Match preview: Dover (a)

The Spireites will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they take on Dover Athletic at the Crabble Athletic Ground. James Rowe and his men will be striving to continue their unbeaten start to the season and reward the travelling fans with an attractive display.

Here’s all you need to know…

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021

Kick-off: 3pm

Competition: National League

Opponents: Dover Athletic 

Where: Crabble Athletic Ground

Tickets

Match tickets are not on sale online and must be purchased on the day, priced as follows:

Adults: £18 

Concession: £15 

Junior (18 & under): £9 

This match is segregated.

Live radio commentary

Our brand-new radio station, 1866 Sport, will provide commentary on all our National League games over the 2021/22 season. Supporters will be able to listen to full match commentary on the game, as well as pre-match/post-match analysis. 

Don’t forget that 1866 Sport is on air 24-hours a day, seven days a week! 

You can download the app from the Apple Store here: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1866-sport/id1580041321

If you’re an Android user, you can download the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.ma57501030

Alternatively, you can listen online here: https://streaming.radio.co/s47db4a4f3/listen          

It is also available via Alexa.

Commentary is provided by Phil Tooley. It is sponsored by iDeal Flooring – check out their website here: https://www.chesterfieldcarpets.com

Social media

Our official Twitter page (https://twitter.com/ChesterfieldFC) will provide regular updates on the match. It is also the place to find our exclusive goal GIFs, which are used when a player scores a goal. 

Key news will also be posted on our Facebook page, which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/ChesterfieldFC.

Our official Instagram page will keep you posted with key moments and content throughout the day on our stories: https://www.instagram.com/chesterfieldfc/?hl=en.

The post-match interview with manager James Rowe will be posted to our YouTube Channel soon after the game is finished: https://youtube.com/user/OfficialChesterfield.

Highlights of the game will also be posted to our YouTube Channel. 

James Rowe will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday, which could mean changes to the starting line-up, as he will be looking to select the best XI to dismantle Dover.

Jack Clarke looks set to miss the fixture after picking up a hamstring injury against Bromley, which could provide Liam Mandeville with an opportunity to start the game.

Fraser Kerr could also come back into the starting XI if his head injury has cleared up, but after Jamie Grimes put in a battling performance on Saturday, he will be looking to keep his place. 

After making an impact off the bench on Saturday, Manny Oyeleke will be hoping to start the fixture, but with Curtis Weston, Saidou Khan and Jak McCourt waiting in the wings, it could come down to performances in training across the week. 

Stefan Payne, Danny Rowe, Kabongo Tshimanga and Nathan Tyson will also be fighting it out to start up top.

Fact file

Name: Dover Athletic

Nicknames: The Whites

Founded: 1983

Stadium:  Crabble Atheltic Ground

Address: Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent, England, CT17 0JB

Capacity: 5,745

Manager: Andy Hessenthaler 

On Dover

Dover Athletic have recently switched to a part-time football club. They start this season on minus 12 points, after being penalised by the National League for not completing last season’s fixture list. The team only played 15 fixtures, with none played after January 30 2021, as staff were furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town’s previous club, Dover FC, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club. The Whites will be aiming to stay up in the National League this season and build for the next campaign in the summer. 

One to watch

Aaron Cosgrave has scored one goal in three appearances this season. The pacy forward is young and hungry with a point to prove, and he will be hoping to add to his tally against the Spireites.

The Spireites’ last three: (W/W/D)

Won – Chesterfield 2-0 Wealdstone – National League

Won – King’s Lynn 0-2 Chesterfield – National League

Drew – Chesterfield 2-2 Bromley – National League 

The Whites’ last three: (L/L/L)

Lost – Maidenhead 2-0 Dover – National League

Lost – Dover 1-0 Boreham Wood – National League 

Lost – Altrincham 3-2 Dover – National League 

The last time Chesterfield met Dover was back in March 2020, when the game finished in a 1-1 draw. The league was called off after the game for the remainder of the season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chesterfield have failed to beat Dover since dropping to the National League. The Spireites have drawn with the Whites three times, with Dover winning once. Chesterfield will be hoping to record their first win against Dover since dropping down to the National League.