MAGPIES’ manager Steve Thompson spoke of his disappointment at losing striker Rory Fallon to a hamstring injury during his side’s 2-1 win over Basingstoke Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy first qualifying round.

New Zealand international Fallon, who has not played for his country since 2016, has so far played just two games for Dorchester since moving to the Avenue, picking up injuries in both matches.

Due to his latest knock, Thompson expects Fallon, 35, to be sidelined for a fortnight.

He told Echosport: “It’s a disappointment to lose Rory with a hamstring. I would imagine that would be a minimum of two weeks and I hope it doesn’t hinder his New Zealand chances, but that’s football for you.

“It’s two games, two injuries. I know how he feels. I started getting injuries when I got into my 30s and I stayed injury-free pretty much until I was 33, 34.

“It’s more difficult as you get older to stay injury free and you get these sort of times when you just get one niggle and it leads on to another. It’s frustrating, but what can you do?

“He gets his treatment down in Plymouth but I would imagine we wouldn’t be able to see Rory for a couple of weeks now. It’s a blow but it gives others opportunities and I’m always looking to see if we can bring any fresh people in.”

But Thompson was pleased with Sam Lanahan’s display, after the midfielder bounced back with two assists following a luke-warm first half.

He said: “Sam would be the first to agree that him and four or five of the more attacking players had a poor first half.

“But he upped it and he assisted in both goals with the penalty and the final ball for the first.”

Thompson was also buoyed by the fitness of new signing Mo Baghdadi and fellow newcomer Callum Rose.

He said: “I’m very pleased that (Mo) had 90 minutes and to be fair he looked strong in the second half.

“His fitness levels looked good, which you would hope they would being with Bristol Rovers.

“It was nice for Callum to get on for the last five minutes as well, just to sample the Avenue.”

Magpies’ boss Thompson is set to hand playing time to several first team players tonight as the club’s reserves take on Winchester, with Ed Bastick a prime candidate for involvement.

He said: “Some of these players have not played a lot of football under me. A lot of them that have featured very little in the games will be playing in that.

“So I’m almost treating it like a first-team game. Ed Bastick will play, he needs game time but there’s maybe seven or eight. There are a few that can play.

“That will be good for them and it will be good for me to watch them play because you can have a look in training but in matches you see certain things that you can’t always see in training, especially if you’re hands on taking the training.”

n Dorchester Town Reserves visit Winchester in the Wyvern Midweek Combination League looking to secure their fifth successive league win and ninth in all competitions.

n Dorchester will host Heybridge Swifts in the Buildbase FA Trophy second qualifying round after their 2-1 win over Tonbridge Angels in a first qualifying round replay. The tie is due to be played on Saturday, November 11 (3pm).

n The Magpies are set to visit Wimborne Town in the Dorset Senior Cup quarter-finals after Wimborne defeated Gillingham Town 8-2.