For the first time in over a month, the Reds are competing at Woodside Road at the National League South. Since that last league home match against Tonbridge Angels, there has been a complete reshuffle in the dugout and three away games, two of which were crucial away victories over Chelmsford City and Chesham United.
A hard-fought display at The Meadow yielded the full complement of points on Tuesday night as a Jack Spong brace helped the travelling Rebels overcome the Generals. Three points in Buckinghamshire elevated the team hailing from West Sussex into ninth position, level on points with tomorrow’s opponents Dover.
Worthing will be searching to end October in style and commence a period of four successive home matches in winning fashion.
The Opposition
Since earning promotion into the National League South last season, Dover Athletic have proved to their foes that they firmly belong at this level.
They currently sit in 10th position, with only three teams scoring more than their 22 goals in the opening 14 matches.
However, Jake Leberl’s outfit are winless in their last six matches. Tuesday night saw them frustrated at home against Dorking Wanderers as they were pegged back twice by Marc White’s side and ultimately drew 2-2.
After propping up the National League table in the 2023/24 season, the Whites immediately earned promotion back into the sixth tier by winning the Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs.
They beat Billericay in the semi-finals before dispatching of Dartford in the final to ascend back up the pyramid.
The Gaffer
Jake Leberl’s association with Dover Athletic has stretched over almost three decades. He initially joined the club in 1997 before making nearly 200 appearances across a five-year spell. Leberl then rejoined in 2009 before retiring from playing and delving into the world of coaching.
The 48-year-old has had two separate spells in the dugout at The Crabble, too. He served under Chris Kinnear as Assistant Manager between 2013-2018 before taking a five-year hiatus away from football. Leberl returned in November 2023 and reclaimed his title of Assistant Manager, over a decade since initially taking the role.
The Englishman earned the manager’s role in December 2023 but couldn’t prevent the Whites from an inevitable relegation following a dire start to the campaign. However, in his first full season in charge, the tactician reinstated Dover back into the NLS through a play-off winning campaign.
Prior to the prolonged spell at Dover, tomorrow’s opposing dugout occupant was also second in command at Margate FC.
One to Watch
Worthing FC academy graduate Luca Cocoracchio has been a mainstay in Dover’s team this season and has contributed to their success in recent times.
The central defender has started every single game for tomorrow opponent’s this season and heavily contributed to clean sheets against Eastbourne Borough, Salisbury and Hornchurch.
At Woodside Road, the now 23-year-old made nine league appearances for the Rebels as a teenager. After being released by Brighton & Hove Albion’s youth set-up, Cocoracchio was rewarded for his efforts with opportunities in our first-team. He spent a period on loan with Horsham before departing for Whitehawk on a permanent basis.
Dover snapped up his services in the summer of 2024, and in his first campaign with the Whites the defender made close to 50 appearances.
Form
Worthing FC | W5 D3 L4 GD: +4 | Pos: 9th
League Form: WWLLW
MD8: Dagenham & Redbridge 2-5 Worthing | Scorers: Temi Babalola, Joel Colbran, Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, Brad Dolaghan & Trent Rendall (O.G)
MD9: Worthing 0-1 Tonbridge Angels
MD10: Maidenhead United 1-0 Worthing FC
MD11: Chelmsford City 1-2 Worthing | Scorers: Joel Colbran & Harry Ransom
MD12 Chesham United 1-2 Worthing | Scorers: Jack Spong x2
Dover Athletic | W4 D6 L4 GD: +1 | Pos: 10th
League Form: WWLLL
MD10: Hornchurch 0-0 Dover Athletic
MD11: Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Dover Athletic | Scorer: Jalen Jones
MD12: Dover Athletic 1-1 Horsham | Scorer: Jacob Mensah
MD13: Chippenham Town 1-1 Dover Athletic | Scorer: Luke Baptiste
MD14: Dover Athletic 2-2 Dorking Wanderers | Scorers: Decarrey Sheriff x2
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate for tomorrow’s match, although supporters are advised to purchase their ticket in advance via the Fanbase app.
- Adults: £18
- Concession: £14
- Under-18: £8
- Under-12: £5
- Under-6: Free entry
HOW TO FOLLOW
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the game via live updates from the club’s official Twitter account.
You can also listen to live commentary via the club’s official commentary service.
