ANDY Robinson is determined to make the most of the chance he has been given by Dorchester Town – and so far the midfielder’s time at the Avenue has surpassed his expectations.

The Bournemouth-born midfielder was snapped up by Magpies’ boss Graham Kemp on non-contract terms last month, and the former Southampton youth product made an instant impact on his debut with the winner against Hendon.

Robinson, 22, is set to start Dorchester’s FA Trophy clash with Wimborne Town today (3pm) as he looks to get more game time under his belt following an unsettled summer which saw him leave Bolton just a few weeks after signing.

He still harbours ambitions of playing higher up the football ladder but Robinson is fully focused on doing his best to help the Magpies’ cause.

“It’s a bit different to what I’m used to but I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “I’ve had four games in just over two weeks which is exactly what I needed for my fitness.

“I got off to a perfect start with the goal in the Hendon game and the whole thing has gone better than I expected.

“Everyone has been really nice at the club and a couple of the lads have got similar stories to me.

“They have come from clubs where things didn’t go right for them.”

He continued: “I moved up north in the summer but that didn’t quite go to plan, then I tried some other clubs and nothing worked out for me for various reasons.

“Sometimes clubs just aren’t looking for players and it becomes more difficult once the season gets going.

“Someone I knew then spoke to Graham, I met him and it was fairly straight forward from there.”

Robinson joined Southampton at the age of eight and originally started off as a centre-back before moving into midfield.

After managing just one first-team game for the Saints, Robinson moved to Bolton on loan in March and looked set to start this season with the Trotters.

However, after failing to settle at the Championship club he returned south to seek football elsewhere.

And although it didn’t quite work out for him at St Mary’s or the Macron Stadium, he hopes to return to that level of the game again in the future.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” he added. “I’ve just been taking it game by game and looking to do as well as I can.

“Obviously I’m ambitious and I believe I can get back to that level.

“I’ve been through some tough times at other clubs but I have belief in my own ability.

“I just need to get a run of games together and feel good about myself again.”

Jake Smeeton, Nick Crittenden and Josh Kaye are missing for the Magpies today, but Ben Joyce, Jamie Gleeson and Chris Dillon are set to feature.

* Dorchester will travel to either Swanage Town & Herston or Poole Borough in the last eight of the Dorset Senior Cup (date to be confirmed), while if the Terras beat Cranborne on Tuesday, they will be at home to the winners of Merley Cobham Sports and Hamworthy Rec in the quarter-final.