chriswoods51
- Jan 14, 2022
- 3 min read

PREVIEW | Dover Athletic (H)

THE DETAILS

Wealdstone v Dover Athletic

Vanarama National League

Grosvenor Vale

Saturday 15th January, 3:00pm kick-off

TICKETS

Tickets for Saturday's National League fixture are £15 Adults, £10 Concessions, £8* 18-23 years old and £5 U18s. The 18-23 next generation offer is online only, we recommend that all supporters purchase their tickets online HERE and save the anticipated lengthy queues at the paid turnstile on the day. Saturday's game is unsegregated.

A reminder also that season ticket holders of both Premier League and EFL clubs are eligible for the concession ticket price of £10, just present your season ticket on the day as proof.

We're also running a bar offer in The Vale Social Club before the game, whilst the Manchester City v Chelsea game is on (12:30pm kick off), all draught beers will be £3 on production of either your season ticket or online matchday ticket.

The bar is also running a 'Happy Hour' after the game from 6pm to 7pm, where there'll be £1 off of all draught beers and also three bottles for £10.

*online purchase only

THE CONTEXT

The two sides last met in only late November, where the Stones ran out 3-2 winners at the Crabble thanks to a Jayden Sweeney double either side of a Josh Umerah goal. Coincidentally this is the last game the Stones won and have lost six on the bounce since the three points picked up on the road. Both sides have also since been knocked out of the FA Trophy by lower league opposition, hence the free weekend this weekend and bringing this game forward from its scheduled date in April.

TEAM NEWS

The trio of Nikola Tavares, Jaydn Mundle-Smith and Medy Elito all returned on Tuesday evening as the Stones narrowly lost to Boreham Wood. The suspended trio of George Wickens, Jack Cook and Charlie Cooper also all return to boost Stuart Maynard's options. Connor McAvoy extended his loan until the end of the season but missed Tuesday's defeat, whilst Ryan Gondoh and Sam Sargeant departed the club this week. Gondoh transferred to Scottish Championship club Ayr United and Sargeant's emergency loan deal expired. Stones also boosted their attacking options midweek with the loan signing of Stoke City forward Douglas Taylor, which will come in handy as Josh Umerah is suspended for one game. Rhys Browne and Andrew Eleftheriou remain out of the side injured.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Stuart Maynard: "The lads have kept themselves in good nick but we got 10 to 15 minutes into the second half on Tuesday and had to make four or five substitutes and that's not down to performance that's just down to the lads being dead on their feet. I don't think it showed much in the game but we lacked the attacking intent because of that in where we couldn't get up the pitch and then back down the pitch, they scored in the 77th minute and it just showed it was down to tired legs.

"But it was a performance to be proud of, I thought the lads were excellent, I thought the fans were incredible to travel in that many numbers on a Tuesday night, particularly with the expensive tickets Boreham Wood charge. It probably doesn't get highlighted enough but it keeps us going and you all really make a difference when we're tired."

FORM GUIDE

Stones:

Boreham Wood (A) 1-0 L Needham Market (A) 2-1 L (Buse)

FC Halifax Town (H) 0-1 L

Bromley (A) 3-2 L (Umerah, Cook)

Stockport County (H) 1-4 L (Jackson)

Dover Athletic:

Dagenham & Redbridge (A) 3-1 L (Pavey)

Woking (A) 3-2 L (Goodman, Hanson)

Dagenham & Redbridge (H) 0-2 L Bromley (H) 0-1 L

King's Lynn Town (A) 2-1 L (Pavey)

WHO TO WATCH FOR?

Alfie Pavey: The striker has had a new lease of life since rejoining the Whites on loan in late-November. He's added two goals to his name since his arrival in the defeats to Dagenham & Redbridge and King's Lynn Town. Although still aged only 26, the striker brings a wealth of National League experience having played at this level for Dover before as well as spells at Barnet, Havant & Waterlooville, Bromley and Aldershot Town.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played - 14

Won - 4

Drawn - 1

Lost - 9

*as Dover Athletic

Played - 12

Won - 4

Drawn - 4

Lost - 4

*as Dover FC

LAST FIVE MEETINGS