Hessenthaler targets two loan signings - EXCLUSIVE

Andy Hessenthaler is looking to delve into the loan-transfer market for reinforcements ahead of Saturday’s Ryman League Division One South showdown with Dulwich Hamlet, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dover Athletic player-boss handed Whites favourite Matt Carruthers, 31, his first start of the season, after the attack minded star impressed in the reserves following his return to the club during pre-season.

Carruthers, whose recently played for Folkestone Invicta, Welling United and Ashford Town, made an instant impact for his home-town club at Sussex County League side Redhill on Saturday.

His 42^nd minute header, following a brilliant cross from the right-hand flank by Frannie Collin, sealed a comfortable 1-0 win to set-up a FA Cup first qualifying round trip to league rivals Burgess Hill Town on 15^th September.

The Hillians thumped Combined Counties League side Banstead Athletic 7-0 on Saturday, but before their trip to west Sussex, Hessenthaler’s men welcome Dulwich Hamlet to the Sea France Crabble Stadium.

Hessenthaler, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, is looking forward to the game.

“They’re a big club aren’t they?” he said. “They’re going to be one of our main contenders so next week’s going to be a tough game at our place.

“That’s four wins we’ve had, and a draw, in five games so let’s try and make it another win next week and keep top of the table.”

Hessenthaler (calf) hopes both he and defender Matt Fish (back) will be fit for the game against Clive Edwards’ side.

But with defender Liam Quinn suspended, and Craig Cloke having a test within two weeks on the extent of his blow to his kidney’s, and with Matt Bourne the only fit recognised central defender available, Hessenthaler is looking for back-up.

“I’d like to get another centre half in because we’ve got a problem next week with Quinn, he’s suspended,” he admitted.

“So that only leaves us with Matt Bourne, whose come through today with flying colours, so I am talking to two players regarding the centre half position and let’s hope, maybe, we can get one in this week for the Dulwich game.

“But I’m hoping to have two players back next week from injury, myself and Matt Fish, so that gives us another two players.”

Explaining the monetary situation, the former Gillingham star, said: “But it does come down to money as well, it’s not a bottomless pit when we’re taking money and getting players in.

“We’ve had the budget and we’ve spoken to the chairman and he’s said “we can get players on loan”, so we’ll try and do that if we need be.”

Carruthers is not the only player that Hessenthaler can pluck out of the reserves.

The boss said: “But why go out and get players when you can pick people like Matt Carruthers out of the reserves?

“There’s other people in the reserves that we’re interested in and can do a job, so you talk about strength in depth, that’s our strength in depth, in the reserves.”

Visit Dover Athletic’s websites:

www.doverathletic.com

www.dafctv.co.uk

Dover Athletic v Dulwich Hamlet
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 8^th September 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Sea France Crabble Stadium, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB