MARTINSTOWN captain Ed Nichols is hoping an extra year of experience can help his youthful side ahead of the start of the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division.

Their first match sees them host Swanage tomorrow (1pm), who Nichols describes as a fun side to play against.

Nichols said: “I am really looking forward to getting going again.

“Everyone seems really enthusiastic so hopefully it is a good way to start the year.”

The club’s pavilion had a huge extension over the winter and Nichols hopes that it is a nicer place to host people.

Asked if there have been any major changes, Nichols said: “We are pretty similar but we have such a youth-driven core to our side just that extra year of experience and strength and maturity will help us a lot. So those guys who were 15 last year are making their way into the side and hopefully will be pushing to be more key players for us and I think that is the biggest change really.”

Looking ahead to their opponents on Saturday, Nichols said: “They had a really good season last year, I think they probably exceeded their own expectations. They were excellent.

“They are a fun side to play against, we have had really good games in the past.”

There are no new faces for the side but Nichols admits that a couple may join them later in the year.

Asked whether this consistency may help them, he said: “I think at club level consistency of selection is huge. It is something that we have wanted to improve on for a few years now.

“Even if we have got a fairly small squad if we are seeing the same eight, nine, 10 maybe even 11 faces every week I think that gets us a real momentum.”

n Martinstown Seconds visit Marnhull Seconds in County Division Five tomorrow.