BOSS Mark Jermyn reckons there is no pressure on his Dorchester Town side going into the Ridgeway derby with Weymouth on Saturday.

And player-manager Jermyn, who netted the only goal when the Magpies beat their rivals in August, insists the visitors “are really going to go for it” at the Bob Lucas Stadium this time around.

Dorchester could move to within a point of the Terras in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division standings if they triumph in the Boxing Day showdown.

Victory would also see them complete a league double over their hosts, who got the better of the Magpies on four occasions in all competitions last term.

Jermyn has bolstered his squad ahead of the match by signing Wimborne midfielder Franklyn Clarke, while striker Ben Watson returns to the fold.

“I wouldn’t say there is any real pressure on our boys, we can just go out and enjoy the occasion,” said Jermyn. “We don’t really go there with any point to prove.

“We are really going to go for it and we want to win, it’s as simple as that, we’re not going there to make up the numbers.

“Weymouth are probably favourites on paper, but that’s about it.

“You can look at the size of their squad and budget compared to us but we have already proved this season that those don’t matter on the day.

“It’s one of those occasions where anything can happen.

“From the start we’ve always said we will focus on ourselves rather than the opposition and we just need to make sure we give as good an account of ourselves as possible.

“The motivation is that there is another three points up for grabs.”

With Ashley Nicholls’ spell at Dorchester coming to an end last Saturday, the capture of 22-year-old Clarke couldn’t have come at a better time for Jermyn.

On his new signing, he added: “Frankie is technically good but we also wanted someone who can break up the play and do the ugly things.

“He is a very energetic player and has a few goals to his name this season.

“If I'm honest, I've only seen him once or twice, but I've spoken to a few people and they've all come back saying the same thing about him.

“These are people I trust and who have been in football long enough to tell me whether he is good enough or not.

“He is a young lad who plays in the centre of midfield but can also play at centre-back and just behind the strikers.

“I don’t think Wimborne wanted to lose him but at the same time we really needed to make an addition.

“He has got to come in and work hard, and earn his place in the team.”

Dorchester Town and Damory Coaches are running a special 81-seater fans’ bus between the Avenue and Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday for Magpies’ supporters.

The bus leaves the Avenue at 2.15pm and costs just £5 per person. It is first come, first served and no prior booking is needed.

The Avenue bar will be open from midday and after the match, with two live Premier League matches being shown.

Meanwhile, only home supporters will be permitted entry to the bar at the Bob Lucas Stadium on the day of the derby.

As well as that, supporters are segregated for the fixture and Dorchester fans should use the turnstiles nearest the car park entrance for the match.

* Dorchester's home fixture with Cirencester Town has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 9 (ko 7.45pm)