We can still reach the play-offs, says Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear

The Whites’ Skrill South clash went ahead at Crabble on Saturday after volunteers helped groundstaff prepare the pitch in the morning and things were going well for Kinnear’s side after Liam Bellamy and Tom Murphy scored during the first half.

However, Bishop’s Stortford hit back through Ashley Miller and Cliff Akurang before Brian Woodall came back to his former club to score the winner in the final six minutes on his debut for the visitors’

Kinnear told www.doverathletic.com: “Very disappointed obviously as in the first half the pitch was in good condition and we were coasting.

“It looked like it was going to be a case of how many are we going to get.

“They gambled and perhaps because we are a young side and the pitch got a bit heavy, we panicked a bit and found it difficult to get the ball forward in the difficult conditions.

“We did not really get going in the second half and in the end they nicked it.

“We definitely should have won the game and three points have been thrown away, no doubt about that.”

Dover Athletic have lost six of their last ten games at Crabble this season.

Kinnear said: “It is ridiculous that we have lost that amount of home games, but if you include the MK Dons game (in the FA Cup Second Round), we have lost five in 21, which is not bad form for such a young side.”

Kinnear added: “Experience was lacking. We have seven lads under the age of 25 and when you are a young side, this sort of thing can catch you.  It was one of those things. I am sure Craig Stone would have made a difference talking to the lads with his experience, but he is only 24 as well.”

The Whites are in ninth-place in the table with 29 points from 20 games, four points adrift of fifth-placed Sutton United, who come to Crabble on Tuesday night.

Kinnear said: “There is a long way to go and we can still reach the play-offs.

“Our record this season in all competitions is still good considering that we have such a young side.

“We won’t be panicking, pointing fingers and blaming people as we are in it as a team. We cannot feel sorry for ourselves, we have to bounce back and have a go.”

Kinnear urges supporters to keep getting behind his young guns.

He said: “I understand it is disappointing for everyone involved with the club, but we all need to stick together as we are trying to build a team.

“There has been a high turnover of players in the last few year and a lot of good young players have left Dover and gone on to do very well.

“We have to keep our young players and teach them whilst also trying to win at the same time. We have the nucleus of a good side here.”

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