GEOFF Butler made it two signings in 48 hours after swooping for Swindon Town defender Josh Thomas, yesterday.

The 19-year-old former Dorchester Thomas Hardye School pupil in joins the Terras on non-contract terms.

Butler, who snapped up former Manchester United trainee striker Marc Whiteman on Wednesday, is likely to include the youngster in his squad to face high-flying Hednesford Town at the Wessex Stadium tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.

"I've been looking to bring in some defensive cover," Butler explained, "and Josh could be the ideal man. He comes highly recommended by the Swindon assistant manager Malcolm Crosby and what is useful is that he is left-footed.

"From what Malcolm's told me, they weren't keen to let him go but I think finances dictated. Right now the lad needs to get some games under his belt and both he and Marc will be in the squad tomorrow."

Thomas, who parents live in West Stafford, originates from East London and was offered YTS forms by West Ham and Southampton when he left Thomas Hardye in 1999.

But despite those two Premiership approaches, the teenager instead opted for an apprenticeship with the Robins.

Butler added: "By the sounds of it, Josh has been a little unlucky not to break through at Swindon and he's keen to have another crack at professional football in the future.

"His situation is not dissimilar to Marc's and I know they're both determined to prove a point while playing for Weymouth."

Hednesford arrive at the Wessex Stadium having lost just one of their opening six Dr Martens Premier Division games and a victory on the south coast could see them climb to pole position.

"Yet again we find ourselves up against one of the league's leading sides," Butler added, "but that's just the way the fixtures have fallen.

"But there were marked improvements about our play in the draw at Chippenham on Wednesday and you can see the players are now beginning to gel.

"I had a long chat to Martin Barlow, Steve Tully and Ryan Ashford who are all playing non-League football for the first time and they all said how amazed they've been with how good the standard is.

"Martin reckons there's virtually no difference between this and Division Three and it's taken him time to get used to it.

"I think Steve and Ryan are combining their football with full-time jobs for the first time and it's been a huge culture shock for both of them. But gradually things are getting better and I thought those two played their best games for the club at Chippenham."

Butler continued: "It's definitely taken time for things to gel but we're going in the right direction."

Mark Kenway misses out tomorrow through suspension and so Lee Bradford is set to make only his second start of the campaign.