We weren't good enough today, admits Hessenthaler

Saturday 19th December 2009

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Andy Hessenthaler praised the club’s ground staff and supporters, as their game against St Albans City was the only non-league game staged in Kent today, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chairman Jim Parmenter procured a full pitch protection system, made from multiple layers of specialist breathable materials. The covers kept the pitch protected from frost and snow, allowing the ground below to breath.

Volunteers helped to put the giant protective sheets in place earlier in the week, just in time for the recent cold spell, and remove them before kick-off, ensuring today’s Blue Square South game went ahead.

Every other single game was postponed before 11 o’clock this morning, due to frozen pitches, and a crowd of only 593 braved icy temperatures at Crabble.

Many fans were put off attending the game, not only because of the wintry conditions, but it was the last Saturday before Christmas.

Fans couldn’t get to the ground, as lengthy traffic jams in and around Dover caused many delays, caused by problems getting out of the country due to Eurostar trains breaking down in the Tunnel; the wintry conditions and Eurostar train drivers on strike action over in France.

Hessenthaler, who was speaking to BBC Radio Kent afterwards said, “To be fair, credit to the fans and all the ground staff to get the game on today, because there was a lot of games that we’re off today, wasn’t there?”

“You’ve got to give them a lot of credit and say the fans done great. Unfortunately we didn’t give them the performance today.”

The manager was disappointed with his side’s 1-1 draw, a result that stretched their unbeaten run to six games.

They fell behind on 31 minutes, before Shaun Welford applied the finish to a Nicky Southall free-kick to level just three minutes later.

Hessenthaler praised St Albans, whose journey from Hertfordshire, which began at around half-past-nine, proved worthwhile.

“To be fair to them, they deserved something out of the game,” said Hessenthaler

“They were very good. They came and worked their socks off. They worked harder than us. They were better than us.

“I think a draw was a fair result. We certainly didn’t deserve any more out of it.

“There was no tempo about our play today. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit. No excuses, we weren’t good enough today."

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

Visit BBC Radio Kent's website: www.bbc.co.uk/kent