DORCHESTER Town last night boosted their attacking options by agreeing a one-month loan deal with Gosport Borough for experienced striker Robbie Matthews.

The former Basingstoke and Salisbury forward will join the Magpies from the Privett Park outfit subject to the relevant paperwork being completed.

Matthews, 32, whose move to the Avenue comes a few days after Ben Joyce’s departure was made official, could go straight into the Dorchester squad for the visit of Corby Town tomorrow (3pm).

Magpies’ boss Graham Kemp told Echosport he was delighted with his new acquisition as goals have been hard to come by for the county town club this season.

“Robbie is a legend at the likes of Salisbury and Basingstoke, and he is a prolific scorer in non-League football,” said Kemp.

“It was just a case of him needing games and us needing someone who can score goals, so it suits both parties.

“It’s a massive boost for the club to get him for a month.

“He is an experienced frontman and that is exactly what we need – his scoring record is outstanding.

“I think we are a decent side up until the oppositions’ box, but scoring goals seems to be difficult for us at the moment.

“Robbie is a handful in and around the box, he has played Conference football, and he fits the bill perfectly for Dorchester.

“I have no qualms about putting him straight in tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Jake Smeeton remains on the sidelines through injury and Nathan Walker serves a one-match ban, however, Jamie Gleeson is fit and comes back into the squad for tomorrow’s contest.

Despite Corby’s lofty position and his own team’s poor run in the league, Kemp feels that Dorchester can still get a positive result in front of their own supporters.

“We haven’t got results against teams around us and now we have a run of matches where we are playing sides towards the top of the table,” he added.

“We’ve put ourselves in the situation we are in so we have to try and find wins.

“I think it’s easier for the players in a way because they know that if they don’t give 100 per cent commitment we will get beaten, and it could be a convincing defeat as well.

“We beat Hungerford and gave Dunstable a good game, and we know we are capable of winning against Corby.”

Meanwhile, Magpies’ target Ben Thomson won’t be joining the Dorchester ranks after agreeing to stay with Evo-Stik Premier Division rivals Frome Town.

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Hanger, Oldring, Murray, Robinson, Dillon, Crittenden, Parrett, Lanahan, Smith, Odam, Walsh, Brown, Godfrey, Brookes, Gleeson, Matthews
BETTING ODDS

DORCHESTER v CORBY TOWN

Dorchester 10-3; draw 14-5; Corby 8-13

BURNHAM v WEYMOUTH

Burnham 12-5; draw 14-5; Weymouth 4-5.

* Betting odds courtesy of Jem Racing.