Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler serves touchline ban as Whites host Maidenhead in the National League
05:00, 06 April 2022
updated: 11:34, 06 April 2022
Andy Hessenthaler will serve a ban during Dover’s home match against Maidenhead this Saturday - but he has no regrets about his actions.
Whites boss Hessenthaler’s one-game touchline suspension comes following remarks made on March 26 as Whites suffered a 6-5 National League loss at Wrexham.
Assistant Nicky Southall and player-coach Reda Johnson will take charge at Crabble in Hessenthaler’s absence.
Hessenthaler’s main gripes at the Racecourse Ground were with the amount of stoppage time played and Wrexham’s third goal.
He said: “I will be serving a ban at the weekend. I’m going to miss one game, I have taken the ban and the fine.
“I don’t regret saying what I said.
“I believe it was not right (that much stoppage time being played) and I was unhappy with a few of the (other) decisions that the referee made.
“The third goal, they scored from a quick throw - it should have been retaken.
“It’s been confirmed by Steve Dunn, head of the Referee Advisory Panel, he (the match referee) got it wrong. But that doesn’t help us.”
On where he would watch the game from, he replied: "I will probably be with the chairman (Jim Parmenter)."
Hessenthaler added he has been left frustrated this season with fourth officials agreeing with him - but decisions still standing against his side.
Injury-hit Dover will go into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened King’s Lynn last weekend.
Debutant forward Jack Nelson and midfielder Luke Baptiste were among the youngsters to impress, while playmaker Koby Arthur scored Whites’ goal before the Linnets hit back.
Hessenthaler enthused: “The boys were terrific. We had six Academy players in the 16, which was pleasing - three started and three were on the bench.
“In the end, we had four (Academy players) on the pitch. It was a little bit frustrating because there was not too much in the game.
“Having gone 1-0 up, the goal we conceded, we could have done better with.
“But in the end, a draw was probably a fair result.”
The result leaves Whites three points away from finally moving away from minus points after starting their campaign on minus 12.
Hessenthaler commented: “A win will get us back to zero. We have got quite a few players out, I don’t see many of them coming back.
“Maybe Ryan Hanson. It’s taking a bit longer than we first thought but we cannot rush him.
“Our aim is to get away from minus points and hopefully we can do that before the end of the season.”
Hessenthaler confirmed Marshall Wratten (hamstring) and Seth Twumasi (knee) were the closest to a return from injury, with on-loan King’s Lynn attacker Michael Gyasi back available having been ineligible to face his parent club.
But he doesn’t expect Travis Gregory (knee) to return this season.
Maidenhead, managed by Alan Devonshire, are 19th in the table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone after drawing 0-0 at Wealdstone on Tuesday.
“It will not be easy against Maidenhead. They are a big, physical side,” Hessenthaler admitted.
“They will pop up with some results and then go on a bit of a poor run - that’s been the story of their season.
“We will have to watch them on set-pieces, the likes of Will (De Havilland) who we had at Dover are dangerous.”
The club this week has also announced sacked P&O workers can enter Dover's five remaining home games this season for free.
Partners and dependant children are also included in this offer, which starts with the visit of Maidenhead.
Chairman Jim Parmenter told the club website: “When you hear of events that have such horrible impact on the lives of individuals, their families, and our town collectively, it can leave you with a sense of helplessness.
“We wanted to do something which we hope will bring some enjoyment to the families affected at this difficult time and to demonstrate our support to the community.”
Proof of redundancy from P&O Ferries - whether it be email, letter or P60 - is required to secure the free tickets along with photo ID.
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