PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Dover Athletic versus Torquay United

Venue: The Crabble, Dover

Date: Saturday 5th August 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 7*

Draw: 1

Dover: 4

*Includes the result of one meeting between the two sides which was expunged.

DOVER ATHLETIC FACTFILE

Year founded: 1983

Nickname: The Lilywhites

Last season’s league finish: 20th in National League South

Notable honours:

Conference South:

Play-off winners 2013-14

Isthmian League:

Premier League winners: 2008-09

Southern League:

Premier Division: 1989-90 & 1992-9

OPPOSITION Q&A – Dover Athletic by Lee Bowman

MANAGER – MITCH BRUNDLE

The youngest manager in the National League South at the age of 28, Mitch Brundle succeeded Andy Hessenthaler as Lilywhites boss in January 2023.

As a player, Brundle has appeared in the National League for Dagenham and Redbridge, Gateshead and Braintree in addition to Dover – and he is still registered to play when required.

BRUNDLE STATS

Appointed: 16th January 2023

Date of Birth: 04/12/1994 (28)

Other Clubs Managed: None

Managerial Honours: None

PLAYER TO WATCH – IFFY ALLEN

A member of the Gulls’ squad who completed the ‘great escape’ of the 2015-16 season, Iffy Allen has experienced a nomadic career since leaving Plainmoor in the summer of 2016.

He has had spells with a number of National League level clubs, including Aldershot, Wrexham and Bromley, and in National League South with Dulwich Hamlet, Braintree Town, Maidstone United and Hampton and Richmond Borough amongst others.

Allen arrived at the Crabble in the summer after a spell with Carshalton Athletic.

ALLEN STATS

Position: Winger

Date of Birth: 15th March 1994 (29)

Birthplace: London

Former Clubs: Barnet, Kingstonian, Yeovil, Torquay, Aldershot, Wrexham, Bromley, Wealdstone, Dulwich, Braintree, Maidstone, Ebbsfleet, Lewes, Hampton, Carshalton

OLD BOYS

Dover Athletic – Iffy Allen

Torquay United – Ryan Hanson

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Dover (4-4-2): Billy Terrell, Fuad Sesay, Peter Osimen, Charlie Naylor, Michael Olarewaju, James Dunne, Joshua Anifowose, Nick Dembele, Imran Kayani, George Wilkinson, George Nikaj

Torquay United (3-1-4-2): Mark Halstead, Shaun Donnellan, Ollie Tomlinson, Finley Craske, Brett McGavin, Dillon De Silva, Asa Hall, Tom Lapslie, Lewis Collins, Aaron Jarvis, Brad Ash

LAST MEETING

Saturday 12th February 2022, Dover Athletic 1 Torquay United 3

Torquay made it back-to-back wins in the National League with a 3-1 victory over bottom-placed Dover.

The Gulls took the lead just two minutes into the game with Asa Hall scoring a half-volley from the edge of the box.

Dover then equalised in the 26th minute through Jake Goodman, who tapped home from close range.

The Gulls went ahead in the 72nd minute as Joe Lewis headed in an Armani Little corner.

Stephen Duke-McKenna put the game to bed in stoppage time after making a good run and sending the ball past Adam Parkes.

XI: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 10. Armani Little, 12. Stephen Wearne (15. Stephen Duke-McKenna, 68′), 21. Dean Moxey, 30. Dan Holman (9. Danny Wright, 71′), 31. Joe Lewis

NOTABLE MEETING

Saturday 22nd April 2017, Dover Athletic 1 Torquay United 2

Brett Williams’ double at Dover sensationally pulled Torquay out of the National League relegation zone with one match to go, as they returned home with victory.

Chris Kinnear’s hosts dominated possession in the first half but it was the Gulls who took the lead two minutes shy of the interval when Williams escaped his marker and headed powerfully past Mitch Walker.

The visitors built on their lead in the second half when Williams netted his second with a clinical strike on 69 minutes after a swift break.

Substitute Aswad Thomas restored hope for the Whites, nodding a decisive header over Brendan Moore, but the defeat left play-off qualification out of their hands.

A CLASSIC ENCOUNTER – DOVER ATHLETIC (A) 2017 by Danny Burnell