Chelmsford City look to continue where they left off in their last Vanarama National League South game when they take on Dover Athletic on Saturday 18th February, 3pm kickoff.
The opposition
Dover Athletic sit in 15th place after 31 games in the National League South this season. They have won 9, drawn 9 and lost 13, scoring 34 goals and conceding 44 in the league campaign so far which all adds up to 36 league points so far. Dover have not been able to put a consistent run of form together after their relegation from the National League last season, which means they sit in a mid-table position.
In terms of players, Dover have 41 year old Stuart Nelson in goal. Nelson has appeared for many clubs in the Football League, including Brentford and Gillingham, and also had a spell in Scotland with Aberdeen. In defence, they have former Maidenhead and Braintree centre-back Jake Goodman, as well as Crystal Palace loanee David Boateng. They also have experienced Grenada international Tyrone Sterling who rejoined the club last summer after 5 years away.
In midfield, they have Ebbsfleet loanee Jack Paxman who could appear against the Clarets for the 3rd time this season with 3 different clubs, having appeared for his parent club and also Braintree against City, all since New Year’s Day! They also have former Dulwich man Jordan Higgs and in wide areas former Manchester United youngster Lee Martin, and experienced winger Luke Wanadio.
Up front they have brought in Josh Ajayi, who scored 17 goals this season for Ramsgate and who scored his first Dover goal in the win over Eastbourne last Saturday. After Alfie Pavey and Chike Kandi departed the club, Dover’s other striker is youngster George Nikaj, who made his first league start of the season last weekend. Nikaj is one of a number of youngsters Dover are blooding in the league currently, with all 5 substitutes named last weekend being teenagers.
Dover’s player-manager is Mitch Brundle. The former Braintree player took over in January at just 28 years old, replacing previous manager Andy Hessenthaler, who left to join the backroom staff at Gillingham.
Previous Meetings
The two teams played out a goalless draw in Chelmsford in November last year, but the Clarets haven’t visited the Crabble since a 2-2 draw in February 2014. After Dover went 2-0 up through goals from Barry Cogan & ex-Claret Jeff Goulding, Christian Smith and a last-minute Kieran St Aimie equaliser got a point from the Clarets. However Dover progressed that season to win promotion via the playoffs. Chelmsford are unbeaten on their last 3 visits to Dover, with their last defeat there coming in 2011, when Billy Bricknell scored what turned out to be the winner for the Whites.
Team News
Cameron James returns from suspension after missing 2 games due to collecting 10 league bookings. Former Dover striker Reece Grant will be available for this game but then will be suspended for the next 3 league games starting with Tonbridge on Monday. Jamie Yila, Liam Trotter and Eddie Beach have all returned from injury to bolster the Claret’s squad and Harry Lodovica and Ernaldo Krasniqi will be assessed to see if they can return as well.
For Dover, George Wilkinson missed the Saturday win over Eastbourne through injury while defender Will Moses remains unavailable.
Ticket News
Tickets for this game can be purchased at the turnstile only.
Prices are as follows:
Adults – £16
Over 60 – £14
Under 18 – £8
Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult
Where to follow the game…
The Club will be providing coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets) using the hashtag #TheClarets.
There will also be live audio commentary from Radio Clarets.
Post-match reports and interviews will be found on the club website, social media and ClaretsTV following the game.
How to get there
The supporter’s club have announced that the prices will be reduced £5 as they have already passed the 25 passenger threshold if everyone that booked shows up on the day, so thanks for your support of this and for the team on Saturday!
By car
From outside of Kent, find your way to the M25, then take the M2/A2 (following the signs to Canterbury, then from Canterbury follow signs to Dover) as far as the Whitfield roundabout (there is a McDonald’s Drive-Thru on the left).
Take the fourth exit at this roundabout, down Whitfield Hill. At the bottom of the hill turn left at the roundabout and follow this road until the first set of traffic lights. At the lights turn right (180 degrees down the hill) and follow the road under the railway bridge, the ground is a little further up the road on the left.
There is no parking for supporters within the ground, although parking is available in the rugby ground, which is just inside the main entrance – stewards will direct you.
If you have to take the M20/A20 leave the A20 in Folkestone (the exit immediately after the tunnel through the hill) and travel through the Alkham Valley (turn left at the roundabout at the end of the slip-road and then left again, following the signs for Alkham) which will eventually take you near Kearsney train station (turn right into Lower Road just before the railway bridge, before you get to the station).
By rail
The main railway station in Dover is Dover Priory which is approximately 2 miles from Crabble. The closest station to Crabble is Kearsney which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the ground.
Kearsney is the last stop before Dover Priory on the line from London Victoria (via Canterbury). Some trains on this line do not stop between Canterbury East and Dover Priory so if you are planning on getting off at Kearsney make sure that the train you are travelling on is a stopping service.
If you are travelling on the line from London Charring Cross (via Ashford) the train will not pass through Kearsney so you will have to stop at Dover Priory, near the town centre.
If you get off at Kearsney, turn right as you leave the station, go under the railway bridge and then take the first road on the left (Lower Road). Follow Lower Road all the way along, past a pond on your right and Crabble Corn Mill on your left. At the end you will see the Cricketers pub on the other side of the road. Turn right and you should see the entrance to the ground.If you get off at Dover Priory it is probably best to get a bus or taxi to the ground as it is a long walk
It is set to be a warmer viewing experience than recent weeks as 11 degrees is expected at kickoff, with light cloud overhead.
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