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Dover boss Chris Kinnear praises team after making wholesale changes ahead of Vanarama National League play-offs

Chris Kinnear is happy to be facing Forest Green Rovers in the Vanarama National League play-offs.

The Dover boss voiced no regrets about making wholesale changes to his side after the 1-0 defeat against the Gloucestershire side, in the final league game of the season, and praised his side for their performance.

Dover manager Chris Kinnear Pic Gary Browne
Dover manager Chris Kinnear Pic Gary Browne

He said: "We knew what we were doing, it was a chance to rest players, and include those who haven't been involved because of injuries or whatever, and for a team who haven't played together before, I thought we got very close to them. The young lads did very well.

"We knew what was happening elsewhere, and we are happy to be playing them again, having seen them here.

"I don't think the win gives them a psychological edge, because they know we won't play the same team on Wednesday."

Speaking later at the club's end-of-season awards presentation, Kinnear told supporters: "They are a very tight bunch of lads, and who knows what they can achieve,

"The next two games are the big ones, and then we can worry about what happens after that.

"We mustn't count our chickens or get too carried away, but there is still a long way to go in our season which is magnificent."

Stefan Payne won the Players Player of the Season award and the Golden Boot, while Ricky Miller was named Player of the Season and winner of the Goal of the Season for his spectacular effort at Chester which went viral.

Volunteer Ray Kelly was named Club Person of the Year.

Kinnear added: "The lads who won the awards deserve it, but this season has been so much a team effort."

The Dover squad will train on Monday as usual ahead of Wednesday's game.

Meanwhile chairman Jim Parmenter has urged supporters to get Crabble rocking on Wednesday.

He said: "Go out there, get around the shops with the posters, and spread the word, and the message through Facebook and Twitter - get the whole town behind us."

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