MAGPIES’ assistant manager Nick Crittenden has sung the praises of Nathan Walker for the options he gives the county town outfit.

Walker has played the majority of his career as a defender but is currently being employed up front by Dorchester boss Mark Jermyn.

It is not a role Walker is unaccustomed to at the Avenue and his added physicality seems to work each time he is asked to switch positions.

And with heavy pitches forcing Jermyn’s men to take a slightly more direct approach, Walker’s qualities as a target man have come in even more useful.

Walker is set to continue as part of an attacking three alongside Ben Watson and Jonah Ayunga tomorrow when the Magpies host Chesham United (3pm).

“We have to adapt our game with the pitches as they are,” said Crittenden.

“We do like to roll the ball out from the back but that’s difficult to do now, especially on our pitch.

“It’s hard to get the ball into feet and so we have to go more direct.

“It’s good that we’ve got Nathan Walker up front to cause problems and he is effective when he does that.

“Credit to him, not only is he a top centre-half at this level, he can also do a job as a forward.

“He can be disruptive and then we’ve got people like Jonah and Ben to pick up the pieces.”

Crittenden agreed with Jermyn that Dorchester deserved a lot more from last Saturday’s defeat to Dunstable.

And he insisted that confidence levels are high ahead of a busy February.

“We weren’t disheartened against Dunstable because we deserved to get something out of the game,” he added.

“It was one of those where we couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.

“The players did everything else that we wanted them to and it wasn’t a bad performance.

“February is a busy month for us but the boys are confident and we are looking to come on strong in the second half of the season.

“We’re confident going into Saturday and we’ve got a good home record this season.

“Hopefully that will continue and we can pick up another three points.

“It’s nice to know what threats the opposition pose and any set plays they have, but it’s up to us to stamp our authority on the game.”

Dorchester will kick-off tomorrow’s game seven points adrift of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division play-off places in ninth, while Chesham sit 19th but have played the fewest fixtures of any side in the league.

  • Dorchester’s trip to Leamington next Tuesday has been postponed because the hosts have a Red Insure Cup tie to fulfil.