We have to give ourselves a chance, says Hessenthaler

Monday 26th April 2010

DOVER ATHLETIC player-manager Andy Hessenthaler says the club’s passionate supporters can play their part in helping the club clinch promotion back to the top-flight of non-league football, writes Stephen McCartney.

Club chairman Jim Parmenter and Nick Cunningham have laid on a couple of coaches for fans to make the pilgrimage to Woking on Tuesday night for a mouth-watering Blue Square South semi-final first leg showdown at Kingfield Stadium - a game that should attract a crowd of over 3,000.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk caught up with Hessenthaler on the eve of the SEGREGATED first-leg and he is proud that his side finished their 42-match league campaign in second place in their first ever season in the division.

“Absolutely delighted to be honest to finish second in our first year in the Conference South,” said Hessenthaler.

“It’s a tremendous effort from everybody really. Obviously Newport were worthy champions, they won it by a mile in the end but to finish second to them is a fantastic achievement and I couldn’t really ask for any more from the players.”

The Whites travel to Woking before staging the second leg at Crabble on Saturday and if successful will host the final next Thursday (6th May) against either Chelmsford City or Bath City.

Woking have won their last six games as they squeezed into fifth-place in the table - but Hessenthaler fancies his side’s chances of keeping their dream alive.

“Obviously the momentums with Woking at the moment,” said the boss. “They’ve gone into the play-off’s with six wins on the bounce I believe, or something like that, so they’re a form side, along with ourselves, because we’ve only had one loss in ten and we’ve had 8 wins out of that.

“We’ve got some form as well going into the game so it should be an entertaining game.

“They beat us twice in the league campaign and they’re a good side. They’ve just come out of the Conference Premier - I know they had to rebuild a little bit within the club with a lot of younger players but they’re a good side.

“We know it’s going to be tough. They’ve beaten us twice in the league, although we’ve finished second they may go into the game slightly favourites, I would say.

“Over the two games we’ve just got to make sure we give ourselves an opportunity to bring Woking back to the Crabble at the weekend and who knows what could happen.

“There’s two Cup Finals coming up, hopefully one at the end of it as well, so our boys will be up for it. We’re up against it slightly with the injuries that we’ve picked up so we go into it with a very tight squad.

“Hopefully that will pull us together even more, like we have been all season.”

Hessenthaler guided Dover Athletic to back-to-back titles in his first two seasons in charge at Crabble, walking away with the Ryman One South and Ryman Premier League titles.

With Newport County romping to the Blue Square South title on 102 points from their 42 league games, Dover Athletic finished as runners-up with 75 points, level on points with Chelmsford City, with Bath City and Woking finishing on three fewer points.

With away goals NOT counting in the Blue Square South play-off’s, Hessenthaler knows there’s a lot of football to be played.

“You have to just give yourselves a chance in the second leg,” said the 44-year-old Kent football legend.

“This is the third time that I’ve been in the play-off’s, obviously in the league. Both times (with Gillingham) we’ve had the first leg away from home so it will be the third game that we’ve had the first leg away from home.

“In those two games we gave ourselves a real good opportunity to use our home advantage in the second leg and that will be the key again on Tuesday night.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re hard to play against, which we have been of late, and the occasion doesn’t get to the players. Sometimes it can do that, we’ve got a relatively young team.

“I think it’s on the night. Woking are virtually a young team as well, they’ve got a couple of lads with experience. It’s on the night, it’s who turns up and hopefully it will be ourselves. Hopefully we’ll give ourselves a real good opportunity to take them back to the Crabble with the home support on Saturday and drive us through to the final.”

Hessenthaler urges the passionate Dover faithful to continue their excellent support of the side.

“The fans have been a big part of our journey over the last three years,” explained Hessenthaler.

“We’ve had two promotions and finishing second in the Conference South is no mean feat.

“The supporters play a big part right to the end like they always do.

“The play-off’s are always exciting, they’re a nervous time as well for people but they’re enjoyable and it’s good the club have put a couple of coaches on for free for the supporters and I’m sure they’ll turn up in their droves to drive us on and come Saturday there will be another real big crowd because Woking are well supported as well.

“Without a doubt it’s a big occasion when you get to the play-off’s. There’s a massive chance to get the team into the top flight of non-league football.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

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

Woking v Dover Athletic

Blue Square South Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg

Tuesday 27th April 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Kingfield Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey GU22 9AA