PREVIEW: EASTLEIGH AWAY

PREVIEW: EASTLEIGH AWAY

*BS*Dover Athletic face their biggest game of the season on Tuesday evening as they travel to Skrill South league leaders Eastleigh, who will all but secure the league title with victory.*BF*

Whites, who gained two vital victories last week against Tonbridge Angels (0-2) and Staines Town (1-0), fell one place to 6th in the table after play-off rivals Havant & Waterlooville defeated Bishop’s Stortford 2-0 on Monday night, however they can regain 5th place if they defeat the Spitfires at the Silverlake Stadium.

What would be even more satisfying for Chris Kinnear’s side is if they pull off a crucial win and Steve Brown’s Ebbsfleet United lose at Concord Rangers – meaning they would temporarily take 4th spot and put play-off hopes in their own hands at the expense of Ebbsfleet.

Kinnear has often rotated his strike force in the starting line up so, theoretically, Jeff Goulding is expected to start ahead of Nathan Elder up front. Meanwhile, there is still no news on Terrell Forbes’ injury so Sean Raggett, who completed a full 90 minutes on Saturday for the first time since the side’s 1-1 draw against Basingstoke Town last month, is expected to keep his place alongside Richard Orlu in central defence.

They face an Eastleigh side who have been phenomenal at home – not dropping a single point in their last 9 league games since they lost to Tonbridge in November and scoring 27 goals in the process, averaging 3 goals per game. A tenth win on the spin at home would put them just one point from clinching the title and promotion to the Conference Premier for the first time in their history after nine seasons in the Conference South.

The Spitfires are third in the goalscoring charts, helped by the trio of Craig McAllister, Ben Wright and Jai Reason who have netted an impressive 38 goals between them. They also have the third meanest defence in the league, however their record is currently being beaten by Whites who have only conceded 34 goals in 38 games. Goalkeeper Mitch Walker has recorded an impressive 17 clean sheets in the process.

*Lpic1*Dover also currently possess the best away record in the division – having won more games, scored more goals and conceded less goals than any other side. With Whites playing against a side who contain the best form in the Skrill South, this game is billed to be the biggest in the division thus far, considering the circumstances.

Since Whites’ promotion to the Conference South, they have been victorious at Silverlake Stadium in the league on every occasion, with their most remorable win coming in the Blue Square Bet South play-off semi-final 1st leg last season. Their only loss came in a last gasp *Link1* in the FA Trophy round of 16 in January, when goals from Reason, Ben Strevens and Jamie Collins won the tie for the Spitfires. Michael Kamara and Barry Cogan were on the scoresheet for Dover that afternoon.

Tomorrow will be Dover’s third fixture against Eastleigh this season, with Whites losing the previous two in injury time. The FA Trophy loss aside, their other loss occurred at Crabble as Eastleigh overturned a late one-goal lead to clinch a dramatic *Link2*. Chris Kinnear Jnr headed Dover in front but goals from Strevens and Stuart Fleetwood sealed the win.

Live text commentary of tomorrow’s big encounter will be brought to you by Kieran Dodd via *Link3* on Twitter.

*BS*OTHER MIDWEEK SKRILL SOUTH FIXTURES*BF*

*BS**IS*Tuesday 15 April*IF**BF*
Concord Rangers v Ebbsfleet United
Dorchester Town v Hayes & Yeading United
Gosport Borough v Basingstoke Town
Staines Town v Tonbridge Angels

*BS**IS*Wednesday 16 April*IF**BF*
Havant & Waterlooville v Boreham Wood

*BS**IS*Thursday 17 April*IF**BF*
Hayes & Yeading United v Gosport Borough

*BS**IS*Friday 18 April*IF**BF*
Eastleigh v Basingstoke Town
Ebbsfleet United v Eastbourne Borough
Weston-super-Mare v Havant & Waterlooville