Match Preview: Dover Athletic vs Farnborough

Farnborough are on the road this weekend as they take on relegation-threatened Dover Athletic.

The Yellows travel to Crabble Athletic Ground, looking for their fifth consecutive win in The Vanarama National League South.

Boro had to come from behind to extend their winning streak to four last time out.

Farnborough had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot after five minutes, as Reggie Young was taken down in the penalty area. Aaron Kuhl took the resulting spot-kick, but his penalty went flying over the bar and the game stayed at 0-0. Aveley took the lead in the 10th minute from a Siju Odelusi penalty, sending Jack Turner the wrong way. Just two minutes later, Reggie Young got The Yellows back on level terms with a smart finish into the bottom right corner.

Boro took the lead in first half stoppage time, thanks to an Edon Pruti header from a Guy Hollis long throw. Aveley were reduced to ten men when Ryan Carr lashed out on Pruti and was given a straight red card. It was not long after that Joe Haigh continued his goal-scoring form, finding the top right corner from the edge of the box, sealing the game for Farnborough and reducing the gap to the Play-Offs to just six points.

Saturday’s hosts picked up their second consecutive draw last time out; a goalless statemate with ten man Havant & Waterlooville. This followed their 1-1 draw away at Eastbourne Borough, where they took a seventh minute lead through George Nikaj, but were unable to hold on as Jack Clarke scored in the 86th minute to share the points. Dover Athletic sit bottom of the table, 17 points from safety and without a win in their last nine games.

Ahead of the long trip to Kent, Boro boss Spencer Day was very cautious with his assessment of the opposition: “I’m expecting a team that in their last six games, has lost four and drawn two. So that tells you a story, but only so far, because the four defeats were only by a goal.”

“Their pitch is very, very difficult, but they’ve got great pace. They are still fighting for their Manager and for themselves.”

“We don’t want to be the team that goes down there and takes it lightly, because it will be a very hard game.”

The reverse fixture back in October saw Farnborough put four past Dover Athletic, in what was a very clinical performance. Michael Folivi and Taylor Maloney scored in the first half, with Ricky Holmes and Ollie Robinson finishing the game off in the second half.

The Whites haven’t had a great home form this season, picking up two wins, nine draws and nine defeats at Crabble Athletic Ground.

It’s another vital game, in a last gasp bid for a spot in the Play-Off places. Let’s keep this winning run going. Come on Farnborough!