Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover Athletic head back to Havant & Waterlooville this weekend looking to repeat their recent FA Trophy win in Hampshire to claim this time three massive points in the relegation fight in the National League.
Last weekend, the manager looked on his nine men drew 1-1 with Bromley. Hessenthaler admitted to KSN, “If we’d have had eleven players on the pitch – or even ten – we could have got a win out of the game which was frustrating, but what can I say about the nine players on the pitch last Saturday who dug in for forty minutes to rid out a point in the game that could so massive for us come the end of the season.”
“Credit to the players and after what happened Bedsente Gomis to be fair has held up hands and admitted things – hes put his head in there though what contact he’s made I don’t know and you just can’t do that as hes let himself down, the club down and the supporters. Hes been told that and it will be dealt with through the club’s own code of conduct which has happened – he’ll be disciplined. As for Kevin Loko we still can’t work-out what the fourth official got him involved in and sent off – thank god, there justice has come through and been rescinded meaning he can play at Havant on Saturday which is great news for us.”
“Saturday will be as tough as the Wrexham away and the Orient at home and the likes of Fylde and other who we’ve played during our run. Its going to be up there if not harder given the position that they’re in and the position that we’re in. We’re on their patch and I’m sure the pitch will be a bit boggy as it was when we won down there in the Trophy a couple of weeks ago. Its going to be a real test of character which is good really as come Saturday I’m going into the game knowing exactly what I’m going to get from the players and that’s that I will get everything from the players for the cause which if great for us as coaching and management team. Havant are a decent side who are on their own run and had a great win at Boreham Wood last weekend after making some loan signings and its going to be a toughie! We follow Saturday with two home games and so it’s important that we keep our run going even more so when its against sides around you.”
Hessenthaler then confirmed a new face coming into Crabble in time for the weekend as he told us, “we’ve got a new face this weekend in Danny McNamara who’s come in on loan from Millwall a with Gomis now suspended it’s given me a chance to tinker a bit at the back and so to do a bit of business on a right back seemed the perfect timing to do.”