IT HAS been a busy month for Nathan Walker. Not only has he played in nine of Dorchester Town’s 10 games, he has had a spell in hospital.

The collision at Hayes & Yeading United forced him to miss the Magpies’ 10-0 defeat at Salisbury and miss playing against his brother, Steve. Nonetheless, the Dorchester utility player has been in hot form up front, scoring three goals in October, including a spectacular 30-yard lob against Barnstaple Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy.

The responsibility of goals and leading the line has fallen heavily on Walker’s shoulders however, he is relishing the challenge.

Speaking to Echosport, he said: “We’ve got Smeets (Jake Smeeton) and David Jerrard popping up with goals but, when you play up front you have that responsibility. You have to take your chances and thankfully, I am taking one chance.

“I am enjoying it. With my aerial threat, I should be scoring a few headers but, most of my goals have come with my feet.

“It’s the boys that are creating the chances for me. I’m reliant on the midfield boys to give me that chance and they’re doing that.”

Walker moved from centre-back to up top during Tuesday’s loss on penalties to Portland United in the Dorset Senior Cup.

Like most of the season, he has ploughed a lone furrow for Dorchester, and it is a job he finds tough.

The 30-year-old remarked: “It is hard. I love the tussle with the centre-halves, it’s a great battle. I think the centre-backs enjoy it as well. They’ve got a player like myself who will

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give it to them back, which is nice.

“It’s what you play football for, the battle. It’s not easy, when you play against people who have the better of you, you wonder what you have to do. It’s what it is all about.”

With the Magpies putting in a seven-day approach for Weymouth striker Conor Jevon, Walker may find himself with a strike partner. After a month of trials and tribulations, this won’t be any concern for the county town stalwart. He’s just interested in winning battles all over the pitch.