Whittle proves he is the man for the Dover job

DOVER ATHLETIC'S FA Cup campaign is now over - Richard Butler's 25th minute strike sealed AFC Wimbledon's progress into the second qualifying round - but it might be one of the most famous football clichés in the world - the Whites must now concentrate on the league, writes Stephen McCartney.

The occasion at The Hoverspeed Stadium will live in the memory for a very long time.  Not only 2,103 watched the clash, the stadium was noisy and full of colour before kick off, and when both teams ran onto the excellent playing surface, the stadium erupted and both sets of supporters were a credit to their clubs by the way they supported their teams.

Although it was a first qualifying round tie, it appeared to be a cup final - and the £1,300 that was raised by both sets of supporters to help the Whites out of their financial crisis is only testament that Dover Athletic Football Club must survive.

A touching moment after the match was when the AFC Wimbledon supporters, with their team already in the changing rooms, clapped the Dover side off the pitch off the pitch.  A moment that touched everyone in the ground.

Dover Athletic caretaker manager Gary Whittle said: "If we are talking about off the pitch activities it was a tremendous day all-round.

"Getting cheered of the pitch at the end by the Wimbledon fans, and our fans was memorable."

However, Whittle wasn't pleased with his players with the winning goal, scored by former Ashford Town (Middlesex) striker Richard Butler.

"The goal itself came out of nothing really," said Whittle.

"We just switched off - our back three and our middle two just switched off.  They turned their backs for that split second and you can't do that at any level of football, let alone what was on show today."

Dover started the season with Richard Langley as head coach and the season got off to a winning start, beating Slough Town 3-1 at The Hoverspeed Stadium.

However, the club lost their next six games and Whittle took over from Langley on a caretaker manager basis, and the team have responded well ever since.

A goal less draw at Kingstonian was followed by a 1-1 draw at Windsor & Eton before Staines Town were beaten 3-1 in their next game.

Performances like these should give Whittle, who played for Welling United and Bromley and managed Corinthian last season, a chance to get the job full time.

He said: "As I've said before, I have a job as caretaker manager until the end of the month or the middle of October.

"I will need backing of the chairman obviously, certainly the players and the fans."

Well , it appears he has the backing of the players - the results and improved performances prove that - and the fans are starting to back Whittle, they chanted his name during the second half of the AFC Wimbledon clash - now it's time to persuade chairman Mick Kemp that he should be given the job on a full time basis.

Whittle added: "Regarding Mr Kemp, I'm not even thinking that far ahead.  

"It's my job to come in and rescue a situation.  I've tried to do that to the best of my ability, today was just another step."

AFC Wimbledon fielded two loan players from Premiership side Crystal Palace - but Dover can't afford that luxury.

"What I will say it's another cracking performance with respect to character and digging in.

"AFC Wimbledon are a very good side, and any team that can go away and pull in two Crystal Palace reserve team players (Glenn Wilson and Jay Conroy) is testament to the performance we had here against Staines Town on Tuesday.  They felt they needed to go and do that.

"In my position I would have to go and look in the reserve team and pull out a Chris Steadman or Sam Vallance to come in.

"Although AFC Wimbledon have their own financial problems as well, there are a lot of non-league clubs that carry the same financial burdens as such but it's all about getting through isn't it?  

"Today's match re-enforced what non-league football is all about."

Whittle, however, was happy with the application of his team.

"I was happy with the way we defended for most of the game, other than the goal obviously.

"Certainly happy with the way we competed in midfield but even when I went three up the top in the second half we just never ever had that cutting edge today.

"The ball just wouldn't bounce, but in fairness their two centre halves they've pulled in from Crystal Palace attributed to that."

Heybridge Swifts are the visitors to the Hoverspeed Stadium in a vital Ryman League Premier Division clash, and with two training sessions in which to prepare his team, Whittle will be telling his players the importance of picking up three crucial points.

"That was part of my team talk after the game.  Today was tremendous, lovely, enjoyable, and we've had a great time.

"But we are third from bottom in the league and we have to show that commitment, desire and enthusiasm in the home game against Heybridge Swifts."

But Whittle is sure his team are ready for the challenge and get the club back up the table and bring smiles back to the club's fans - the same smiles they had against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

"The players I have here are very loyal and they have been here a long time.

"A lot of them are local lads, born and bread in Dover, and I believe their loyalty is to this club.

"Heybridge are in and around us at the bottom of the table.

"If we manage to beat them we go level on points with them."

When asked if the game is already a six-pointer, the caretaker manager insisted:

"No!  It's a long way to go in the league at the moment, but what I will say it's another step in the right direction.  Three points and it's another step up the ladder.

"We need to work on a little bit of the negative sides from the AFC Wimbledon game, which obviously I'm not going to say what they are.

"I've seen certain things today, we need to just switch on, but in saying that there's a lot more positives today.

"We are defending well as a unit and we are actually causing problems at the other end of the pitch.

"Long may it continue!"

With such a high gate against the Dons in the FA Cup, the Heybridge game is the time for Whites fans to carry on with their fantastic support - cheer on the team from the rafters and in numbers, and get this great club back to where it should belong.