DOVER face a tough FA Cup, fourth qualifying round, tie at home to Hereford on Saturday as they seek to end their miserable record in the competition since the club’s reincarnation as “Dover Athletic” in 1983-84.

Whites have never progressed beyond the fourth qualifying round, and defeats at that stage against Aldershot, Worthing and Basingstoke in the last three seasons were all painful experiences for their fans.

With Dover third from bottom of the Conference and mid-table Hereford fresh from a 6-0 win over Scarborough, the chances of Whites ending their poor cup run may not look too promising, but manager Gary Bellamy sees things differently.

The Dover boss drew plenty of encouragement from last Saturday’s 2-0 Conference success at Southport - Whites’ first away win of the season. He said: “What pleased me about Saturday was that there was a togetherness about the team.

“They enjoyed each other’s company and they enjoyed their victory on the long way home. I got the feeling that the negative culture I have been talking about within the club was finally turning into a positive culture.

And the thing now is that the lads aren’t worried by the fact that we have been drawn against another Conference team (in the Cup).

“We have picked up four points from our last two away games, and we have won four of our last six games at home, so they won’t be going into Saturday’s game worrying about the other team.”

Striker Tommy Tyne is again suspended but Bellamy is hoping that winger Chris Allen will be fit to return after missing the Southport game. He also confirmed that midfielder Jimmy Strouts was available.

The Crabble boss was also delighted with new signing Darren Carr’s debut performance at Southport. The 33-year-old former Gillingham defender, recently released by Brighton, has signed a contract to the end of the season and Bellamy said: “We are lucky to have him. He’s got loads of experience and he’s a winner, and that will rub off on the others around him.”