FORMER Magpies’ favourite Ben Watson is back at the county town club following a 15-month absence.

The striker, who left Dorchester in October 2013, has left Bideford to sign a deal with the Avenue outfit which runs until the end of this season.

Graham Kemp swooped for Watson last night having originally tried to land the
centre forward shortly after taking over from Phil Simkin as Dorchester boss.

Watson’s goals and strong work ethic made him a popular figure with the supporters during his previous spell at the club, something Kemp is keen to see more of.

“Ben has got a great reputation and a good rapport with the Dorchester fans,” said Kemp, who takes his side to Chesham United tomorrow (3pm).

“As well as his goals, the most pleasing thing that everybody says about him is how hard he works for the team.

“He wants to be here as much as we want him, I didn’t have to beg him to come.

“I tried to sign him about three months ago when he was leaving Truro, but I’d only just started the job and unfortunately finances dictated that I couldn’t bring him in.

“But having freed up some money I made an inquiry, we had a couple of chats and he has signed until the end of the season.

“We lost a few strikers earlier in the season and had hoped Robbie Matthews would stay longer than he did, so we’ve been actively looking for more options up front.”

Watson is likely to go straight into the starting line-up tomorrow, with Lewis Morgan also set to feature.

Jack Odam and Dan Woodward are still unavailable, but Mason Walsh, Jamie Gleeson and Dave Allen are all expected to shake off illnesses.

As for Walsh, his loan from Bournemouth is set to expire soon, though Kemp told Echosport that Dorchester will be looking to extend it.

The Magpies earned a point against Chesham when the sides met last August, and a draw would not be a bad result for them again this time around.

Sitting just two points off the foot of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division table means that Dorchester cannot afford the sort of slumps in form they suffered in the first half of the season if they want to avoid relegation.

“We are not where we want to be,” added Kemp. “How we played for the first hour against Weymouth and all of the Poole match is how we’ve got to perform for the rest of the season.

“It has been frustrating to lose the last two games to the weather because they were both winnable.

“But the boys have got the bit between their teeth and although Chesham will be tough, we know we can get something out of it.”

Magpies (from): Murphy, Oldring, Smeeton, Gleeson, Walker, Dillon, Crittenden, Lanahan, Odam, Smith, Walsh, Hanger, Allen, Brookes, Godfrey, Morgan, Watson