:	Dover: 6-4 (Favourite) Draw 2-1 Ebbsfleet United: 13-8
Weather Forecast:	Dry 14°C
Referee:	Ian Smedley
	Dover	Ebbsfleet United
Overall Record:	11-3-0 36 pts	4-5-5 17 pts
Standings:	1st in Blue Square South	14th in Blue Square South
Form:	WLDWW	LWDDW
Preferred Formation:	4-4-2	5-3-2
Goal Leader:	Zavon Hines - 11	Michael Gash - 6
Assist Leader:	Zavon Hines and Sam Sheridan - 5	Craig Stone - 9
Average Rating Leader:	Stephen Connor - 7.55	Dougie Freedman - 7.60
Injuries/Suspensions:	Lawrence Ball (Knee)	Mark Ricketts (Bruised Shin)
	Frannie Collin (Twisted Ankle)	Kezie Ibe (Hip Injury)
	Michael Kay (Pulled Hamstring)
	Lee Cartwright (Broken Ribs)

[NoSkillz]

Connor on Form Again as Whites Edge Fleet in Thriller

Dover Express
November 25, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
If Stephen Connor keeps playing this way, it's going to be very hard for Dover manager Matt Bosela to take him out of the lineup.

Connor scored his third league goal in as many games and added an assist in a 3-2 win over Ebbsfleet yesterday night. It was a tremendous match, with great flow and many chances and the Dover faithful left Crabble Athletic Ground convinced that they got their money's worth on this fine evening.

David Ball scored in the 41st minute for his first league goal since coming back from a six week injury. He came on as a substitute for winger Kevin James, who had to leave the game due to cramps and Ball was able to make his mark only five minutes into his appearance. Nicholas Barrett scored the decisive marker midway through the second half, his first league goal for Dover since coming over on loan from parent club West Ham United.

Scott Boden and Hayden Charles scored for the Fleet.

The Dover manager was very happy with the performance.

"Ebbsfleet are a great side, one that took home a cup last year (Setanta Shield) and were favourites for promotion this season", Bosela said.

"Anytime you can take the play to a team like that, you can't help but be thrilled."

Bosela wouldn't say what his plans are for the stacked striker position, as he has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal with Connor, Ball and Zavon Hines all performing at an incredible pace this year.

The Whites now take a commanding nine point lead on the table over Weston-super-Mare, who battled Fisher to a 1-1 draw. The Fleet fall to 15th on the table with 17 points, a full 22 points behind Dover.

The Whites will be back in action on Saturday, as they will be on the road to face Chelmsford City. Game time on Saturday is 3:00pm.

OVERVIEW

Full Time from Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK.

Dover Athletic			3	Ebbsfleet United			2

Stephen Connor (21)

Scott Boden (25)

David Ball (41)

Hayden Charles (45+1)

Nicholas Barrett (60)

Scott Boden injured (71)

Kevin James injured (36)

Blue Square South				November 24, 2009
Attendance: 1676				Score at Halftime: 2-2

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Dover Athletic					Ebbsfleet United
GK	D. Behcet			GK	L. Cronin
DR	J. Collins			DC	D. Pooley
DL	D. Hill ( c )			DC	M. Lowton
DC	M. Fish			DC	J. Smith ( c )
DC	S. Simmonds			WBR	R. Shakes
MR	K. James		inj 36	WBL	H. Charles
ML	J. Simmonds		sub 61	MC	C. Stone		sub 61
MC	S. Sheridan			MC	R. Lawton		sub 61
MC	N. Barrett			MC	N. Barrett
ST	S. Connor			ST	S. Boden		inj 71
ST	Z. Hines		sub 77	ST	M. Gash
SUB	K. Halliday			SUB	J. Russell
SUB	O. Schulz			SUB	J. Griffiths		on 61
SUB	R. Beswick		on 61	SUB	J. Hand		on 61
SUB	C. Cloke		on 77	SUB	D. Freedman		on 71
SUB	D. Ball		on 36	SUB	N. Jennings
Man of the Match - Stephen Connor

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Dover Athletic					Ebbsfleet United
12			Shots		9
5			On Target		3
5			Off Target		3
2			Blocked Shots		3
3			Clear Cut Chances		1
57%			Possession		43%
7			Corners		2
11			Free Kicks		14
23			Throw-Ins		18
10			Fouls		8
4			Offsides		3
65%			Passes Completed		52%
14%			Crosses Completed		28%
95%			Tackles Won		88%
68%			Headers Won		64%
0			Yellow Cards		1
0			Red Cards		0

[NoSkillz]

Dover Look to Build BSS Lead Against Chelmsford City

Dover Express
November 28, 2009 (Chelmsford, UK) -
Only four days after a thrilling win against Ebbsfleet United, the Whites are back in action as they head to Chelmsford to take on the 9th place Clarets.

