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Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear believes they are geared up to chase success on several fronts

There was no joy for Dover manager Chris Kinnear and his side against FC Halifax.
There was no joy for Dover manager Chris Kinnear and his side against FC Halifax.

Chris Kinnear says Dover can balance a challenge for silverware with a promotion push this season and believes they should be considered realistic contenders for a trip to Wembley.

Whites beat Bath City in the FA Trophy third qualifying round at Crabble on Saturday to make it seven wins from seven cup ties so far this season.

Dover have won four FA Cup games – netting them £32,500 in prize-money – with a further £4,000 for the Trophy win and two Kent Senior Cup victories seeing them ease into next month’s quarter-finals.

Whites were handed a trip to East Thurrock United – fifth-bottom in Ryman League, Premier Division – in the first round on November 30.

Athletic boss Kinnear said: “We would rather have been at home of course, you always want a home draw but it could have been worse, we could have had Hereford or some other long trip away."

Six of Dover’s last 10 games have come in knockout competitions, leaving Dover with at least one game in hand in Skrill South but Kinnear added: “There would have been a time early in my management career when I would have prioritised the league but nowadays I just want to win every game."

“There’s no reason why a club like Dover, with a squad as strong as ours, can’t be competing in several competitions. We want to win them all.”

He added: “Ok, we might not win the FA Cup, but we are certainly capable of going to MK Dons (in the Second Round on December 7) and winning.

“There’s a long way to go in the Trophy but realistically there’s no reason why we can’t go all the way, and the same goes for the Kent Senior Cup too. We are capable of beating anyone on our day.

“It’s nice that we are sat here towards the end of November and we are still in with a chance in every competition.”

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