Tomorrow evening Concord Rangers can pick up back to back home wins for the first time since November as Dover Athletic make the trip to Canvey Island.
Dover were relegated from the fifth tier of English football last season following a dismal campaign that saw them pick up just two wins - ending the season on one point due to a point deduction.
Despite playing a league lower the Kent club haven't faired much better this term with the Whites currently two places and eight points above the drop zone having played a game more than Cheshunt.
Despite this Dover should survive without too much of a scare due to a much easier run in that sees them play two of the bottom four as well as an out of form Farnborough.
Athletic come into this game without a win in their past three outings following a crushing 5-1 defeat at home to Oxford City at the weekend.
Prior to this they experienced a dismal double header over the Easter Period that saw them pick up one point from a possible six against fellow Kent sides - drawing with Welling United and losing at Dartford. Although they did gain more points than Concord who fell to 7-0 and 2-1 losses to Worthing and St Albans City respectively.
Despite this poor run of form Dover did pick up a fantastic win earlier this month when the Whites shocked Braintree Town 3-1 at Dunmow Group Stadium. However this is Mitch Brundle's sides only victory in their past nine games.
Concord Rangers also come into this game in patchy form having also picked up just one win in nine matches - a 1-0 victory over Hungerford Town last Thursday being their only three points since their win at Welling in March.
The Beach Boys will need to pick up form rapidly though if they are to avoid the drop. Rob Small's men are bottom of the table, 12 points from safety with three games in hand. However survival will be a big ask for Concord who have to play every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from now up until the final day of the season on the 29th of April.
Despite this Concord can still come into tomorrow's fixture with some believe; they won their last game on home turf and as well as this the Beach Boys also won the reverse fixture in October.
Strikes from Ryan Blackman, Nana Kyei and a wondergoal from Aron Pollock secured Rob Small's first win as Concord boss with a fantastic 3-0 victory at Crabble in October.
However the only two meetings between the sides at the Aspect Arena have ended in the away side heading home with three points. In 2018 Dover dumped the Beach Boys out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win and four years prior to this the Whites won 2-1 in a league fixture at Thames Road.
With both sides searching for three points in their bids for survival it is all to play for.
Key Player
Luke Wanadio
Dover's top scorer, Luke Wanadio, has had to step up and lead the line for the Whites following Alfie Pavey's January departure to Braintree Town.
The 30 year old arrived at Crabble in the summer from nearby neighbours Folkestone Invicta, and Wanadio has since gone on to become a firm fan favourite.
Wanadio spent the first half of last season at fellow National League South outfit Dartford with whom he played in 11 games for - including a 14 minute appearance in the Darts' defeat at Concord.
Wanadio was last on target earlier this month when he bagged a brace in Dover's 3-1 win over Braintree.
Previously in his career the experienced midfielder has also turned out for the likes of Dulwich Hamlet, Welling United and Hampton & Richmond Borough.
They've played for both
Tyrone Sterling
Experienced defender Tyrone Sterling, like Wanadio, joined Dover in the summer from Dulwich Hamlet for his second spell with the club.
The 35 year old previously donned the white and black of Dover during a four year stint at Crabble from 2013-2017.
Sterling has also enjoyed two spells with Concord; the first from 2018-2019 before returning between 2020-2021 - captaining the Beach Boys in their 2020 FA Trophy Final defeat to Harrogate Town at Wembley Stadium.
Sterling also had international experience to boast on his CV; achieving five caps for the Grenadan national team.
Ricky Modeste
Another Grenada international, Ricky Modeste arrived at Concord from Tonbridge Angels in the summer.
Since making the switch across the Thames, Modeste has become a regular with the Beach Boys making 43 appearances and netting five goals - only Tosan Popo and Nana Kyei have appeared more often for Rangers than Modeste this term.
Like Sterling, Modeste has also enjoyed two spells at Crabble. The 35 year old spent five years with Dover from 2012-2017 during which time he made over 150 appearances and helped the Whites achieve promotion to the Conference.
Also in his first spell with the club Modeste appeared twice for Dover against Concord during the 2013/14 campaign.
The winger returned to Crabble from 2018 up until 2020 prior to his move to Dartford.
Jack Munns
A Rob Small signing, Jack Munns arrived at Concord from Hornchurch in early February.
Since making the switch across the county Munns has racked up five appearances but is still searching for his first goal in Concord colours.
Munns represented Dover from 2019 till 2021, a spell that saw him linkup with current Concord teammate Modeste.
The 29 year old has previously experienced football in the EFL and the National League with the likes of Cheltenham Town, Hartlepool United, Dagenham & Redbridge and Boreham Wood.
Form
Concord Rangers
L - 0-7 vs Worthing (A)
L - 1-2 vs St Albans City (H)
W - 1-0 vs Hungerford Town (H)
L - 0-4 vs Bath City (A)
Dover Athletic
W - 3-1 vs Braintree Town (A)
D - 0-0 vs Welling United (H)
L - 1-2 vs Dartford (A)
L - 1-5 vs Oxford City (H)
Head-to-head
25/10/2023: Dover Athletic 0-3 Concord Rangers
20/10/2018: Concord Rangers 0-1 Dover Athletic
19/04/2014: Concord Rangers 1-2 Dover Athletic
24/08/2013: Dover Athletic 0-1 Concord Rangers
By Nathan Williams
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