Bromley boss Neil Smith: My first port of call is to get 51 points, as soon as we get that we can kick on again, so to be in and around the play-offs at the moment so early on is fantastic!

BROMLEY boss Neil Smith says he wants his side to bounce back from missing out on grabbing third-place in the Vanarama National League.

The Ravens could have climbed from eighth to third by beating Aldershot Town on Tuesday night, but Gary Waddock’s side rose to the summit with a 2-0 win at Hayes Lane.

Bromley remain on 35 points, Aldershot Town have 39 and Dover Athletic arrive at Hayes Lane on Saturday in sixth-place with 37 points on the board.

Bromley came away from Crabble with a 2-1 win in the league in the second game of the season and came away from the Kent coast with a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round before finishing off the job with a 3-0 win in the replay at Hayes Lane.

Looking ahead to the fourth meeting against Chris Kinnear’s side, Smith said: “It will be pretty much similar.  They’re a very physical side, Chris has got them organised, again another experienced manager.  We’ve got to make sure we match it.

“Every game is a good time to bounce back. It’s a local derby there will hopefully be a decent crowd here.

“We’ve got fantastic supporters and we want to try to give them something to cheer about. 

“We just lack that cutting edge at home.  I don’t know whether they’re were a little bit nervous against Aldershot but they’ve got to put it aside and go out and do what they’ve been doing.

“What I will do first and foremost is see who we’ve got at training on Thursday. We’ve got a very thin squad at the moment.

“I expect exactly the same as I always expect from Dover, a hard-working side, they never give up. That’s why they’re in and around the play-offs themselves and a team that just going to give 100%.

“With the defeats they’ve had this season from us they want to put one over on us, likewise.  We’ve found that little bit of form against them.”

Smith says he is not giving up on cinching a play-off place come the end of the season, although he is targeting a total of 51 points to ensure Hayes Lane stages top-flight football for a fourth season next August.

“We’re a good team, we’re getting better and better,” said Smith.

“There’s everything to play for. It’s early.  My first port of call is to get 51 points, as soon as we get that we can kick on again, so to be in and around the play-offs at the moment so early on is fantastic but we’re in and around it and we want to stay in it.”

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Bromley  v  Dover Athletic
Vanarama National League
Saturday 2^nd December 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF