IN A division where the top few sides are already threatening to pull away, Dover Athletic’s Ryman League Division 1 clash with Lymington & New Milton at Crabble on Saturday has the look of a must-win game.

The midweek draw with leaders Tonbridge Angels leaves Whites two points adrift with a match in hand, but Dover slipped to third as Horsham’s 3-0 win over Cray took them into second place on goal difference.

Whites beat Lymington & New Milton 2-0 in the FA Cup preliminary round in August with goals from Craig Wilkins and Walid Matata.

The Linnets lie in 14th place after Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at Tooting & Mitcham and are now without a win in eight games.

And Whites are boosted by a shortening injury list. Paul Hyde and Tommy Tyne are back and Craig Wilkins got through 90 minutes on Tuesday. Danny Chapman, though, who played with the aid of a pain killing injection, limped off after 74 minutes and is a doubt.

Defender Tom Addlington (groin) is Ashford Town's only injury concern ahead of Saturday's clash with Burgess Hill Town.

Manager Tim Thorogood has called on his players to show more courage and take more chances after watching his side fail to score in their last two matches.

He said: "It seems that when we go a goal down we lose our heads completely. It's simply down to a lack of composure but we've told the players we can't keep dominating matches like we are and come away with nothing.

"We're allowing ourselves to be bullied."

Meanwhile, league leaders Tonbridge Angels travel to Leatherhead and Cray Wanderers hope to avoid a seventh straight league defeat at Whyteleafe.

Ramsgate do not have a fixture due to the league only having 23 teams.