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
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.
COYY – STEVE

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