Chelmsford City were runners up in the Blue Square South last season and failed in their bid to get promoted when they lost in the playoffs. Billed as promotion candidates, the club has disappointed somewhat this season with their midtable position.

The Clarets are a club that like to keep things close to the vest and keep the scoreline down. They are led on offense by strikers Chris Moore and James Lawson, both of whom have three goals. Their top setup man, midfielder Ricky Holmes, will miss the game today due to a hip injury.

Dover will go with a slightly different look for tonight's contest. Super striker David Ball returns to the starting eleven in his customary striker position while the molten hot Stephen Connor moves to right wing in place of Kevin James, who suffered cramps in the last game and will be available as a substitute tonight. Central defender Andrew Pearson will also be making his return to the first team after an extended injury absence after his man of the match performance the other night with the reserve side.

Game time at Chemlsford Sport and Athletic Centre is 3:00pm.

OTHER NOTES -

The Dover reserves got back on the winning track, edging Fisher 2-1 on an injury time goal from the aforementioned Pearson. Striker Shaun Welford scored the other Dover marker.

Youth team member Robin Stapleton, a promising midfielder, was signed to a contract extension the other day. Terms weren't announced but it is expected to be a multi-year deal.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Chelmsford City vs. Dover Athletic
Saturday November 28, 2009
Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre, Chelmsford, UK
Competition:	Blue Square South
Odds:	Chelmsford City: 5-4 (Favourite) Draw: 11-5 Dover: 7-4 (Favourite)
Weather Forecast:	Dry 11°C
Referee:	Ian Smedley
	Chelmsford City	Dover Athletic
Overall Record:	5-8-2 23 pts	12-3-0 39 pts
Standings:	9th in Blue Square South	1st in Blue Square South
Form:	LDWLW	LDWWW
Preferred Formation:	Defensive 4-4-2	Control 4-4-2
Goal Leader:	James Lawson and Chris Moore - 3	David Ball and Zavon Hines - 11
Assist Leader:	Ricky Holmes - 4	Sam Sheridan - 6
Average Rating Leader:	Andy Duncan - 7.26	Stephen Connor - 7.64
Injuries/Suspensions:	Neil Etheridge (twisted ankle)	Lawrence Ball (Cruciate Ligaments)
	Ricky Holmes (hip injury)	Michael Kay (Pulled Hamstring)
		Frannie Collin (Twisted Ankle)
		Lee Cartwright (Fractured Ribs)

[NoSkillz]

Classy Ball on Form in Big Dover Victory

Dover Express
November 29, 2009 (Chelmsford, UK) -
It's quite apparent that lethal striker David Ball is over his ankle injury that kept him out of the White's lineup for six long weeks.

Dover's leading scorer this season bagged a brace as he led his team to a convincing 4-1 win over Chelmsford on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites actually trailed midway through the first half after a James Lawson goal in the 33rd minute. However, Ball would knot things at one late in the half on a lovely strike.

Dover would completely dominate after halftime, with Zavon Hines notching his 10th league goal in the 63rd minute before Ball put things away on a nice header in the 85th minute. A Johnny Herd own goal late in injury time added to Chelmsford's frustrations as the Whites came in and took three points in a tremendous away performance.

The Dover manager was effusive in his praise for his returning striker.

"David was quite brilliant today", Matt Bosela offered.

"He has tremendous quickness and his ball skills are among the best in the league. It's a huge boost to have him back as we move into the second half of the season."

Ball's return meant that molten hot recent acquisition, Stephen Connor, had to be moved to the wing. Kevin James, the regular right winger, came on as a substitute in the second half.

Dover now have a commanding nine point cushion at the top of the table, with Weston-super-Mare sitting in second position.

The Whites will be back in action on Saturday, as they will travel to Newport Stadium to face the third place Newport County club. Game time will be 3:00pm.

OTHER DOVER NOTES:

Dover's U18 squad won a 2-1 decision over Basingstoke Saturday morning. Strikers Alex Edwards and Chris Bell both dented the twine for the junior Whites, who improve to 9th position on the U18 Group 12 table.

OVERVIEW

Full Time from Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre, Chelmsford, UK.

