Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler says illness is sweeping through his squad

Manager Andy Hessenthaler says illness is sweeping through Dover’s camp.

A host of players have been affected of late as a tough National League season for the relegated Whites heads towards its conclusion.

Supporters’ player-of-the-season Jake Goodman was absent for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Altrincham and, even though the experienced defender returned for their loss at Notts County on Monday by the same scoreline, Will Moses is another player to have come down with it.

Hessenthaler also understands two of his players who played at Meadow Lane are the latest victims.

“We might be getting it from the school,” suggested Hessenthaler, with Dover’s Academy training and studying at the Abbey School in Faversham.

“We have so many young players and, apparently, it’s going around the school.

“Jake Goodman missed the weekend, he was back on Monday but was still suffering.

"I’ve now been told two of the lads who played on Monday have gone down with it.

“Harrison Byford, who was outstanding at right-back, and Luke Baptiste have got it. We are hoping they’ll be okay for the weekend.”

Dover were beaten by Notts County for the second time in six days, losing 1-0 on their travels after a 3-0 defeat at Crabble last Tuesday.

But boss Hessenthaler was proud of his team’s performance despite Ruben Rodrigues netting the only goal of the game for promotion hopefuls County in front of a crowd of 6,523.

He said: “Under the circumstances, where we had a lot of problems going into the game and a lot of the boys have some sort of flu bug, it was a really good performance.

“Will Moses was missing with it and Myles Judd was suspended so we had to rely on the younger ones again.

“Unfortunately, we switched off and that one moment cost us. But