Terras Looking To Banish Their Stage Fright Against Dover!

Dover also make their way there knowing they will be in for an all-out slog with Weymouth.

Early results have left a bitter taste for the Whites who will be desperate to make a dint in their minus points tally.

Weymouth fans must dread it when they get the news their side will be live on BT Sport – the Terras lost their TV game last season.

But a steady start this season might have fans dreaming.

After all, not many would have spoken about Brian Stock’s side troubling anyone near the top end.

But fans of the Vanarama National League should be used to surprise packages by now – Barrow and Sutton anyone?

Maybe those examples edge on the more extreme side of a club defying expectation.

While Weymouth boss Brian Stock might not be setting his sights on the summit he knows his side have what it takes to give anyone a game this season.

Case in point – Tuesday evening against a slick Dagenham & Redbridge side flying high.

It is a signal of how far the Terras have come under Stock if nothing else.

“I truly believe in this group of players. They’re a good, honest, hard-working bunch,” he told the Dorset Echo.

“We’ve looked a good team for the majority of the game in the last four games.

“I hope when the cameras come those players step up to the mark, showcase what they can do and look to take three points off Dover.

“The Halifax game for me, at 2-1, we showed glimpses of what we can do but I really do think we’re a different enemy now than what we were this time last year.

“I’m confident going into most games with this group.”
Stock added: “It’s not just what you see on the pitch, it’s off the pitch as well.

“They get around one another. We know we’re going to lose games this year but it’s about how we bounce back.”

You won’t find many bosses wanting to trade places with Andy Hessenthaler at the minute.

Rooted to the bottom of the division after their points deduction the Whites have chalked off only one point of their deficit.

Defeats to Maidenhead United, Boreham Wood and Altrincham hurt.

But a point against fancied Chesterfield showed they won’t be around to make up the numbers.

Shoots of recovery maybe but Tuesday night showed there is still work to do.

“It wasn’t acceptable,” Hessenthaler, whose side found themselves four goals adrift at half time against Eastleigh, told BBC Radio Kent.

“We’re not going to hid behind the part-time, full-time thing – forget about that – we didn’t do what we worked on in training.
“It wasn’t good enough. They’re a nice bunch but they know that’s not acceptable.”

But Hessenthaler doesn’t want anyone to get their violins out.
He always knew this season was going to be arguably his toughest test as a manager.

One thing is for certain. Capitulation of the kind his side had on Tuesday can’t become a concrete fixture.

“Weymouth will be rubbing their hands together I’m sure,” he said.

“We’ve got to get on with it and dust ourselves down.

“Unfortunately for us, with the position we’re in, we can’t have nights like we’ve had against Eastleigh.”