Chelmsford City			1	Dover Athletic			4

James Lawson (33)				David Ball (41, 85)
				Zavon Hines (63)
				Johnny Herd own goal (90+2)
Blue Square South				November 28, 2009
Attendance: 1104				Score at Halftime: 1-1

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Chelmsford City					Dover Athletic
GK	D. Gay			GK	D. Behcet
DR	J. Miller			DR	J. Collins
DL	J. Herd			DL	D. Hill ( c )
DC	C. Sinott			DC	S. Simmonds
DC	B. Johnson		sub 64	DC	A. Pearson
MC	D. Rainford ( c )			MC	N. Barrett
MC	D. Loft		sub 74	MC	S. Sheridan		sub 76
MR	L. Higgins			MR	S. Connor		sub 71
ML	A. Harvey			ML	J. Simmonds		sub 58
ST	J. Lawson			ST	Z. Hines
ST	J. Hallett		sub 62	ST	D. Ball
SUB	J. Davey			SUB	M. Fish
SUB	M. Moseley			SUB	C. Cloke		on 76
SUB	M. Booth		on 74	SUB	R. Beswick		on 71
SUB	T. Baddeley		on 64	SUB	K. James		on 58
SUB	M. Smith		on 62	SUB	S. Welford
Man of the Match - David Ball

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Chelmsford City					Dover Athletic
8			Shots		10
2			On Target		5
2			Off Target		4
4			Blocked Shots		1
3			Clear Cut Chances		2
46%			Possession		54%
2			Corners		2
10			Free Kicks		17
29			Throw-Ins		24
13			Fouls		7
4			Offsides		3
54%			Passes Completed		58%
11%			Crosses Completed		17%
100%			Tackles Won		80%
63%			Headers Won		63%
0			Yellow Cards		0
0			Red Cards		0

[NoSkillz]

Dover Skipper Named Manager of the Month for November

Dover Express
December 1, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
Dover Athletic manger Matt Bosela was named the Blue Square South Manager of the Month for November, the second time he has won that honour this season.

Bosela led the Whites to a perfect 3-0-0 record in the month and has his club firmly in top spot in the league.

"It's a tremendous honour", Bosela indicated.

"The lads are performing at a high level and we look forward to continuing our fine play in December."

The Player of the Month award went to Basingstoke Town's Josh Dutton-Black, who scored a goal in four appearances in November. Dover's Stephen Connor finished in second place in the voting after notching three goals in as many appearances.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH PLAYER OF THE MONTH -
1st: Josh Dutton-Black (Basingstoke Town) - 4 Apps, 1 Goals, 7.25 Avg
2nd: Stephen Connor (Dover Athletic) - 3 Apps, 3 Goals, 7.67 Avg
3rd: Kevin Hill (Dorchester Town) - 3 Apps, 1 Goals, 7.33 Avg

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH MANAGER OF THE MONTH -
1st: Matthew Bosela (Dover Athletic) - 9 Points, 3-0-0 record
2nd: Neville Kirkland (Team Bath) - 7 Points, 2-1-0 record
3rd: -

[NoSkillz]

Blue Square South Table
AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2009

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Dover		16	13	3	0	33	13	+20	42
2nd		Weston-super-Mare		16	9	6	1	31	21	+10	33
3rd		Newport Co		15	8	5	2	18	10	+8	29
4th		Merthyr		16	8	4	4	24	17	+7	28
5th		Havant & W		16	8	2	6	24	16	+8	26
6th		Bath		16	7	5	4	23	15	+8	26
7th		Dorchester		16	7	5	4	19	13	+6	26
8th		Welling		16	6	7	3	20	15	+5	25
9th		Chelmsford		16	5	8	3	20	20	0	23
10th		Maidenhead		15	5	6	4	13	12	+1	21
11th		Eastbourne Boro		16	6	3	7	22	23	-1	21
12th		Ramsgate		16	6	3	7	15	18	-3	21
13th		Farnborough		15	5	5	5	22	17	+5	20
14th		Fisher		16	4	8	4	17	16	+1	20
15th		Ebbsfleet		16	4	6	6	19	22	-3	18
16th		Team Bath		16	4	4	8	19	23	-4	16
17th		Basingstoke		16	3	7	6	13	19	-6	16
18th		Hampton & Richmond		16	3	7	6	13	23	-10	16
19th		Thurrock		16	2	7	7	14	23	-9	13
20th		Lewes		16	2	5	9	13	22	-9	11
21st		Hayes & Yeading		15	1	6	8	9	20	-11	9
22nd		Bognor Regis		16	1	2	13	9	32	-23	5

