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Dover Athletic skipper Kevin Lokko looking to add more goals to his game after scoring against Notts County

Returning Dover skipper Kevin Lokko was delighted to open his seasonal account against Notts County on Saturday, but admits everyone in the squad needs to share the burden of goalscoring.

Lokko's 57th minute strike at Crabble was his first of the season and looked like earning Whites the points until visiting substitute Kristian Dennis headed a last-gasp equaliser in the 2-2 draw.

The 23-year-old defender netted six times in 39 National League starts for Dover last season and admits a similiar return would help take some of the pressure off the club's strikers.

Kevin Lokko (No.5) celebrates putting Dover 2-1 up against Notts County on Saturday Picture: Alan Langley
Kevin Lokko (No.5) celebrates putting Dover 2-1 up against Notts County on Saturday Picture: Alan Langley

Lokko – starting for the first time in five games due to injury – said: "I've been struggling with my ankle, it's been a bit of a complicated one but I'm happy to be back playing and happy to get on the scoresheet as well.

"I'm buzzing to score, I hadn't scored this season so it was good to get off the mark.

"We all need to chip in. You look at last year we had myself, who chipped in with six or seven goals, Mitch Brundle and others, we all chipped in.

"This year it's been mainly Ricky (Modeste) and Inih (Effiong) but we all need to contribute.
"We're big enough, we're good enough to all score from set pieces as well and personally that's something I need to get back into my game this season, score more goals from set pieces."

Man-of-the-match Lokko said that the draw with County felt like like a loss but he believes it's' only a matter of time before Whites add to their single home National League win which came against Wrexham on August 10.

He said: "The message (against County) was to stay in the game as long as we can, put the ball in good areas and not take too many risks at the back which I think we did.

"Being disappointed to draw 2-2 with an ex-Football League club shows the standards we have set.We worked so hard and if we perform like that we'll be all right this season."

Lokko admits Dover's six game winless run at Crabble is playing on the players' minds but he is confident they can break the sequence.

Away from home they had won six out of seven before the game at Aldershot on Tuesday.

He added: "We're not playing on a bigger pitch, we're not playing on a different surface, it's just a mental thing.

"Once we break out of that negative mindset and get that next win you'll see a different Dover at home hopefully.

"We've gone a goal down too often, we need to stay in games as long as we can.

"We need to get the crowd on our side, which they are, but we need to keep them on our side.

"It's just a case of not taking too many risks and staying in the game and making sure we win the game."

Whites, eighth ahead of the tip to Aldershot, will take checks on striker Steven Rigg and full-back Josh Passley, both of whom picked up knocks against County.

Midfielder Michael Woods returns after a one-game suspension.

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