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Andy Hessenthaler admits the next couple of weeks could make or break Dover’s season.
The Whites began a run of four games in 12 days over the festive period with Saturday’s last-gasp 1-1 draw away to National League strugglers Chorley.
Dover host title-chasing Bromley at Crabble on Boxing Day and travel to bottom club Ebbsfleet (December 28) before the return with Bromley at Hayes Lane on New Year’s Day.
The result at Chorley – earned courtesy of Kevin Lokko’s stoppage-time equaliser – left Whites in 15th, seven points off the play-offs, and manager Hessenthaler knows full well what a good run at this time of year can do.
He said: “I think all games are big at this time of year. It can be a defining part of the season in terms of the schedule. There are a lot of games and if we come out of the Christmas and new year period on a nice little run it could help us get going again.
“Last year we had a very good Christmas and it definitely helped us in the second half of the season.”
The draw at Chorley extended Dover’s winless run to four league matches and Hessenthaler conceded Whites were not good enough on the ball.
He explained: “We’ve still only lost two on our travels out of 11 matches, but we’ve got to improve with the ball.
“I’ve put a lot of trust in these boys – I bought most of them here.
“They know they’ve got to do more than they did at Chorley. Not so much effort-wise, just quality. I’m just looking for more quality.
“We had times where we’ve had a lot more time on the ball and just made the wrong decision.
“This is where you need characters who are mentally strong.
“Maybe that score right at the death might make them realise hang on, we haven’t got beaten, can we go on a run now?
“We’ve got one of the better sides in the league on Boxing Day, and again on New Year’s Day, two tough games, and we’ve got Ebbsfleet, bottom of the league now, fighting for their lives.
“Our league form has been a bit indifferent but it’s not been terrible. We’re about mid-table in the form guide but we have to do better.
“We set out at the start of the season to make the play-offs and that’s still our aim, we don’t want to be looking down rather than up.”
Hessenthaler admits he will be looking to strengthen his squad in the new year having already brought in ex-Folkestone Invicta and Dulwich Hamlet striker Ade Yussuf, who made his debut as a substitute at Chorley.
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