DORCHESTER Sports manager Ashley James rued the lack of matches he has seen his side play as they prepare to face Mere Town today at the Avenue Stadium in the Dorset Premier League (3pm).

Sports have played just twice in the league since the turn of the year, winning 2-1 against Westland Sports in mid-March and earning a 3-2 victory at Parley Sports on February 17.

James said: “We have not played for a long time so everyone should be fresh and ready to go when we do get to play but obviously our match sharpness is not quite there.

“We have done well in the last two games where we have not had games before so hopefully the break gives us another chance to pick up another three points but it will be hard.”

Sports had their match away against Merley Cobham Sports postponed on Saturday due to the wet weather.

James said: “They tried giving it every chance of being on which is fair enough, it is what we want anyway.

“All we can do is prepare (for today) and hope and see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Mere Town have managed six games in the league so far this year and are unbeaten in five league matches, with their last league defeat a 3-0 loss to Hamworthy Recreation.

They currently sit three points and two places behind Sports in the table but have played four games more.

Sports can expect a lot of goals against Mere, with their past two games seeing a combined total of 19 goals, as they took a 5-4 win against Balti Sports before a 6-4 win away at Hamworthy United Reserves.

James said: “They have had some good results lately so we are expecting another tough game.

“They are a good physical side, we know it is going to be a massive battle.

“We have got to match them physically and if we can do that we are confident that we can get the three points.”

James will have between 17 and 18 players available for the clash, with only Cormac Lochrie, who is injured and Jason Read who is suspended, missing.

James said: “We need that big squad for the last 14 games so we need everyone available and fit, but it looks like we are going to have the whole squad (barring Lochrie and Read) available.”

Sports have 14 fixtures left to play before their season ends, which is scheduled to be on May 9 against Sherborne Town Reserves.

James said: “When we get into the chunk of the fixtures, which hopefully we will in the next couple of weeks, we are going to need everyone available.

“A game every three days, it is going to be tough on the legs, everyone is going to be needed.

“We are going to have to take it game by game if we play every three days but that is the luxury of having a big squad.”

He added: “We are in the pack, that is all we could ask for.”