Chris Kinnear wants to banish the memory of Dover’s ‘one disappointment’ of the past year by guiding his side to Wembley in the FA Trophy.

Athletic established themselves in the Vanarama National League last season and enjoyed a fairytale ride to the FA Cup third round and the visit of Crystal Palace but Kinnear admits he still reflects on the disappointment of falling two rounds short of a trip to Wembley in the FA Trophy.

Last February Dover bowed out of the competition in the quarter-finals, losing 2-1 in a replay at Bath City, having led in the initial tie at Crabble which ended 3-3.

Whites host Southport in the second round on Saturday (3pm) and Kinnear said: “We want to do well in the Trophy, it is important to us, particularly after last year.

“We don’t linger on any defeats and certainly not on one from last year. However, for me, the Trophy was the only disappointment of last season.

“We had such a good year and to have one disappointment is not bad at all but to come so close, to be 1-0 up at home in a quarter-final, it was one you look back on.”

Dover are the third-highest team left in the competition and Kinnear admitted: “You have to say that Wembley is a possibility. Saturday won’t be easy, though.”

The weekend’s 0-0 draw at Bromley ended a run of six straight wins for Southport and Kinnear said: “They are one of the teams in the best form in the league and no team in our league is going to be easy anyway.

“We are at home and they have a long journey but they will probably stay down here on the Friday night, so their players will probably be able to get up later than some of mine will.

“One thing’s for sure, you wouldn’t fancy drawing and having to go up there for a replay on a Tuesday night.”

Kinnear also revealed he remains active in the transfer market, although Whites are not currently close to any signings or departures.

He said: “I am talking to people but we haven’t found what we’re looking for yet.

“The lads are performing well at the moment. A lot of sides bring players in at this stage of the season and mess things up. I don’t want to do that.”

He added: “Whatever rumours there are, I can say neither me or the club have been asked about any of our players.

“The reason we are doing well is the strength of the team as a whole, rather than outstanding individuals.”