AFTER two defeats over Easter Dover Athletic must win against Dorchester at the Hoverspeed Stadium on Saturday to retain any hope of automatic promotion.

Whites need at least seven points from their final three games to finish in the top 13 of the Dr Martens Premier and go straight up into Conference 2 (South).

Manager Richard Langley was in defiant mood this week as he marshalled his troops for a final push on the automatic promotion places.

He said: "We've got a job on our hands but there's always hope. I can't fault the work rate and attitude of the players.

"When Havant scored, the players' heads visibly dropped, because of our inability to score. We hit the post twice and Lee Spiller was unlucky to turn the ball into his own net.

"You can sum up our problems in one line: We can't score goals. It's as simple as that.

"We need a bit of luck now. If we could score first, even if one gets deflected in off the referee or something, it would be a huge boost to our confidence."

Langley has big injury worries for the rest of the season. There are concerns surrounding Craig Wilkins (back), Andy Arnott (neck), Lee Spiller (thigh strain) and Tom Hickman (shin splints).

Billy Bone is also doubtful and Mark Patterson has tight hamstrings after making his first appearance for two months on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Dave Wietecha has injured his knee again, but Paul Hyde is fit and set to return between the posts.

Dover probably need one more win to even secure a play-off spot and avoid a bottom four finish, and with it automatic relegation.

Perhaps a more realistic ambition is to finish 14th or 15th and thus ensure home games in the play-offs.

After the Dorchester clash, Dover travel to Merthyr Tydfil on April 24 before facing Stafford Rangers at home on May 1.

Should they make the play-offs they will be pitched into action straight away. The play-off finals are set for Saturday, May 8, with the semi-finals in the preceding midweek. Ties will be played over one leg, and have to be settled on the day.