DOVER Athletic, still involved in the FA Trophy, are at home to Bath City in a league game on Saturday but they will be without unlucky Mark Patterson.

He suffered a double blow in Tuesday night's 3-3 Trophy tie against Forest Green Rovers.

After being sent off after coming on as a 74th-minute substitute, Whites’ assistant-manager will now be ruled out for several weeks after needing 10 stitches in an ankle wound.

The visit of Bath offers Whites a great chance to get their Conference 2 promotion campaign back on track.

Bath haven’t won an away league game this season, and Dover will feel confident about seeing off the West Country strugglers.

The Romans are rock bottom of the Dr Martens Premier table and scored their first goal in six matches in drawing 1-1 at home with Worcester on Tuesday night.

Whites face some tricky fixtures this month, including trips to championship challengers Weymouth and Nuneaton on successive Saturdays, and cannot afford to slip up against lesser opposition.

The Trophy replay against Forest Green is scheduled to take place next Tuesday evening.

Should they eventually come out on top in the tgie they will face a fifth round tie at either Hednesford or Ryman League Divison 1 (South) Worthing, who drew 1-1 on Tuesday.

* Tuesday’s Trophy replay means that Dover’s Dr Martens League Cup third round meeting with Folkesone at the Hoverspeed Stadium will have to be rescheduled again. The winners will be away to Crawley Town in the quarter-finals.

* There will be free admission for Mercury Kids Club members to Saturday's home game against Bath City.