Dorchester duo to reunite at the heart of the defence (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester duo to reunite at the heart of the defence

8:10am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Football By Adam Summers

NATHAN Walker and Mark Jermyn will reunite at the heart of the Magpies’ defence tonight at Weston-super-Mare (7.45pm).

Charlie Clough and Arran Pugh are both suspended for the Blue Square Bet South clash but Dorchester Town boss Phil Simkin is confident his side can cope without them.

He told Echosport: “Arran has a two-game suspension while Charlie is on the second match of a four-game ban, so Nathan will pair up with Jem tonight.

“That was our centre-back pairing last season so it’s not the end of the world.

“Tom Nichols will also make his second debut after returning to us on loan from Exeter City, while Kieffer Moore is well on the way to recovery and might even be ready for the weekend.

“Having said that, if there is any doubt whatsoever we will leave it because the next time he is out there we want him to be spot on.”

Weston currently sit sixth in the division, just two points adrift of a play-off spot, and Simkin has a lot of time for their manager Craig Laird.

He added: “Weston are a very good side with a great coach and they have improved again this season. They have got a certain way of playing, which we have to be mindful of, and I have no doubts it is going to be a very tough game.

“We are going to miss players of Arran and Charlie’s stature but as I have said before I don’t waste time getting upset about things that I can do nothing about.

“Instead I just find an answer and I would like to think we can cope with that situation.

“We have decided to go into the game in a certain way to stop them playing, and the aim is just to get through the first 20 minutes on level terms and then look to make some progress from there – it won’t be easy though.”

The Magpies’ last visit to the Woodspring Stadium on March 3, 2012 ended with an emphatic victory with Nichols bagging the opener in a 4-0 success.

Another positive result for the county town outfit this evening would see them move to within a point of the Seagulls with a game in hand but Simkin is refusing to look too far ahead.

He said: “If we could put two or three results together like we did in February, we would be right in amongst it but everyone is trying to do that.

“That sort of thing is happening few and far between this season, so much so that even some of the top clubs are slipping up a bit.

“That is why it is so important just to take it a game at a time.”

At present the Magpies are six points adrift of the play-offs in ninth place.

Magpies: Matthews, Jermyn, Bell, Smeeton, N Walker, Gleeson, Nicholls, Morgan, Crittenden, Martin, Malsom, Watson, Nichols, Tennant, Brooks, S Walker, Floyd.