DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson has called for the Magpies to “group together” ahead of their Evo-Stik Southern Premier South curtain-raiser with Metropolitan Police at the Avenue Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Thompson’s men have experienced a mixed pre-season, culminating in a poor 5-1 loss to lower-league Winchester City.

But Thompson is keen to move on from that “horror show” and “get a result” against the Met.

He told Echosport: “We have to put the Winchester game behind us – it was an absolute horror show.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the four defenders have a poorer game in a Dorchester shirt. When all four do that it’s very tough for the team to function.

“I’m looking forward to the game, but we know it’s going to be tough.

“We know we’re not quite there yet, and we have injuries, so it’s important that we all group together, work hard and try and get a result.

“The lads should be used to (the 3G pitch) to a certain degree. Hopefully we can start well. At the end of the day, players have to go out and play well.

“We have to play well as a team and things have to go well to win the game.”

Tom Blair (shin) and Billy Lowes (illness) are expected to be fit, while Ross Carmichael (back) will be assessed. Harry Kite (concussion), Ollie Griggs (ankle) and Aaron Rodriguez (foot) all miss out.