Dover Statistics

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Morale	Last 5 Games	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
-	PR	John Whitehouse	GK	Very Good		100%	5	-	6.86
GK		Darren Behcet	GK	Superb		100%	18	-	6.90
DR		Jordan Collins	D R	Superb		94%	20	-	7.10
-	Inj	Michael Kay	D R	Good		63%	2	-	7.10
S1		Matt Fish	D RC, WB R	Very Good		100%	14 (3)	1	6.91
-		Jon Wallis	D R, M RC	Very Good		99%	10 (6)	-	6.61
-	Wnt	Kevin Halliday	D L	Poor		99%	0 (1)	-	6.80
-		Sam Gore	D L	Good		100%	4 (1)	-	7.04
DL		Dean Hill	D L	Superb		95%	19	-	6.90
DC		Andrew Pearson	D C	Superb		97%	5 (2)	-	6.61
DC	Wnt	Sam Simmonds	D C	Superb		94%	22 (1)	-	7.03
-	PR	Olly Schulz	D C	Superb		100%	6 (1)	1	6.96
S2		Craig Cloke	D C, DM, M C	Superb		98%	1 (10)	-	6.27
S3		Ryan Beswick	D/AM L	Superb		100%	2 (10)	-	6.64
MC		Sam Sheridan	M C	Very Good		90%	20 (1)	-	6.82
MC	Loa	Nicholas Barrett	M C	Superb		93%	11	2	6.95
-		Jerahl Hughes	AM RL	Superb		94%	3 (12)	-	6.73
S4		Kevin James	AM RC	Superb		94%	20 (3)	1	6.88
MR		Stephen Connor	AM RC, ST	Superb		94%	6	5	7.55
-	Inj	Frannie Collin	AM R, ST	Very Good		69%	8 (8)	3	6.76
ML	PR	James Simmonds	AM L	Superb		93%	20 (2)	-	6.82
-	Yel	Robin Stapleton	AM C	Superb		90%	1	-	6.70
ST	Wnt	David Ball	ST	Superb		96%	12 (2)	13	7.45
ST		Zavon Hines	ST	Superb		95%	18	12	7.22
S5		Shaun Welford	ST	Very Good		99%	4 (5)	1	6.34

[NoSkillz]

I noticed there were some broken links with some of my picture files from early in the dynasty - just a note that they are all fixed now!

Updates to come.

[NoSkillz]

Whites Face Huge Test at Newport County

Dover Express
December 5, 2009 (Newport, UK) -
Dover Athletic FC will face their stiffest competition of the season in Blue Square South action, as the club will face third place Newport County later this afternoon.

The Exiles have struggled with form recently, winning only one of their last five contests but the Whites can't let overconfidence be a factor, as Newport has a solid nucleus of talent and a balanced lineup.

Similar to their last opponent, the Exiles like to play things tightly and win the 1-0 type contests. Their leading scorers, strikers Robert Duffy and Craig Hughes, only have five goals apiece while the Whites can claim two players with double digit goals already. Injuries aren't really a factor for either team at the moment.

Interestingly enough, Newport County manager Dean Holdsworth has been quite vocal in the press lately about Dover's stalwart striker David Ball, saying he's the key to the White's attack and must be stopped. Ball wouldn't comment on the accolades, nor would Dover manager Matt Bosela but some in the press feel that the young star may wilt under the pressure of the spotlight.

Dover plans on using the same lineup as they did in their dominating victory last week against Chelmsford City.

Game time at Newport Stadium is 3:00pm.

OTHER NOTES -

The Dover reserves continue their march to the top of the standings in the English Reserves Group 10, defeating cellar-dwellers Ramsgate 2-0 at Southwood on Wednesday evening. Young striker Chris Bell was the man of the match, scoring a goal and setting up Shaun Welford for the other.

