CLIVE: DEFENCE NEEDS TO IMPROVE

CLIVE: LET’S MAKE IT EIGHT

WHITES boss Clive Walker is looking at his side making it eight wins on the bounce in Ryman One against Tooting and Mitcham.

Victory in South London on Saturday will put Dover top of the division for the first time this season.

It seems strange that, despite winning all SEVEN league matches this season, Whites are only fourth in the table.

Obviously, the club’s cup commitments and the postponed league match with Leatherhead have seen Clive’s men fall behind with their fixtures.

However, with none of the top three in action on Saturday, they have a perfect chance to grab top spot and build on their excellent start to the season.

But Clive knows that Tooting and Mitcham are going to present another tough challenge for his side – and believes Saturday’s opponents are one of the best sides in the division.

He said: “They will give us a game, that’s for sure. Tooting have been getting some good results and beating Fleet 4-0 away on Tuesday will see them riding high in confidence.

“Also, no doubt, we will be seen as a scalp for them. They will know that Dover Athletic are a big club at this level and that we’ve won every game. If that doesn’t motivate their side to try to put one over us, then I don’t know what will.

“It’s just going to get harder for us. Each match we win will make the next side we play more determined to beat us. Walton gave us a good game on Tuesday and we played well.

“But at least we go to Tooting with no further injury worries, so that is pleasing.”

Striker Tommy Tyne and midfielder Anthony Hogg are still on the treatment table – but, apart from that, the squad will be full-strength. With hitman Carl Rook added to the Dover squad, Clive has plenty of cover – although one or two more new players could be added in the coming weeks.

Defender Craig Cloke said: “Tooting, I’m told, have a nice ground, which will hopefully lift us a bit. We’re a bit spoilt, playing at an almost Football League-standard ground at Dover, and when we go away we have to get ourselves up for the game.

“At Crabble, it’s just automatic. How can you not be up for the game already at home? But we do get ourselves up for away games and we’re aiming to make it eight wins out of eight.”

Whites have played FIVE of their opening seven league matches at home – so many Ryman One observers are fascinated to see if Clive’s side can be as effective on the road. Dover have beaten Horsham and Bashley away in the league – but also defeated Bashley again and Lymington and New Milton in the FA Cup.

Clive added: “Our aim is simple. We’ve got to stay up towards the top of this league. The title is our aim.”

WHITES LIVE is planning to run a special programme from Tooting and Mitcham on Saturday.

Steve Parmenter and Tom Crawley will be bringing not only live commentary from the Ryman One fixture – but a series of interviews from players on the team bus travelling up to the game.

The coverage will begin around 2.40pm, with a 15-minute package of preview material, followed by the game.

Technical problems have now hopefully been ironed out, so you should enjoy a good quality service.

Don’t miss it!