DOVER face a tough home tie against Hereford on Saturday in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. They will be seeking to end their miserable record in the competition since the club’s reincarnation as “Dover Athletic” in 1983-84.

They 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 Whites’ 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 record on Saturday may not look too promising, but 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 within the club is 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. The Crabble boss also confirmed that midfielder Jimmy Strouts is available dfespite a report suggesting otherwise.

Bellamy was delighted with the debut performance of new signing Darren Carr 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.”