Famous five back to boost Kiteley (From Dorset Echo)

Famous five back to boost Kiteley

8:20am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport By David Williams, Sports Reporter

DORCHESTER are boosted by the return of several key players for the visit of AFC Portchester to the Avenue tonight (7.45pm).

Dan Way and Calvin Brooks return to the fold after being called up to the first-team squad while Will Gape, Adam Taylor and Dan Peart are all available.

All five players missed the 3-2 defeat at Wimborne Town last Saturday and their experience will be vital if Dave Kiteley’s men want to bounce back with a win.

Josh Tennant is Dorchester’s only doubt having missed training this week with flu so it’s a strong squad that takes on the side second in the Wyvern Combination League Premier Division.

However, after Tuesday night’s heavy rain and today’s forecast not looking too clever, tonight’s encounter is in doubt as the Avenue surface attempts to host two matches in the space of 48 hours.

Kiteley, though, is eager for his troops to get some game time and wants to see a better display than the one last Saturday when Dorchester lost having led 2-0.

“It will be a very good test for our young players because Portchester are a decent outfit,” he said.

“We’re looking for an improvement and I’d like to see a bit more in the work-rate department, which I questioned on Saturday for the first time this season.

“If we do find ourselves in front we need to control the game a bit better and get players behind the ball quicker. We need to get a better shape quicker when we lose possession. We will have a bit more experience in the side and that’s what you need playing against a team like them.

“They are a typical Portsmouth side, very strong and physical with some experience.

“We lost 3-0 to them earlier in the season but it wasn’t quite a true reflection of the game.

“They led 1-0 at half-time but we bossed the second half. We just couldn’t take our chances.”

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Beals, Evans, Shingler, Diment, Shackleford, Butcher, Bell, Andrews, Symes, Godfrey, Twyford, Taylor, Gape, Peart