The next stop in County’s title charge sees us host basement side Dover Athletic at Edgeley Park, with a place in the record books up for grabs as we look to win ten consecutive games for the first time in the club’s history.
With each of the four sides immediately below us in the league all winning last Saturday, our own 5-0 win away at Barnet was crucial in keeping us top of the National League table – and made us the highest scorers in the National League at the same time.
Our advantage at the top remains one point, with Chesterfield, Halifax, Bromley and Boreham Wood all breathing down our necks, and Wrexham, Notts County and Solihull Moors just a little further back in an enthralling title race.
At the other end of the spectrum, Dover have endured a torrid season so far as they remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table after last week’s defeat at home to Southend – the gap between the Whites and safety now standing at a huge 30 points.
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Since we last met:
Dover knew they were in for a tough and long season before a ball had even been kicked in August, as the club were hit with a 12 point penalty for their refusal to play games during the 2020/21 campaign. By the time both sides met at The Crabble on the 30th October, the club were still looking for their first win of the season.
Dave Conlon was in interim charge for that game, and his side made sure that The Whites’ wait for a first win would continue as five goals from five different scorers saw us run out comfortable 5-2 winners.
That game was the fifth in a run of nine straight league defeats for Andy Hessenthaler’s side before gaining a point away at Yeovil, with any hopes of an unlikely great escape becoming more remote with each passing week.
Another dismal run of seven straight league losses immediately followed that point at Huish Park, and after 27 games in all competitions the team were still looking for their first win of the season – having also been knocked out of the FA Cup by Yate Town and the FA Trophy by Bromley.
It proved to be 28th time lucky for the Kent side, as they finally earned their first three points of the season with a deserved 1-0 win at home to Eastleigh less than two weeks ago, thanks to Alfie Pavey’s second-half strike.
Although they followed that up with defeat to Southend, their performance against The Shrimpers was much improved, and will give some hope to Dover fans of an improved points tally in the second half of the season.
As it stands though, the stats make grim reading for their supporters. They remain on negative points this season, -5 to be exact, and currently have the worst defensive and offensive record in the National League. Away from home, they have picked up just two points from 13 league games, conceding 38 times.
One to watch:
Dover were hit hard at the turn of the year by the loss of top scorer Aaron Cosgrave, who was recalled from his loan spell by parent club AFC Wimbledon. In his absence, striker Alfie Pavey has stepped up to the mark and impressed during his second spell with the club.
The forward, on loan from Maidstone, has scored four times in ten appearances so far this season, including the goal that secured their only win of the season so far.
Match Stats:
- A win here would be County’s tenth in a row in all competitions, beating our previous record of nine set in 2006/07 and again in 2018/19.
- County have won three of the previous four meetings between the two sides, losing once – a 2-0 home defeat in February 2020.
- Following his goal last weekend, Will Collar has now been involved in 13 goals in his last nine appearances (seven goals, six assists).
