Magpies' trio out for Hayes (From Dorset Echo)

Magpies' trio out for Hayes

9:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Sport By David Williams, Sports Reporter

CHARLIE Clough, Arran Pugh and Nathan Walker are all set to miss Dorchester Town’s trip to Hayes & Yeading a week on Saturday following the postponement of last night’s game with Farnborough.

With that fixture now expected to be rescheduled for after Easter, it means that the three central defenders will have suspensions which overlap when the Magpies visit the Kingfield Stadium.

Clough served the first of a four-match ban last Saturday and now misses the games against AFC Horn-church, Weston-super-Mare and Hayes & Yeading.

Pugh and Walker were always going to be out for the match at the London club’s temporary home in Woking but with a frozen pitch forcing last night’s clash to be called off it leaves the Magpies in a potentially tricky situation in 10 days’ time.

Captain Mark Jermyn would have lined up alongside Clough originally so whether the club looks into the loan market or promotes from within remains to be seen – one option could be Calvin Brooks who has been on the fringes of the first-team squad this season.

Dorchester boss Phil Simkin was frustrated to see the most recent, in an endless number of games this season, be postponed yesterday.

“Our physio and others worked really hard to get people up and running, but there you go, we’ll just prepare for Saturday now,” he said.

“Farnborough was one of the last home games of the season and after people had done a lot of work we wanted to get the match on.”

On the prospect of losing Clough, Pugh and Walker at the same time, he added: “If it happens, it happens.

“I’ve found out over the years that it’s no good whining about things like that, you have to face it and deal with it.”

Simkin was hoping to bring in cover at centre-forward for the injured Kieffer Moore (thigh) but for now signing a striker doesn’t look like happening.

“Unfortunately, at the moment, it’s a no go,” he said. “That may change but when something like that is in the hands of other people there’s not much you can do.

“Ben Watson was going to start on Tuesday after doing a lot of work to get himself fit.

“But I think Kieffer is going to need longer than Saturday to get fit. He needs some intensive treatment.”

The Magpies are next in action against AFC Hornchurch at the Avenue this Saturday (3pm).