Southall set for Dover return

ANDY HESSENTHALER is not going to lose sleep after back-to-back pre-season defeats, writes Justin Allen.

Whites slipped 1-0 against Sittingbourne on Saturday just two days after a 2-1 setback at Croydon Athletic.

But Dover Athletic boss Hess is only interested in raising fitness levels and learning from mistakes made in pre-season games ahead of the big Blue Square South kick-off at Maidenhead United on August 8.

Speaking to www.doverathletic.com yesterday, he said: "Defeats always hurt but it's not something I'm overly worried about. We were not at the races in front of goal and didn't make the Sittingbourne keeper work enough.

"He was their man-of-the-match but most of the shots were straight at him, but we'll improve.

"It's all about fitness and we had a full training workout on the morning of the Sittingbourne game. We want to be raring to go on August 8.

"There were things that pleased me in both our last two games, and of course there was some stuff that wasn't so good. But we can work on the things that didn't work for us. I won't lose any sleep."

Jake Leberl is not 100 per cent fit after picking up an injury and Dean Hill is also struggling slightly. That has forced Hessenthaler to protect Hill by not giving him 90 minutes and rest Leberl. That has meant that John Keister has had to fill in as a centre-half.

He said: "The defensive side of things has been frustrating for us. We've been playing Olly Schulz in the pre-season games because he is not available the first three games - and I want to protect both Dean and Jake for those matches.

"So we've not been able to prepare that side of our game well up to now - but we'll be fine."

Meanwhile, Hessenthaler is hoping to sign Nicky Southall on Tuesday night.

He said: "I want Nicky here - he wants to be here too - so we've just got to sort out a few odds and ends, and hopefully we'll have him signed on Tuesday."

The Whites chief added that he may have the chance to sign one new player after Southall, although, if he does not, the squad will still be strong enough for the new season.

Article courtesy of www.doverathletic.com

Dover Athletic  v  Hayes & Yeading United
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 21^st July 2009  
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Crabble, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB