Dover v Eastleigh - Match Preview
Match Preview by Kieran James
Eastleigh signed Appiah without paying a fee as the midfielder is not under contract at fellow Blue Square Bet South rivals Farnborough and the 23-year-old Toronto born and former Preston North End midfielder has represented Canada under 23′s in the Olympics.
The Spitfires are also looking to sign former Farnborough striker Bradley Bubb who is currently on loan to fellow Blue Square Bet South side Basingstoke Town.
The 23-year-old Grenadian international striker who has represented his country eight times is due to sign for Eastleigh until the end of the season on loan after tomorrow.
This is going to be a tough game for the Spitfires so come to the the Perry’s Crabble Stadium tomorrow at 3pm and roar on those Spitfires!
Matt Gerrard is doing web commentary for tomorrow’s Blue Square Bet South clash on BBC Radio Kent, be sure to listen in if you cannot make the game tomorrow.
COME ON YOU SPITFIRES!
Ian Baird’s Spitfires will go into tomorrow’s Blue Square Bet South clash away to sixth-placed Dover Athletic (3pm kick off) in great confidence having only lost one in there last eight games in the league.
Unfortunately the Spitfires have not played a game since Boxing Day when the much anticipated Hampshire derby away to Havant & Waterlooville ended in a 0-0 draw at West Leigh Park .
The second of the two Hampshire derbies got called off due to a waterlogged pitch at the Silverlake Stadium six days later on New Years day much to Eastleigh’s frustration.
Dover Athletic, known as the Whites will look to get back to winning ways after drawing there last two games against Eastbourne Borough.
The first of the two Christmas fixtures saw the Whites earn a hard fought draw at The Perry’s Crabble Stadium where Barry Cogan did enough to earn Dover a share of the points.
The former Millwall and Republic of Ireland under 21 midfielder received a good pass from former Tottenham Hotspur striker Terry Dixon and went on score in the bottom corner to cancel out Carl Rook’s 16th minute goal.
The second of the two festive fixtures saw Dover travel to Eastbourne Borough at Priory Lane and the match also finished as a draw.
Dover took the lead after only five minutes through Michael Corcoran, the former Oxford United and Northern Ireland under 21 defender did well to header home from a corner to put the Whites 0-1 up.
The Whites were then unlucky to lose there lead despite suspicisons of offside.
Terry Dixon then took the lead again for Dover after a quick counter attack down the right wing that found the striker who made no mistake with a free header on goal.
Hart who had a brief loan spell with Eastleigh's rivals Havant & Waterlooville in the 2007/2008 season cruelly earned Eastbourne a point with a header that sent Dover back to Kent with two points dropped.
Dover have won four games at the Perry’s Crabble Stadium in the league this season having lost only one game all season at home. Six of the eleven games played at home this season have been draws for the Kent based club.
The Spitfires last played Dover at the Silverlake Stadium and it was a game to forget as The Whites took all three points on that occasion courtesy of goals from Barry Cogan and now nPower League Two Gillingham Town striker Adam Birchall.
Barry Cogan flew past the Eastleigh defence and took it past Eastleigh goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot to tap in to an empty net after two minutes and after a lot of Eastleigh wasted chances, Adam Birchall shot into an empty net after Harry Baker had a shot saved that fell kindly into the path of Birchall.
However the last time these two teams played in the white cliffs of Dover was early last season in September. The Spitfires were flying high with a 42-minute wonder goal by former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jamie Slabber who was Eastleigh’s top scorer last season with an impressive 25 goals in all competitions.
Brett Williams who is now on loan to nPower League Two side Rotherham United from Reading produced a pass to Slabber who flicked the ball past the Dover defenders to finish sweetly with a right foot strike that gave goalkeeper Ross Flitney no chance.
That goal was the only one of the game and it proved to be a very gritty important three points at the time and a shock result.
Eastleigh sit in eleventeh place, five points behind Dover however the Whites have played one more game than the Spitfires this season. Eastleigh sit in fourth place in the form table having claimed eleven points out of there last six league games and have secured three more points than Dover.
Eastleigh are due to sign Philip Appiah after the midfielder announced on Twitter:#
Unfortunately the Spitfires have not played a game since Boxing Day when the much anticipated Hampshire derby away to Havant & Waterlooville ended in a 0-0 draw at West Leigh Park .
The second of the two Hampshire derbies got called off due to a waterlogged pitch at the Silverlake Stadium six days later on New Years day much to Eastleigh’s frustration.
Dover Athletic, known as the Whites will look to get back to winning ways after drawing there last two games against Eastbourne Borough.
The first of the two Christmas fixtures saw the Whites earn a hard fought draw at The Perry’s Crabble Stadium where Barry Cogan did enough to earn Dover a share of the points.
The former Millwall and Republic of Ireland under 21 midfielder received a good pass from former Tottenham Hotspur striker Terry Dixon and went on score in the bottom corner to cancel out Carl Rook’s 16th minute goal.
The second of the two festive fixtures saw Dover travel to Eastbourne Borough at Priory Lane and the match also finished as a draw.
Dover took the lead after only five minutes through Michael Corcoran, the former Oxford United and Northern Ireland under 21 defender did well to header home from a corner to put the Whites 0-1 up.
The Whites were then unlucky to lose there lead despite suspicisons of offside.
Terry Dixon then took the lead again for Dover after a quick counter attack down the right wing that found the striker who made no mistake with a free header on goal.
Hart who had a brief loan spell with Eastleigh's rivals Havant & Waterlooville in the 2007/2008 season cruelly earned Eastbourne a point with a header that sent Dover back to Kent with two points dropped.
Dover have won four games at the Perry’s Crabble Stadium in the league this season having lost only one game all season at home. Six of the eleven games played at home this season have been draws for the Kent based club.
The Spitfires last played Dover at the Silverlake Stadium and it was a game to forget as The Whites took all three points on that occasion courtesy of goals from Barry Cogan and now nPower League Two Gillingham Town striker Adam Birchall.
Barry Cogan flew past the Eastleigh defence and took it past Eastleigh goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot to tap in to an empty net after two minutes and after a lot of Eastleigh wasted chances, Adam Birchall shot into an empty net after Harry Baker had a shot saved that fell kindly into the path of Birchall.
However the last time these two teams played in the white cliffs of Dover was early last season in September. The Spitfires were flying high with a 42-minute wonder goal by former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jamie Slabber who was Eastleigh’s top scorer last season with an impressive 25 goals in all competitions.
Brett Williams who is now on loan to nPower League Two side Rotherham United from Reading produced a pass to Slabber who flicked the ball past the Dover defenders to finish sweetly with a right foot strike that gave goalkeeper Ross Flitney no chance.
That goal was the only one of the game and it proved to be a very gritty important three points at the time and a shock result.
Eastleigh sit in eleventeh place, five points behind Dover however the Whites have played one more game than the Spitfires this season. Eastleigh sit in fourth place in the form table having claimed eleven points out of there last six league games and have secured three more points than Dover.
Eastleigh are due to sign Philip Appiah after the midfielder announced on Twitter:#
“PhilAppz Would like 2 thank all@farnboroughFc fans 4 there support. Really enjoyed it. Felt welcomed. Wish u all the best”.
Many good luck messages have been sent to the midfielder from his Farnborough team mates on Twitter and the signing was confirmed on the Farnborough official website.
Many good luck messages have been sent to the midfielder from his Farnborough team mates on Twitter and the signing was confirmed on the Farnborough official website.
Eastleigh signed Appiah without paying a fee as the midfielder is not under contract at fellow Blue Square Bet South rivals Farnborough and the 23-year-old Toronto born and former Preston North End midfielder has represented Canada under 23′s in the Olympics.
The Spitfires are also looking to sign former Farnborough striker Bradley Bubb who is currently on loan to fellow Blue Square Bet South side Basingstoke Town.
The 23-year-old Grenadian international striker who has represented his country eight times is due to sign for Eastleigh until the end of the season on loan after tomorrow.
This is going to be a tough game for the Spitfires so come to the the Perry’s Crabble Stadium tomorrow at 3pm and roar on those Spitfires!
Matt Gerrard is doing web commentary for tomorrow’s Blue Square Bet South clash on BBC Radio Kent, be sure to listen in if you cannot make the game tomorrow.
COME ON YOU SPITFIRES!
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