PREVIEW | Dover Athletic (A)
THE DETAILS
Dover Athletic v Wealdstone
Vanarama National League
Crabble Athletic Ground
Tuesday 23rd November, 7:45pm kick-off
TICKETS
Tickets for this game are only available to purchase on the day on the turnstiles, there will be no advanced tickets sales for this match. This game will also be a fully segregated fixture with Wealdstone fans housed in The Town End of the stadium.
Tickets are priced at £18 Adults, £15 Over 60s and £9 Under 18s. You can pay via cash or card at the turnstiles, but facilities inside the stadium are cash only. Disabled supporters should contact a steward on arrival who will then be able to offer the necessary assistance.
THE CONTEXT
Wealdstone go into this National League match as rare favourites as part-time counterparts Dover Athletic search for their first league win of the season, whilst the visitors come into the game on a four-match unbeaten run having just come off a 0-0 draw away at promotion contenders Wrexham. The hosts currently sit at the bottom of the table having clawed back just three of the twelve points deducted toward the back end of last season. The two sides never met last season due to a string of postponements and the hosts not completing last season due to COVID issues, so this is the first time the two teams will meet competitively since 2009, a game which the Whites won 3-1.
TEAM NEWS
It was a solid debut for loan signing Jayden Sweeney in the 0-0 clean sheet away to Wrexham, he deputised for the injured Jamie Mascoll who picked up a knock in his debut the week before against Barnet. Nikola Tavares was brought off injured on the weekend and is likely to miss out on Tuesday evening. Connor Stevens and Medy Elito are the only two other injury doubts, whilst defender Connor McAvoy extended his loan stay with the club until January.
FORM GUIDE
Stones:
Wrexham (A) 0-0 D
Barnet (H) 1-0 W (Browne)
Grimsby Town (H) 1-0 W (Buse)
Weymouth (A) 1-1 D (McAvoy)
Dagenham & Redbridge (H) 1-2 L (Bird)
Dover Athletic:
FC Halifax Town (H) 1-3 L (Williamson) Torquay United (A) 2-1 L (Gregory) Southend United (A) 4-1 L (Hanson) Stockport County (H) 2-5 L (Williamson, Arthur)
Yate Town (A) 1-0 L
WHO TO WATCH FOR?
Ben Williamson: Williamson joined the Whites in the summer from National League rivals Bromley and at 32 years of age brings a wealth of EFL and National League experience to part-time squad. The midfielder is a centurion at both Port Vale, where he made 118 appearances in League One and Two and also at Eastleigh in the National League where he amassed a total of 101 appearances in three seasons before moving to Bromley.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played - 13
Won - 3
Drawn - 1
Lost - 9
*as Dover Athletic
Played - 12
Won - 4
Drawn - 4
Lost - 4
*as Dover FC
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Jul 2015 - Stones 0-2 Dover Athletic
Apr 2009 - Dover Athletic 3-1 Stones (Ngoyi)
Nov 2008 - Stones 1-2 Dover Athletic (O.G)
Apr 2005 - Stones 0-1 Dover Athletic
Dec 2004 - Dover Athletic 2-4 Stones (Jolly, Beckford 2, Tucker)
Preview by Chris Woods