Two of Kent’s Conference Premier sides will face each other on Saturday when Dover Athletic welcome Dartford to Crabble.
The hosts’ great run of form has helped them to climb the Conference table and another win this weekend could see them rise to 6th place after being unbeaten in the competition since mid- October.
In comparison, the Darts will enter the game 22nd in the table, seven points from safety and their bad luck continues in the form of injuries, Elliot Bradbrook isn’t expected to start after sitting out his team’s 2-1 loss at home to Halifax Town.
After four straight losses, Dartford will need to improve from a defeat to nine-man Halifax during the week, this will mean being able to reduce Dover’s opportunities to score but, having not achieved a clean sheet since August and having conceded nine goals already this month it will be tough for them to protect their goal against a strong, in form Dover side.
For the hosts, goalkeeper Mitch Walker, who was forced off with injury in September when the two teams last met returned on the bench in their last game showing he is close to a full recovery.
The lilywhites have also been busy this week with transfers, Tuesday was a busy day at Crabble with Tom Bonner leaving after his loan spell was over, the defender who made 125 appearances for Dartford has since joined Ebbsfleet United; however, two players signed with Dover on the same day as Bonner’s departure.
Soloman Taiwo joins the club after spending time there on loan earlier in the season from Luton; meanwhile winger Adam Mekki has signed after leaving Conference leaders Barnet.
When the two sides met earlier in the season at Princes Park it was the North Kent team who won bragging rights after winning 2-1.
Both teams need the points with Dartford beginning to run out of time to avoid a late relegation battle whilst Dover are looking to keep their run of good form going.