Striker Frannie Collin, out of contention for close to five weeks with a foot injury, returned to full training on Thursday. Collin, who has three goals in 16 first team appearances this year, will likely suit up for the reserves for a game or two in an attempt to get fully fit.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Newport County vs. Dover Athletic
Saturday December 5, 2009
Newport Stadium, Newport, UK
Competition:	Blue Square South
Odds:	Newport County: 6-4 (Favourite) Draw: 2-1 Dover: 13-8 (Favourite)
Weather Forecast:	Gusty 9°C
Referee:	Stephen Tomlinson
	Newport County	Dover Athletic
Overall Record:	8-5-3 29 pts	13-3-0 42 pts
Standings:	3rd in Blue Square South	1st in Blue Square South
Form:	DDLWL	DWWWW
Preferred Formation:	Defensive 4-4-2	Control 4-4-2
Goal Leader:	Robert Duffy & Craig Hughes - 5	David Ball - 13
Assist Leader:	Robert Duffy - 4	Zavon Hines & Sam Sheridan - 6
Average Rating Leader:	Ian Hillier - 7.10	Stephen Connor - 7.55
Injuries/Suspensions:	Joshua Jeffrey (dislocated shoulder)	Lawrence Ball (Cruciate Ligaments)
		Michael Kay (Pulled Hamstring)
		Lee Cartwright (Fractured Ribs)

[NoSkillz]

Disaster Stikes as Dover Lose Key Players in Humiliating Loss

Dover Express
December 6, 2009 (Newport, UK) -
Dover's unbeaten run in the Blue Square South league came to an end in stunning fashion Saturday night, as the Whites got absolutely destroyed by Newport County 5-0. More importantly, the Whites ended up losing two significant players to injury.

Newport's first goal was a fluke, as Dover goalkeeper Darren Behcet accidently knocked the ball into his own goal in the 29th minute. Danny Rose would add the death blow at the 45 minute mark to make it 2-nil. At that point, star striker David Ball had already suffered a calf strain and was gamely playing on despite the injury. However, things would get worse when strike partner Zavon Hines took a foot to the face on a challenge attempt, suffering a broken cheekbone in injury time in the first half, knocking him out of the contest.

The Dover manager tried some aggressive tactics moving into the second half but that only opened up the field for Newport counters. Newport County's leading scorer Robert Duffy would make it 3-0 in the 54th minute then bag his brace five minutes later on a penalty from the spot. County captain Ian Hillier embarrassed the Whites even further with his goal in the 76th minute to give Newport the five goal advantage.

Dover manager Matt Bosela was downcast in the postgame press conference.

"Things don't look promising on the injury front", he offered.

"Zavon took a blow to the face and looks like he'll be out for about a month while David's calf injury is much worse than anticipated and he'll likely miss a couple of weeks as well."

"We'll have to regroup but we have some fine young lads that will get their chance to shine."

There were rumours that the club was going to terminate Hines' loan deal with West Ham and send the youngster back to his parent club but Bosela quickly denied those accusations, saying Hines was here to stay for the entire season.

As far as the heavy defeat, Bosela conceded that it would be a blow to the team's morale but stated he wasn't overly worried.

"We haven't had to deal with much adversity this year and this will really be our first bout. However, the game is over and the scoreline is meaningless - a loss is a loss regardless of the amount of goals conceded. In reality, it was my decision to change tactics that likely made the outcome worse than it should have been. It's tough to come back in this league from two goals down and perhaps I pressed a bit too early."

He concluded by saying "We will bounce back".

The Whites next travel to South Elmsall to face Frickley Athletic in the first round of the FA Trophy. The match at Westfield Lane against the Northern Premier League club takes place at 3:00pm next Saturday.

OTHER DOVER NOTES:

Dover's U18 squad played Ramsgate to a 1-1 draw on Saturday morning, with striker Alex Edwards providing the junior Whites with their only goal. The U18's now sit in 10th position in Group 12 of the English U18s.

Dover fullback Michael Kay returned to full training yesterday after being on the sidelines for about a month with a thigh strain. Kay has spent most of the year with the reserve squad, making only two appearances with the first team.

OVERVIEW

Full Time from Newport Stadium, Newport, UK.

Newport County			5	Dover Athletic			0

Darren Behcet own goal (29)

Danny Rose (45)

Robert Duffy (54, pen 59)

Ian Hillier (76)

Blue Square South				December 5, 2009

Attendance: 976				Score at Halftime: 2-0

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Newport County					Dover Athletic
GK	G. Thompson			GK	D. Behcet
DR	L. Bennett			DR	J. Collins
DL	R. Steer		sub 76	DL	D. Hill ( c )		sub 45
DC	I. Hillier ( c )			DC	S. Simmonds
DC	G. Thomas			DC	A. Pearson
MC	D. Rose		sub 59	MC	N. Barrett
MC	N. Davies			MC	S. Sheridan		sub 61
MR	A. Kilford			MR	S. Connor
ML	N. Hanley			ML	J. Simmonds
ST	R. Duffy			ST	Z. Hines		inj 45
ST	C. Hughes		sub 83	ST	D. Ball
SUB	K. Clancy			SUB	J. Wallis
SUB	N. Lewis		on 83	SUB	M. Fish
SUB	R. Jefferies		on 59	SUB	R. Beswick		on 61
SUB	J. Winter		on 76	SUB	K. James		on 45
SUB	C. Hartland			SUB	S. Welford		on 45
Man of the Match - Robert Duffy

