I think we're getting the rewards for the hard work we're putting in, says Nicky Forster

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Nicky Forster says his players are being rewarded for their hard work over recent weeks.



The Whites have climbed up to third-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table thanks to league wins over Billericay Town (twice), Weston-super-Mare, Truro City and Eastleigh.

Dover Athletic have won eleven and drawn four of their nineteen games, but have played more games than their rivals’.

“I think we’re getting the rewards for the hard work we’re putting in,” said Forster.

“At times this season we’ve played well and not got the reawards enough and we just need that little bit of luck sometimes.  You need things to go slightly your way and fall into place.

“The lads’ are very strong at the moment and confident and enjoying football.  There tends to be that momentum and that roll of good fortune but we have to keep working hader and harder because the higher you are the more vulnerable you are.

“I think Salisbury are there and have been there (at the top of the table) all season and everybody wants to shoot at them.”

Dover Athletic travel to Woking to take on ninth-placed Hayes & Yeading on Sunday afternoon.

“We know we’ve got a very important time after the Christmas period and we have to work incrediable hard to stay on the tails of the ones above us,” said Forster.

With Welling United playing Woking 24 hours earlier in the FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round, Dover Athletic could leapfrog over Jamie Day’s side and league leaders Salisbury City on Sunday if results go their way.

But Forster added: “Having said that if all the teams below us win their games in hand it becomes very, very tight.  We’re not looking above us we’re also looking to distance ourselves from the ones that are chasing.

“For lots of reasons every point is absolutely vital.”

Hayes & Yeading came away from Crabble with a 1-0 win back on 8 September and Forster knows all about the west London outfit.

He said: “We played Hayes & Yeading this season. We know the venue at Woking as they were in our league last year so there shouldn’t be any upsets or surprises.

“We were beaten at home by them which was disappointing so we’ll be looking to certainly give a better account of ourselves certainly in terms of the result this time round.

“They started the season trying to play, play, play and they’re a litlte bit solid than they were so they’ll be a very difficult opposition.

“They came down from the Conference National last year. They’ve got a good squad, a good young manager and they will be difficult, they really will.”

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com

Hayes & Yeading United  v  Dover Athletic
Blue Square Bet South
Sunday 16^th December 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Kingfield Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey GU22 9AA