Slade enraged by Dover defeat
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Your support makes all the difference.Dover Athletic became the final side to secure their place in the last 16-stage of the FA Trophy when they overcame Scarborough in a fourth-round replay on Monday.
An early headed goal by Paul Dempsey gave the Nationwide Conference side a lead they held until the closing minutes on a frosty night by the Kent coast, but an equaliser by Matt Carruthers forced extra time. A penalty converted by Jamie Day earned Dover a 2-1 win and earned Scarborough the wrath of their manager, Russell Slade.
"Some of our players bottled it," Slade said. "That ranks as the worst performance since I have been at the club. I am not prepared to carry the three or four that did not perform. All their contracts are up in the summer, so that leaves me in the driving seat."
The former Bradford City, West Bromwich and Wolves striker Don Goodman, now with Exeter City, is at the top of Slade's transfer target list. While Scarborough return to league action with a trip to Barnet tomorrow, Dover entertain Forest Green Rovers at The Crabble in the fifth round of the Trophy.
Dover are one of four Dr Martens League clubs in the last 16 of the Trophy. Gloucester City entertain Southport while Havant & Waterlooville are at home to Hayes of the Ryman League. Tamworth, who extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to 10 points with Tuesday's 3-0 home win over Weymouth, play Margate at Hartsdown Park. Two other Ryman clubs, Aylesbury and Windsor & Eton, play each other, while Burscough and Wakefield & Emley of the UniBond League have also been drawn together.
Only two ties guarantee a Conference presence in the quarter-finals: Farnborough Town against Halifax Town plus Yeovil Town's home tie against Northwich Victoria.
Yeovil's formidable 11-point lead at the top of the Conference will be cut tomorrow if second-placed Chester City, who have a game in hand, avoid defeat. However, Mark Wright's outfit face a daunting visit to Dagenham & Redbridge, so it may be a very good weekend for the Somerset side. Their quest to retain the Trophy is unlikely to be terminated by a Northwich team they have beaten twice in league games this term, and their chances of overdue promotion to the Football League could also be boosted.
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