Dover Athletic (a) on Sat 30th Apr, KO 15:00

STATTO'S CORNER (written by Daedalus):

Dover Athletic Quick Guide:
Club founded: 1983*
Nickname: The Whites
Club colours: White/Black/Black
10 year record:


* The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club.

Read more here.


Current Form (last 5 matches in the league):
Dover Athletic - DWDWL (home form - WWLWW)

St. Albans City - LLWLD (away form - WDDLL)


Line-up from last outing in the league:
Dover Athletic - Ross Flitney, Matt Fish, Tom Wynter, Lewwis Spence, Olly Schulz, Connor Essam, Donovan Simmonds, Luke I’Anson, Jon Main, Adam Birchall, Barry Cogan. (Subs - Jon Wallis, Harry Baker, Elliott Charles, Rob Gillman, Lee Hook).

St. Albans City - Aiden Kelly, Michael Lewis, Peter Smith, Mark Campbell, Mark Peters, Adam Everitt, Sean Shields, Ollie Kelly, Tony Battersby, Inih Effiong, Nick Chrysanthou. (Subs - Jon Addai, Dom Petrucci, Rob Magwood, James Fraser, Spyros Mentis).


Top league goalscorer(s):
Dover Athletic - Goal machine Adam Birchall has scored 32 league goals this season. Birchall also played a key part in Dover's FA Cup run, scoringin every round up until the 3rd round and netting 11 goals in the cup in total.

St. Albans City - The Saints have relied on Inih Effiong for goals this season. The young striker is currently on 14 league goals.


Latest Saints team news:

- For once, there appears to be little news to report regarding the first team squad expected to travel to Dover.


Possible Saints starting XI (in a 4-4-2 formation):




Quick Stats Guide (league matches only):

Dover Athletic
- One loss in 6
- 14 points out of the last 24

St. Albans City
- Not won away for 4 games
- Not scored away for 2 games
- One win in 9
- 12 points out of the last 33


THE FINAL WORD - written by Saint (Jake Ellacott)


How did the Saints get on against Havant & Waterlooville?

The Saints finished the home leg of their Blue Square Bet South journey with a hard-fought and entertaining 1-1 draw with mid-table side Havant & Waterlooville.

Everitt scored City's goal in the 35th minute when he nodded home a Mark Peters free kick and the Saints were on top for the majority of the first half. After half time, Havant took more of a foothold and equalised in the 66th minute through Manny William's header. The score stayed level until Full Time.

After the match, the end of season awards were presented. Adam Everitt won the player of the season (as voted by the fans) and also the players' player of the season. Top scorer, Inih Effiong, won the goal of the season award with his volley away at Boreham Wood on New Year's Day. The final award was the Wagstaffe Simmons award, which was given to Ian Rogers.


What did Steve Castle have to say about it?

Castle was really pleased with the result and performance.

The manager had lots of praise for Adam Everitt, winner of two of the end of season awards including the player of the season, saying that he had been a 'shining light'. Castle said, 'it takes a lot of character to be performing in a struggling team, in a very unstable team'. He also commented that Adam deserved his end of season awards, praising his 'attitude and commitment, which is second to none'.

Once again, Castle took some time to talk about the club and what the future might hold. He talked about the young and inexperienced players at the club, and the desperate need for experience and quality in the team for next season. Castle said that the club badly needs stability and suggested that he doesn't think 'it's worth it' if the club doesn't sort itself out for next season with a decent budget and a proper plan for the future.


How are Dover doing this season?

Dover have done well this season, as they find themselves in 7th place, with 71 points from 41 games. The Whites are sitting just outside the play-off places. On Saturday, to sneak the final play-off place, the Whites need to win and hope Chelmsford lose, along with Welling. They also need at least a 5 goal swing in GD to have any hope of getting the final play-off place.

Their hopes of reaching the play-offs took a massive blow on Easter Monday when Dover travelled to local rivals Dartford, and came back pointless after capitulating at princes Park, as they conceded four goals without reply.

Earlier in the season, the Whites managed to reach the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to League One outfit Huddersfield Town away. They did however beat fellow league sides Gillingham and Aldershot on the way to the third round. Adam Birchall was top scorer, as he scored in every round up to the 3rd round, notching up an impressive 11 goals.

Birchall has also been on fire in the league having scored 32 goals in 39 league matches. He has scored 43 goals overall this season.


What happened when we last met Dover?

The Saints and Dover met at Clarence Park at the end of February. It was a day for City fans to forget as Dover came out emphatic 5-1 winners in a match the Whites cruised to victory in. Goal machine Adam Birchall opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Just two minutes later, Simonds doubled the lead and, before the first half was out, the Whites got their deserved third goal when Lewwis Spence's deflected shot found its way into the net.

Just two minutes after the interval, Gillman scored a fourth Dover goal with a close range effort. Cogan finished off the scoring for Dover with a low shot into the net.

The Whites had Domminic Shimmin sent off with a second yellow card after a dangerously high challenge on Aidy Chaves.

The Saints managed to claw a goal back through Aidy Chaves as he managed to hit a fine long-range volley past Ross Flitney. He could've had a second when he hit the bar with another audacious long-range effort which cracked off the woodwork.


Finally:

Will the Saints finish their life in the Blue Square Bet South on a high? Or will Dover send the Saints down with a knock-out win? Get involved in the pre- and post-match discussion in the thread below.