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Easter is make or break for Dover Athletic

Jake Leberl says Easter is make or break for Dover in their search for promotion from the National League.

They face fellow play-off chasers Tranmere at home on Good Friday and then travel to Ebbsfleet on Monday, who still have a chance of making the top seven.

If they can survive those games unscathed then there is a good chance Whites will end the season in the play-offs.

Assistant manager Leberl said: “This is it now. People tend to say you find out who will be promoted, who will be in the play-offs and who will be relegated at Easter.

Jake Leberl.Picture: Tony Flashman
Jake Leberl.Picture: Tony Flashman

“You can pick up a lot of points in a short space of time.

“It is exciting times really. We have been really fortunate that every season Chris and I have been back at the club we still have something to play for at the end of the season.

“This is why you are involved in football.”

Dover first have to get through their rearranged match with Eastleigh, which was due to be played last night (Tuesday).

This means Whites will have had four games in 10 days, including the longest away trip of the season to Barrow last Saturday that ended in a goalless draw.

Leberl said: “We were very disappointed that the league rescheduled the game for this Tuesday. We are the only team competing at the top who had a game on Tuesday as well.

“We can’t do anything about it. We just have to get on with it.”

Adebayo Azeez extended his loan with Dover from Cambridge United until the end of the season last week.

With the recent loan additions it has meant there is greater strength in depth than earlier in the season. Nortei Nortey missed out on a place on the bench on Saturday as a result of the extra options.

Leberl added: “We are a lot happier with the squad than previously.

“We had the impact players on the bench in Kadell Daniel and Anthony Jeffrey on Saturday, Ryan Bird has recently dropped down to the bench, and Josh Passley was there too.

“They had a lot of big players in their side so we went with Okosieme. Nortei Nortey was unlucky not to be on the bench but some players will have strengths against some teams and weaknesses against others.”

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