With the first half of the National League season now complete, Dover find themselves in 15th place with 32 points from 23 games, although only sit six points off the play offs in a tightly packed mid table.
Its been a season of mixed emotions for the club so far. They have the third worst home form in the league, only picking up 10 points at Crabble, however they have the joint best away form, picking up 22 points away from home, which includes seven wins and a draw.
Whites ended the first month of the season with 15 points out of a possible 24, scoring in every game, which also included a late Alfie Pavey brace to come back from 1-0 down against Chesterfield on the opening day of the season.
Pavey would then move on to Barnet, which caused a problem for the club with one less attacking player at the club and a replacement needed. At the end of September, Anthony Jeffrey returned to the club after leaving in the summer and has scored one goal since returning, a winner against Weymouth in the FA Cup.
This was followed by the signing of Roberto Ratti, who has made three substitute appearances in the league, two substitute appearances in the FA Cup and made his first start for the club in the FA Trophy First Round against King’s Lynn Town.
In November, Leyton Orient youngster Ruel Sotiriou then came in for a month loan spell and scored three goals during his time at the club, including the winner in the first round of the FA Cup against Southend United. Most recently, Ade Yusuff joined the club, and could make his debut away to Chorley on Saturday.
In cup competitions, results have been varied for Whites. It was an early exit in the FA Trophy as they were eliminated on penalties in the First Round against King’s Lynn Town, but the FA Cup proved to be a little more successful after getting to the Second Round before defeat to League One Peterborough.
However, their FA Cup adventure was almost over in the Fourth Qualifying Round against Weymouth, but two goals in the final 10 minutes from Jai Reason and the aforementioned Jeffrey earned them a home tie against League One Southend in the First Round.
Whites would then go and cause the cup upset by knocking out the League One side thanks to Sotiriou’s late goal, but it was Round Two where their journey ended after a 3-0 defeat at Peterborough.
Dover have the chance to look forward to their first game in the Kent Senior Cup as they travel to Faversham Town in the Second Round.
With results at home being poor, attendances at Crabble have also started to dwindle and with a busy and crucial festive period coming up where they face promotion challengers Bromley on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as well as trips to strugglers Chorley and Ebbsfleet United, the end of the year could yet be a significant moment in the season for the club.