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Newport County					Dover Athletic
11			Shots		5
7			On Target		2
3			Off Target		2
1			Blocked Shots		1
5			Clear Cut Chances		0
46%			Possession		54%
1			Corners		4
23			Free Kicks		9
33			Throw-Ins		24
7			Fouls		16
2			Offsides		8
60%			Passes Completed		58%
21%			Crosses Completed		31%
100%			Tackles Won		94%
68%			Headers Won		63%
0			Yellow Cards		0
0			Red Cards		0

[NoSkillz]

Dover Look to Get Back to Winning Ways Against Frickley Athletic

Dover Express
December 12, 2009 (South Elmsall, UK) -
The injury-riddled Dover FC head to Westfield Lane today to face Frickley Athletic FC in the FA Trophy first round.

The Whites will be without both of their top goalscorers, strikers David Ball and Zavon Hines, who both are currently tending to injuries suffered in the team's last contest against Newport County.

The 5-0 defeat was Dover's first in league play thus far in 2009 and morale may be low heading into an important cup match against a club that sits below them on the English pyramid.

Striker Rob Pell leads Frickley in goals with 6 and usually teams up in a strike force with four goal man Lee Morris. Frickley defeated Chelmsford 2-0 in the 3rd Qualifying Round to get to this point so Dover must be careful not to look ahead in this matchup.

The Whites will field a much different lineup than usual after their heavy defeat last week. Stephen Connor will lineup alongside Shaun Welford up front, Ryan Beswick will take over at left wing from the ineffective James Simmonds and Olly Schulz will take a centerhalf position away from Andrew Pearson, who had a horrifyingly bad game against Newport.

Game time at Westfield Lane is 3:00pm.

OTHER NOTES -

The Dover reserve squad squeezed out a 2-1 win over Bognor Regis on Wednesday evening at Nyewood Lane. Schulz and Frannie Collin, who recently returned from injury, scored the Dover goals while Bognor's Craig Street scored late to bring the scoreline a goal closer. Collin will be a reserve in today's contest against Frickley.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Frickley Athletic vs. Dover Athletic
Saturday December 12, 2009
Westfield Lane, South Elmsall, UK
Competition:	FA Trophy First Round
Odds:	Frickley: 3-1 Draw: 2-1 Dover: 4-5 (Favourite)
Weather Forecast:	Dry 1°C
Referee:	Ian Scarr
	Frickley Athletic	Dover Athletic
Overall Record:	Unknown	13-3-1 42 pts
Standings:	Unknown	1st in Blue Square South
Form:	Unknown	WWWWL
Preferred Formation:	4/4/2002	Control 4-4-2
Goal Leader:	Rob Pell - 6	David Ball - 13
Assist Leader:	Three Players Tied with 2	Zavon Hines & Sam Sheridan - 6
Average Rating Leader:	Rob Pell - 6.83	Stephen Connor - 7.37
Injuries/Suspensions:	Chris Davies (calf strain)	Lawrence Ball (Cruciate Ligaments)
		David Ball (Calf Strain)
		Lee Cartwright (Fractured Ribs)
		Zavon Hines (Broken Cheekbone)

[NoSkillz]

Shocking Injury Time Goal Knocks Dover out of FA Trophy

Dover Express
December 13, 2009 (South Elmsall, UK) -
Frickley Athletic striker Lee Morris got behind the Dover defense in injury time and scored the decisive goal to cap a stunning 3-2 upset victory over the Whites, knocking them out of the FA Trophy.

With the game tied in injury time and Dover pressing, Frickley goalkeeper Gareth Williams started a quick counterattack after stopping a shot, kicking the ball upfield. With center halfback Sam Simmonds out of position, Morris was able to beat the Dover defenders to the ball and walk in alone, beating Whites' keeper John Whitehouse with the knockout blow.

Danny Walsh and Jacob White scored the other Frickley goals, with White's 73rd minute equaliser deflecting in off Olly Schulz. Dover's markers both came courtesy of Stephen Connor, although the first goal ended up officially being marked down as a Tony Dinning own goal after he accidently deflected a Connor shot into his own net.

This marks the first time all season that the Whites have lost consecutive games.

