STUART Heath believes Dorchester Town “need to be braver” in giving young players chances to impress.

And the Magpies’ caretaker boss, who takes charge of his second game this weekend while the club continues to look for a new first-team manager, says there are youngsters he would like to bring to the Avenue.

It just so happens that with some experienced heads missing from the Magpies’ ranks for tomorrow’s game at Banbury United (3pm) youth is set to get an opportunity to shine.

Ben Joyce and Nick Crittenden are both out with hamstring problems, Steve Walker, pictured, is suspended after his red card against Chippenham and Kyle Critchell has work commitments.

“While you always want a full squad to choose from, I see it more as having the chance to give opportunities to players such as Oakley Hanger, Will Agbo and Alex Godfrey to come in and show they have the ability and attitude to play well for Dorchester at a place where the opposition will be fighting for their lives to get a result,” said Heath.

“Knowing these lads, I have every confidence that they will do that.

“We have a small group of experienced players that you can absolutely rely on to perform well consistently, but as a club we need to be braver in providing opportunities to promising, hungry young players like these to give the team real balance between know-how and sheer energy.

“There are a couple of other young players who have fantastic long-term potential that I would really like to bring to the club.

“I think it would be right for them and would give us an immediate impact.”

Dorchester go to Banbury looking to build on last weekend’s draw with Chesham, and while Magpies’ fans may feel they have been through the wringer already this season, the Puritans are bottom of the Southern Premier Division, pointless after seven straight defeats.

Heath added: “We will be going to Banbury looking to play with the same organised and hard-working mentality as we showed last week, and we will be expecting to play well and win the game.

“We will look to continue to be defensively solid and improve the conviction and confidence in our attacking play where we want to create more chances and score more goals.

“The away support the team will get at Banbury will again no doubt be very good so it’s for the players to show that they have the character and ability to play well enough individually and collectively to start winning games again.”

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Hanger, Buckley, Smeeton, N Walker, Lanahan, Agbo, Gleeson, Godfrey, Cann, D Smith, Brookes, Rolls, S Smith, Woodland, Murphy

* Dorchester Reserves picked up their first win in the Wyvern Premier Division courtesy of a 4-2 home victory over Petersfield.

Kieron Parrett gave the Magpies a half-time lead before Lewis Brown netted early in the second period.

Harry Page and Ben Wassen hauled Petersfield level only for hat-trick hero Brown to win it for Dorchester with two further strikes.