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Sport

Dover Athletic's former Wolves and Maidstone United defender Aaron Simpson delighted to have been given a run of games by boss Andy Hessenthaler

By: Mark Stokes

Published: 08:14, 19 November 2019

Updated: 08:22, 19 November 2019

Dover defender Aaron Simpson believes being given a run of games in the side has helped him find greater consistency.

The 22-year-old former Wolves player was recalled to the Whites starting line-up by boss Andy Hessenthaler for last month's 3-1 home win over Eastleigh.

He kept his place for the goalless draw at AFC Fylde and in successive 1-0 victories over Southend and Yeovil.

Dover 's Aaron Simpson Picture: Chris Davey

Simpson has been used at both left and right-back – his current position – but he says he doesn't mind where he plays as long as he's starting.

He explained: "If you ask any footballer the main thing is that they just want to play games, you want to be in that starting XI.

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"The gaffer knows I can play left and right back so wherever he needs me I'm happy to play.

"I'm just happy to be back playing regularly and get some consistency.

"I feel like I've performed well over the last couple of games so hopefully I can just continue that. Wherever I need to be I'll play."

Canterbury-born Simpson, who signed for Whites last July after impressing on trial, felt Dover were good value for Saturday's 1-0 win at Yeovil but says it's not just the defence who have been responsible for the three successive clean sheets.

He said: "I think just recently our communication has been really good and we've just been a bit more ruthless.

"People have been throwing their bodies in front of it but it doesn't just come from the defence, it comes from the strikers, the midfielders, the wingers.

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"Everyone is playing their part. I think as a team we've just defended better as a unit.

"From the front we've been pressing teams and teams have struggled to get a flow against us which makes it easier for us to get clean sheets."

Dover's win at Yeovil moved them up to 10th in the National League but they are just two points off Harrogate in seventh, and only six behind leaders Barrow, who head the table on goal difference from Bromley.

Simpson said: "I think it is a crazy league. It's one of those where anyone can beat anyone so if you get on a run and start being consistent all round the pitch then who knows what can happen?

"A couple of good games and it can change your position in the blink of an eye really so we're just going to keep doing what we're doing, keep trying to play to the best of our ability and just keep pushing up that table.

"Obviously the play-offs is where we want to be but if we can go higher than that I have every belief in the team and the staff that we can do that."

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