"I think we deserved a better fate", manager Matt Bosela indicated after the game in a solemn dressing room.

"We dominated both in possession and in chances but you have to tip your hat to Frickley, as they just hung in there and capitalized on our overaggressive play in injury time."

Bosela concluded by saying "I'm very disappointed that we done with Cup competitions for this year but now we can put all of our effort into maintaining and hopefully winning the league and thereby earning the promotion we desperately crave."

Frickely moves on to play Canvey Island in the second round.

The Whites will have a week to lick their wounds before hosting Lewes at Crabble Athletic Ground. It will mark the return of former manager Andy Hessenthaler, who now is in charge at The Dripping Pan.

OVERVIEW

Full Time from Westfield Lane, South Elmsall, UK.

Frickley Athletic			3	Dover Athletic			2

Danny Walsh (41)

Tony Dinning own goal (16)

Jacob White (73)

Stephen Connor (51)

Lee Morris (90+1)

FA Trophy First Round				December 12, 2009

Attendance: 181				Score at Halftime: 1-1

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Frickley Athletic					Dover Athletic
GK	G. Williams			GK	J. Whitehouse
DR	L. Foulkes		sub 66	DR	J. Collins
DL	D. Whitcombe			DL	D. Hill ( c )
DC	C. Heard			DC	S. Simmonds
DC	M. Byron			DC	O. Schulz
MC	T. Dinning			MC	N. Barrett
MC	J. White			MC	S. Sheridan		sub 75
MR	D. Walsh ( c )		sub 52	MR	K. James		sub 72
ML	N. Clee			ML	R. Beswick
ST	L. Morris			ST	S. Welford		sub 58
ST	R. Pell		sub 65	ST	S. Connor
SUB	S. Jarvis			SUB	J. Wallis
SUB	D. Jones			SUB	M. Fish
SUB	S. Schulz		on 66	SUB	C. Cloke		on 75
SUB	A. Young		on 52	SUB	J. Hughes		on 72
SUB	J. Mutch		on 65	SUB	F. Collin		on 58
Man of the Match - Jacob White

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Frickley Athletic					Dover Athletic
6			Shots		14
2			On Target		3
3			Off Target		7
1			Blocked Shots		4
1			Clear Cut Chances		3
36%			Possession		64%
3			Corners		5
17			Free Kicks		15
20			Throw-Ins		32
14			Fouls		11
1			Offsides		6
53%			Passes Completed		66%
22%			Crosses Completed		25%
96%			Tackles Won		94%
62%			Headers Won		73%
0			Yellow Cards		0
0			Red Cards		0

[NoSkillz]

Lineup Changes Coming as Struggling Whites Host Lewes FC

Dover Express
December 19, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
Manager Matt Bosela has promised sweeping changes to the Dover lineup as the team hosts Blue Square South relegation candidates Lewes, a contest that marks the return of the White's former manager Andy Hessenthaler.

Dover has lost two consecutive contests for the first time in Bosela's tenure and will continue to be without both of their top goalscorers, strikers David Ball and Zavon Hines.

Darren Behcet will return to the net to tend goal for Dover. Matt Fish will move into the center of the defense in place of young Sam Simmonds while Michael Kay joins him at right fullback in place of Jordan Collins. Also sitting down will be assist leader Sam Sheridan, who will make way for Jon Wallis while Frannie Collin, back from injury, will form a strike force with the molten hot Stephen Connor.

Lewes have really struggled thus far in 2009, sitting in second last place with only 3 wins. Hessenthaler was signed midseason, joining the club on October 14th but the team is coming off a heavy 3-0 defeat to Grays in the FA Trophy First Round.

Bosela avoided controversy when asked about Hessenthaler's return to Crabble Athletic Ground, calling him "a good manager who deserves every success with Lewes."

Veteran striker Scott Taylor leads Lewes in goals with 7 in 12 appearances but isn't a full-time starter, as the club employs a rotation system with their forwards.

Game time at Crabble will be 3:00pm.

OTHER NOTES -

The Dover reserves lost a tight 2-1 decision to Thurrock on Wednesday night. Jon Wallis scored Dover's only goal but young Alex Edwards, a striker with the U18 team, made the biggest impression on the night with his solid attacking play.

