Dover Athletic v St Albans City Saturday, December 19 – 3pm KO St Albans City will be hoping the bad weather doesn t win the day as they make the trip to Dover Athletic this Saturday. With severe weather expected City will be hoping that the pitch at the

Dover Athletic v St Albans City

Saturday, December 19 - 3pm KO

St Albans City will be hoping the bad weather doesn't win the day as they make the trip to Dover Athletic this Saturday.

With severe weather expected City will be hoping that the pitch at the Crabble survives so that the 216 mile round trip isn't a wasted one.

Where: Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB (Tel: 01304 822373)

Season so far: Dover currently lie second in the Blue Square Premier table thanks in the main to the blistering start they made to the season.

The team promoted from the Ryman Premier Division last season were undefeated in their first seven outings however a 3-1 defeat to Havant & Waterlooville saw them slip to third. Three successive wins saw Andy Hessenthaler's side regain top spot but a shock 1-0 defeat to Worcester City in October saw them relinquish top spot to Newport County who have now opened up a 10 point lead over the Whites.

Players: Both clubs go into Saturday's game with problems.

Drew Roberts and Ryan Frater both miss out for City after accumulating five yellow cards with Roberts' unavailability leaving Steve Castle short on options up front.

Castle's opposite number Andy Hessenthaler is facing a similar problem at the back and is considering switching midfielder Nicky Southall to centre half if he can't bring in a defender to partner Olly Schulz.

Matt Fish is out for the home side as he starts a three-game ban and Jake Leberl and Dean Hill will undergo late fitness tests. Such is the Whites' injury crisis, Hessenthaler was forced to name himself on the bench for their 3-2 win against Havant & Waterlooville.

One player City won't come up against is former Saint Tom Davis who has joined Croydon Athletic on loan from Dover.

Referee: Harry Lennard (East Sussex) assisted by S Finnigan & I Fissenden.

Mr Lennard took charge of the Saints' 5-0 win at Bognor Regis Town in February.