Dorchester Town boss Phil Simkin is weighing up the risk of including Nathan Walker in tonight’s line-up.

The dependable defender sustained a gash to the head following a clash with skipper Mark Jermyn in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Welling United.

And with a more than capable understudy in the form of Arran Pugh at his disposal, Simkin is in two minds as to whether Walker will face leaders Salisbury City in tonight’s top-of-the-table clash at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium (7.45pm).

The county town chief, who was yesterday named as Blue Square Bet South manager of the month for September, said: “He went to casualty after the game and had it glued.

“Of course Nathan will be desperate to play tonight but I don’t know if I want to risk him when I have got someone like Arran on the bench.

“I will speak to Nathan and see how he is. Sometimes though, you have to be sensible about these things.”

Asked if he was likely to make any other changes to his squad, Simkin replied: “It remains to be seen whether we decide to change things.

“Saturday was a hard game for us and you have to be careful about flogging the same horses all the time.

“I will talk to Stuart Heath about it and we will decide what to do.”

Salisbury and Dorchester have both recorded 19 points from their opening nine fixtures in Blue Square Bet South.

They also have an identical goal difference of plus four, but the Whites sit top of the pile having scored more goals than the Magpies.

Previewing tonight’s clash, Simkin said: “It’s going to be a very hard game for us but we will go there and do what we do and hope we get something out of it.

“We beat them 1-0 at their place last season but they are considerably stronger now and it will be difficult to get anything.

“They are also full-time, which is a massive advantage, but there aren’t many part-time sides in our league that are fitter than us.

“We are an honest bunch of lads and we will give it our best shot. We keep getting results when people don’t expect us to.”

Rico Wilson grabbed the all-important goal on the Magpies’ last visit to Wiltshire and the predatory striker could return to the county town ranks in less than two weeks.

Wilson has so far served six months of a 14-month sentence for assault but is nearing his release from prison.

Simkin added: “I’m not definitely sure but, as far as I’m aware, he’s supposed to be out in 10 to 14 days.

“As I have said before, we won’t turn our back on him. We will welcome him back and hope he has learnt his lesson once and for all.

“He has done a lot of work in the gym and although he needs a lot of fitness work he is a match-winner on his day.”

Magpies (from): Matthews, Jermyn, Bell, Martin, Clough, Walker, Pugh, Gleeson, Nicholls, Morgan, Crittenden, Symes, Ward, Malsom, Gosling, Garcia, Watson, Reid.

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