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Dover Athletic vs. Lewes
Saturday December 19, 2009
Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK
Competition:	Blue Square South
Odds:	Dover: 6-4 (Favourite) Draw 2-1 Lewes: 13-8
Weather Forecast:	Dry 2°C
Referee:	Tony Green
	Dover	Lewes
Overall Record:	13-3-1 42 pts	3-5-9 14 pts
Standings:	1st in Blue Square South	21st in Blue Square South
Form:	WWWLL	WDDWL
Preferred Formation:	4-4-2	Defensive 4-4-2
Goal Leader:	David Ball - 13	Scott Taylor - 7
Assist Leader:	Zavon Hines and Sam Sheridan - 6	Four Players Tied with 2
Average Rating Leader:	Stephen Connor - 7.41	Danny Cullip - 7.07
Injuries/Suspensions:	Lawrence Ball (Knee)	Louis Clark (Suspension)
	Lee Cartwright (Broken Ribs)	Paul Clayton (Twisted Knee)
	David Ball (Calf Strain)
	Zavon Hines (Broken Cheekbone)

[NoSkillz]

Dover Bounce Back with Dominating Performance Against Lewes

Dover Express
December 20, 2009 (Dover, UK) -
The Dover Athletic Football Club came out and played like a first place team on Saturday afternoon, overwhelming Lewes 4-0.

Man of the match Ryan Beswick (shown above) scored his first goal for the Whites in the 15th minute to get things rolling and striker Frannie Collin scored a little over ten minutes later, giving the Whites a two goal advantage at the half.

Dover would strike for two goals in a three minute span in the middle of the second half. West Ham midfielder Nicholas Barrett scored his second goal since coming to Dover on loan and three minutes later, striker Shaun Welford, in the game after youngster Stephen Connor suffered a knock, scored on a penalty to conclude the scoring. Winger Kevin James picked up two assists in the contest.

Possession was relatively even for the game but Dover certainly earned the three points as they extend their lead in the Blue Square South league to 11 points.

"Full marks to every player who took the field for us today", enthused manager Matt Bosela.

"We knew our opponents would come out fired up for their manager (Andy Hessenthaler) but we were able to take the play to them early and get them on their heels."

"It's reassuring to bounce back after a couple losses and our depth really shined today."

The injury to Connor doesn't look to be serious.

"We took him out for precautionary reasons but I don't think he'll miss any training this week and I expect him to be ready for our big game next week."

The big game he's referring to is next Saturday's home encounter with second placed Weston-super-Mare, who lost to Hampton & Richmond yesterday 1-0, the team's first loss in over two months.

OTHER DOVER NOTES:

Dover's U18 squad battled Dorchester Town to a scoreless draw on Saturday morning. Young midfielder Robin Stapleton was the best player on the pitch for either side.

Dover's leading goal scorer, striker David Ball, has resumed light training but is still expected to miss next week's contest.

OVERVIEW

Full Time from Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK.

Dover Athletic			4	Lewes			0

Ryan Beswick (15)
Frannie Collin (26)
Nicholas Barrett (73)
Shaun Welford (pen 76)

Blue Square South				December 19, 2009
Attendance: 1660				Score at Halftime: 2-0

[NoSkillz]

LINEUPS
Dover Athletic					Lewes
GK	D. Behcet			GK	D. Ruddy
DR	M. Kay			DR	K. Gate
DL	D. Hill ( c )			DL	D. Blanchett
DC	O. Schulz			DC	C. Beach
DC	M. Fish			DC	D. Cullip
MR	K. James			MR	J. Sztybel ( c )
ML	R. Beswick			ML	C. Johnston
MC	J. Wallis		sub 66	MC	O. Rowland		sub 74
MC	N. Barrett			MC	M. Standing
ST	S. Connor		sub 56	ST	D. McNiven		sub 61
ST	F. Collin			ST	M. Koroma		sub 71
SUB	S. Gore			SUB	R. Banks
SUB	C. Cloke			SUB	D. Wheeler		on 74
SUB	S. Sheridan			SUB	T. Rivers		on 71
SUB	J. Hughes		on 66	SUB	J. Wright		on 61
SUB	S. Welford		on 56	SUB	Z. Beda
Man of the Match - Ryan Beswick

[NoSkillz]

TEAM STATS
Dover Athletic					Lewes
14			Shots		4
7			On Target		0
4			Off Target		3
3			Blocked Shots		1
3			Clear Cut Chances		1
49%			Possession		51%
8			Corners		3
23			Free Kicks		14
15			Throw-Ins		24
12			Fouls		21
2			Offsides		3
64%			Passes Completed		58%
20%			Crosses Completed		7%
93%			Tackles Won		89%
62%			Headers Won		63%
1			Yellow Cards		2
0			Red Cards		0