STUART Heath has implored his players to raise their game in order to break the current “circle of negativity” at the Avenue.

The Magpies’ caretaker-manager says performances simply have to get better, starting tonight when Truro City are the visitors to the county town club (7.45pm).

Dorchester’s season hit a new low on Saturday when they lost at rock-bottom Banbury, but Jamie Gleeson, Kyle Critchell and Steve Walker are back as the hosts look for a first win in six Southern Premier League outings.

Heath has spoken about how the next two games could determine the futures of some players at the club, and he feels the squad has a “massive responsibility” to turn things around.

“We need to start getting positive results to lift everyone,” he said. “That’s the only way the circle of negativity will be broken.

“The players have got to realise they have a massive responsibility to do that.

“Opportunities will start to run out and when the new manager comes in they will need a squad they can trust and that gets results.

“The players know they can perform better and they need to do that this week.

“It’s good having a decent squad on paper but the players that represent the club have got to play better and get results.

“We can’t keep repeating the same mistakes because sooner or later we’ve got to look at the squad and whether it needs changes, either major or minor ones.

“While football is a team game they players have got to look at what they are contributing and bringing to games, and whether it’s enough to keep them in the side.”

Dorchester will assess Nick Crittenden and Ben Joyce (both hamstring) before the game, though the duo won’t be risked if they are not fit enough to feature.

Heath added: “The inconsistency in our performances is there to see.

“We need to make sure we stop making individual errors which can lead to goals.”

There is set to be something of a reunion at the Avenue tonight with ex-Magpies Danny Green, Arran Pugh and Ben Watson all likely to be involved for the visitors, who sit 11th in the table.

The trio left Dorchester early last season in the wake of the cuts to the playing budget and this is the first time they have faced their former club since.

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