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Sport

Dover Athletic manager Mitch Brundle concedes side weren't good enough in 3-1 National League South defeat at Chippenham Town; Whites aim to bounce back against Hampton & Richmond Borough at Crabble

By: Thomas Reeves treeves@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 07:46, 15 March 2023

Updated: 11:16, 15 March 2023

Manager Mitch Brundle conceded Dover weren’t good enough in their 3-1 defeat at Chippenham.

Whites have now suffered successive losses, having previously been on a six-match unbeaten National League South run.

Myles Judd - scored in Dover's weekend 3-1 defeat at Chippenham. Picture: Stuart Brock

While Brundle took some positives from last Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Cheshunt, he had no excuses for Saturday’s result, which came despite a second-half strike from right-back Myles Judd.

“It was not good enough,” he reflected.

“The Cheshunt game, the scoreline flattered them because it was not a 3-0 game. I took something from it.

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“But Saturday was not good enough and completely out of character from us since I’ve been in charge. Hopefully, it was just one of those days.

“We did have our chances, don’t get me wrong, but nothing compared to what we’ve had previously. We came out after half-time and scored, and I thought ‘Maybe the half-time team talk livened everyone up’. But we were just not good enough.

Dover boss Mitch Brundle

“The front three still had chances but, if you don’t take your chances, you end up on the bench waiting for your turn again.”

Young forwards Josh Ajayi and George Nikaj missed the match through injury and proved big absences.

Brundle explained: “Josh had a slight problem from the Cheshunt game. We missed him.

“Nikaj still had a little bit of a problem with his calf.

"Then it’s about opportunities for other players, but no one really stood up in their place.”

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Defender Alex Green has joined Southern Counties East Premier Division Deal on a permanent deal having previously been on loan. The 19-year-old now has a Kent Senior Trophy Final to look forward to.

“He has done really well when he’s been on loan,” Brundle said.

“But it’s two different levels, we didn’t want to hold his career back. He has a Cup Final to look forward to playing in as well. We wish him all the best.

“It’s another player from the Academy, playing men’s football - even though it’s not with us.

“It’s a shame he didn’t get a chance but we have Tyrone Sterling, Jake Goodman, Will Moses and Juddy who can play as the right-sided centre-half.

“So it just felt like the right decision for the club.”

Ex-Watford defender Andi Janjeva, 20, has been on the bench in Dover’s last two games.

Brundle added: “He has been training with us for a while and has done well.

"Hopefully he can get some game time but, because the defence has been doing so well, he’s had to wait.

“It’s something we want to look at for next year.”

With the deadline for signing players coming next week, Brundle didn’t rule out further additions.

He said: “We’re always looking to improve the squad.

“Any manager will tell you they’re always looking to improve although, sometimes, you don’t need to.

"Longer term, we need to get players we have identified. The next couple of weeks will be busy.

“We don’t have a game this week so I will watch a game and try to identify something to make the squad better.”

Whites are at home to a Hampton team this Saturday who are just above the relegation zone.

Brundle noted: “They’re another team trying to drag away from the bottom four.

“It’s going to be another game where we have to show the fight. We beat them at their place so they will try to get one back on us.

“They got a good result at the weekend [beating Chelmsford 2-1] and we’ve watched that back. Every game is important.

“We just need to match the standards we set in the six-game unbeaten run and we need a positive reaction from the group.”

Ajayi, Nikaj, young midfielder Freddie Oliver and on-loan Crystal Palace defender David Boateng will come into contention after spells out.

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