Dan can be an inspiration for reserves (From Dorset Echo)

Dan can be an inspiration for reserves

8:17am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Football

DAVE Kiteley believes the example set by Dan Way can inspire some of his other players to make the step up from reserve to first-team football.

Way made his full debut for Phil Simkin’s Magpies side on Saturday and impressed Kiteley with his display on the left of midfield during the stalemate with Havant and Waterlooville.

As a result, Way won’t be involved in the reserves’ Wyvern League Premier Division clash with Christchurch at the Avenue tonight (7.45pm).

That, though, will give another youngster the chance to impress boss Kiteley, whose side hope to play for the first time since January 5.

“It was nice to see Dan get his debut,” said Kiteley. “He did very well and I know Phil was pleased with him.

“I wasn’t surprised. I’ve known him for two-and-a-half seasons and noticed in training the way the first team players trust him with the ball, and that’s a big boost for the lad.

“He has got a bright future and he deserved a crack, so hopefully he’ll go on to better things.

“And I hope what he has done sends out a message to one or two of the others and they can push on too.

“It may be a season too early for a couple of them but it’s a great situation for some of the youngsters to step up like Dan did on Saturday.

“That then has a knock-on effect on the under-18s for them to come up to the reserves.”

Looking to the future, Kiteley has highlighted 16-year-old Liam Shingler as one player to look out for while George Kimber is also seen as a good prospect.

Christchurch won 3-1 when the sides met in September but that match was marred by a nasty clash of heads involving Dorchester pair Calvin Brooks and Lloyd Beals.

However, tonight’s visitors are a club Kiteley knows well and it’s a game he is desperate to see go ahead after Dorchester’s trip to Winchester City last Thursday was called off.

“I know Christchurch quite well and worked with their first team manger, Graham Kemp, for half a season a few years ago,” added Kiteley.

“It’s a smashing club with a great youth policy and good players coming through.

“The Avenue pitch is horrendous but unless it hammers down I can’t see any reason why it can’t be played.

“There’ll be two young sides out there so they’ll struggle to do much on a pitch like that. But a game is a game and we just want to play.”