It's important we give everything to get into the play-offs, says Dover Athletic skipper Shane Huke

DOVER ATHLETIC skipper Shane Huke his team-mates are in good spirits, going into their make-or-break last two league games of the season.



The Whites are presently in sixth-place in the Blue Square Bet South table, with 64 points from 40 games.

Chelmsford City occupy the final play-off berth, with two more points than the Kent side and they travel to Eastleigh on Saturday, before ending their campaign at home to champions Woking.

Dover Athletic welcome second-from-bottom side Maidenhead United to Crabble on Saturday, before ending their league campaign away to Weston-super-Mare on 28 April.

Seventh-placed Basingstoke Town, however, could snatch the final play-off berth, as they too have 64 points, but have a game in hand.

The Hampshire outfit welcome Eastbourne Borough to The Camrose on Saturday, travel to third-from-bottom side Hampton & Richmond Borough in midweek,  before ending their campaign here in Kent, against Welling United, on the final day.

Dover Athletic can do their Kent rivals, Bromley, a massive favour with a victory over Maidenhead United on Saturday.

If Nicky Forster’s side beat the Magpies on Saturday, then Maidenhead United cannot catch Bromley, who are in seventeenth-place in the table and have four points more than Maidenhead.

Bromley, on 43 points, could celebrate their survival on Saturday, with three points against already relegated basement side Thurrock at Hayes Lane, and other results, involving Farnborough, Maidenhead United and Hampton & Richmond Borough go their way.

Huke, whose blog is published on www.doverathletic.com,  admits it a big weekend for Dover Athletic.

And confidence is sky-high, following their 1-0 win away to struggling Havant & Waterlooville last weekend.

Huke, who scored his only goal for the club in their win over Tonbridge Angels at Longmead Stadium over Easter, said: “So the play-off race continues after a fantastic away win from the lads and with only two games remaining, it becomes crunch time!

Reflecting on the win over relegation threatened Havant & Waterlooville, Huke was pleased on-loan striker, Rob Edmans scored his first goal for the club.

He said: “We started off for the for the first 20 minutes under the cosh, but kept them out mainly thanks to Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, who had a fantastic game between the sticks.

“The tables then turned and we started playing some football. Our goal came from yet another set-piece from Barry Cogan, and a header from Rob (Edmans) to grab his first deserved goal for the club.

“After this we had some more great chances and also a goal disallowed.”

Huke is relishing the three-way fight for that final play-off berth, and if Dover Athletic do grab it,  they will then look forward to a two-legged battle against bitter-rivals Dartford to see which Kent giant will make it through to the Conference South play-off final.

“With only two games to go it’s important we give everything we can to get two victories to give ourselves a chance to make the play-offs,” said Huke.

“Anything can happen as we saw last Saturday when Chelmsford conceded three goals in six minutes.

“We are in good spirits and are sure to give it everything we’ve got in these last two games.”

Huke wants a good turnout for the club’s final home game of the season.

He added: “It would be great to see a good crowd on Saturday to support us in our last league game of the season at Crabble.”

Quotes courtesy of www.doverathletic.com

Dover Athletic  v  Maidenhead United
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 21^st April 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Crabble, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB