CAPTAIN Jake Smeeton wants his Dorchester Town side to carry on where they left off last term when Histon arrive at the Avenue tomorrow (3pm).

And the Magpies’ skipper believes boss Mark Jermyn has assembled a squad good enough to push for the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division play-offs.

Smeeton, going into his ninth season with Dorchester, knows the current group of players isn’t the biggest, but insists there is a strong bond between them all.

“I’m looking forward to see us start how we finished last season,” he told Echosport. “We need to pick up where we left off and have a much better start than last year.

“I know we have got a relatively small squad, which could hamper us in one respect, but with the players we have and the morale in the squad then I’d like to think we’ll be pushing for the play-offs.

“We should at least be in the top half of the table, but I like to set my standards high and we should be looking at the play-offs.

“Jem has spent the budget as best as he can and he has got a group of players that are not only talented but have got the attitude he looks for.

“Everyone gets on well and there is a good atmosphere in the squad.”

Smeeton will lead the side again this season having taken over the captaincy from Nathan Walker, who it appears won’t be a Dorchester player when the action gets underway this weekend, during the 2014/15 campaign.

“It’s something I’m always proud to do, especially for a club I’ve been at for so long,” said Smeeton about wearing the armband.

Histon’s finish of 18th last time round, one place below Dorchester, has led manager Brian Page to make several signings over the summer in a bid to avoid a repeat this term.

Smeeton is relishing the first challenge of the season tomorrow and feels the Magpies can take a lot of positives from their build up.

“A lot of the academy sides we played were young and fit but their style of play wasn’t the same as it is in the league,” he added.

“The real test was Truro and even though the result didn’t go our way we can take a lot from that game.

“We’ve just got to knuckle down and get our style of play right.”