Winning is a good habit to have, says Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Chris Kinnear says his side lock horns with Oxford City on Saturday in a confident manner.

The Whites climbed up to sixth-place in The Skrill South table following their 4-0 win away to Eastbourne Borough last night.

Dover Athletic have collected six wins and one draw from their 12 league games and are now one point adrift of the play-offs.

“We played well, could have scored even more and if you score four goals in any game you’ve done well, but the clean sheet and the way we played is the bonus really,” said Kinnear.

“We’ve got a new side – we’re not totally there yet. 

“I think there’s only three in the side that played with us last year so it takes time and the way we play, people need to know what their jobs are and we’re organised so it’s going to be a slow start and maybe we’ll have ups and downs.

“Although we’re unbeaten in six, won five, drawn one, so we’re going quite well in that, but there’s still work to be done.”

Dover Athletic welcome Oxford City to Crabble knowing that they are just 90 minutes away from The FA Cup First Round.

The last time the Kent club reached that stage was in 2010 when Martin Hayes’ side stunned Gillingham with a famous 2-0 win at Priestfield before beating Aldershot Town at Crabble, before going out in the Third Round at Huddersfield Town.

Kinnear said of Oxford City: “They’re decent – they played Eastleigh who are top of our league and they also beat Maidenhead – who are a decent side in our league.

“They’ll be physically strong. They’ve got a lot of experienced players, some of them have played for Oxford United in the League so they’re probably more of an experienced side than we are.

“The way things are going at the moment, we fancy our chances but it’s definitely not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination. They’ve got some very good players.”

Kinnear added: “We’re playing with a bit of confidence. We played yesterday and they didn’t so maybe there’s a little bit of tiredness in there but that’s something that we’ve got to get the lads rested and ready to go for Saturday.

“It should be a good game, no doubt about that!”

When asked about the possibility of travelling up to Oxford for a midweek replay, Kinnear replied: “That’s what it takes, that’s what it takes! We try to win every game. Last Saturday was the first game we’ve drawn all season so we do try to just go for it and win games!

“In saying that, I think we haven’t let a league goal in for 400 odd minutes so that’s not bad going!”

The FA Cup is very important to all non-league clubs and Dover Athletic will scoop £12,500 in prize money should they beat their Conference North opponents.

Oxford City are second-from-bottom-place in their league, having collected one win and five draws from their 11 league games.

Kinnear said: “I think it means a massive amount to all clubs really.  Was it three years ago they had that FA Cup run?

“It’s a new side here and there’s a lot of good young lads and it puts them out there if you like so it means a massive amount.  We’re taking it very, very seriously so it won’t be one of those things that we’re just watching the league.

“Every game we’ve played this season we’ve tried to go win it and winning is a good habit to have.”

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

Dover Athletic  v  Oxford City
The FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 26^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB