DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson admits that it will be strange to have Weymouth fans hoping they win as they face a trip away to fourth-placed Kettering Town in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division tonight (7.45pm).

The situation at the top of the table sees the Terras two points ahead of the Poppies but having played two more games meaning that a win for the Magpies could assist their Ridgeway rivals’ promotion bid.

Thompson said :”It will be a very tough game at Kettering who are chasing that home play-off spot. It will be strange because they will obviously be rooting for us in a big way tonight.”

The Magpies also assisted the Terras on Saturday when they defeated play-off hopefuls Royston Town with a superb 1-0 victory at the Avenue, with former Weymouth player Aaron Rodriguez scoring the only goal of the match.

When asked if, having just beaten a play-off contender, the Magpies are looking forward to Kettering a bit more, Thompson told Echosport: “You always look forward to it a bit more after you have won a game and we have drawn one and lost two of the last three (prior to the Royston win) so it was good to get back on the winning track and we can try and climb the table.”

Thompson has concerns that the travelling tonight will mean some players miss the match but is hopeful that everyone will be available.

Thompson said: “Tuesday will be a very tough game I just hope I have all the players I had against Royston to go there with.

“Sometimes at this level an early leave prevents some people from playing I hope that is not the case but we will have to count the numbers and see how we look for Tuesday.

The last time the two teams faced Dorchester thrashed the Poppies 4-1, with goals from Billy Lowes and the now departed David Jerrard, Sam Lanahan and Mo Baghdadi.

Thompson is hopeful for the game and takes confidence from their win at Royston but acknowledges each game is different and says that it will be tough.

Thompson said: “I am reasonably confident and I am hopeful but each game pans out differently. It will be a very very tough game.

“Kettering are not in third place for no reason but Royston were sixth and we beat the team in sixth.

“The other added factor is that Kettering will want revenge for the 4-1 beating down at the Avenue so it is going to be very very tough.”

Dorchester travel away to face Kettering Town tonight (7.45pm).