United return home to Plainmoor tomorrow, with The Gulls looking to get back to winning ways against Dover Athletic.
Although the visitors are currently bottom of the National League South table, nothing can be taken for granted in this unpredictable division, with their opening day 2-2 draw with Gary Johnson’s side the perfect evidence of that.
Who’s the boss?
Jake Lerberl took charge of the Whites last month, after Dover decided to dispense with the services of previous manager Mitch Brundle following a disappointing start to the 2023/24 campaign.
Lerberl had only recently returned to Kent for a second spell as Assistant Manager, having held the same role under former manager Chris Kinnear, and he remains a popular figure with Athletic supporters, courtesy of his near-200 appearances at the Crabble Athletic Ground between 1997-2002.
Having also represented Margate, Dagenham & Redbridge and Faversham – the latter as player/coach – he will now be hoping to use that experience to help pull his side clear of the dreaded relegation places.
How have they being doing?
Having won just two of their 27 fixtures so far, Dover are currently firmly rooted to the foot of the division, and are already twelve points adrift of safety.
Although signs of hope have been in short supply, a 2-1 victory over play-off chasing Aveley – their only home win to date – was certainly cause for celebration, as was last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Taunton, another side too close to comfort to the relegation places.
Player to watch
Having arrived from National League South newcomers Aveley in the summer, Nick Dembele adds a physical presence to the Dover attack.
Previously with the likes of Braintree, Potters Bar and Lewes, 26 year-old Dembele can be used in a number of different positions including up front, and is sure to be a focal point for his side again tomorrow.
Played for both
Current Dover winger Iffy Allen is one of a number of players to have represented both sides, with his 13 appearances and 3 goals at Plainmoor towards the end of the 2015/16 playing no small part in helping Kevin Nicholson’s side produce a remarkable escape act in order to save their National league status.
Londoner Allen, now 29 has become something of a journeyman since his emergence at Barnet, with a whole host of clubs including Yeovil, Wrexham, Maidstone and Lewes all benefitting from his tricky and pacy play, with tomorrow’s opponents the latest, following his arrival from Carshalton Athletic last July.
Previous encounter
Torquay United 2 – 1 Dover Athletic, Saturday 13th November 2021, National League
Both sides were in a similar position – albeit in the division above – the last time the two sides met at Plainmoor just over two years ago, with The Gulls setting their sights on the top-seven, and Dover already facing a sight for survival at the end of the table. The match though, was anything but a formality, with Armani Little producing two moments of magic to clinch three points for the home side.
An early strike from Travis Gregory gave the visitors a shock lead, however Torquay roused themselves to level things up through Little prior to the break, before the captain stepped up in the nick of time to turn one point into three in the dying minutes of the game.