DORCHESTER Town Reserves will again have a vital role to play in the fortunes of the county town club this season.

In fact, the reserves could well be as important as ever given the trimmed-down nature of Phil Simkin’s first-team squad.

The likes of Steve Walker, Calvin Brooks, Josh Tennant and Danny Way all made brief appearances in Simkin’s side last term and, following a few summer departures from the Avenue, they are likely to feature more prominently during the new campaign.

But while he won’t have the quartet to call on as often as he used to, reserves’ boss Dave Kiteley is excited about the talent he has at his disposal.

And, like last season, Kiteley is eager for his youngsters to make a name for themselves in the hope of stepping up to Conference South football.

“We’ve pretty much got the same squad as last season as well as some new lads that have come in and I’m looking forward to working with them,” said Kiteley.

“I’ve made Will Gape the captain and I’m hoping the extra responsibility will see him push on, like Calvin Brooks did.

“Dan Peart has had some first-team experience and I’m looking for him to push on as well.

“Craig Michie has come back to us after being released by Yeovil and until last Saturday hadn’t played a game for a season-and-a-half because of a pelvic injury.

“He’s another one who is potentially good enough to play at first-team level but needs to get a lot of football under his belt before he can do that.

“Tony Rolls has come from Ringwood and is someone with a lot of potential and Jason Kennard is a striker from Honiton who has been very sharp in training.

“Whoever the player is, they’ve got to be committed and dedicated and realised they’re still only 18 or 19 and have got to work hard for their chance in the first team.”

The Magpies start their Wyvern Premier League fixtures at home to Winchester City on August 27 – the first of five successive matches at the Avenue, which ends with a League Cup tie against Locks Heath.