Vickers: We must catch Fleet cold (From Dorset Echo)

Vickers: We must catch Fleet cold

9:01am Tuesday 2nd February 2010 in

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CARETAKER-MANAGER Ashley Vickers is hoping to catch his opponents cold tonight (7.45pm) as visiting Thurrock make the long journey to the Jewson Stadium.

The Fleet face a three-hour trip ahead of this evening’s Blue Square South contest and Vickers, whose Dorchester side enter the game on the back of a 2-0 win at Weston-super-Mare, is looking for an explosive opening from his men.

However, he knows there is plenty of work to be done to have any chance of avenging October’s 5-2 defeat at Ship Lane.

He said: “They’re a strong side, especially out wide, and they’re also pretty potent up front, so we’ll need to be on our mettle.

“However, they’ve got to travel a long way on a Tuesday night and it’s tough, especially if you’ve been at work in the day.

“Perhaps we can use it to our advantage, start well and take the game to them.”

Vickers may have missed the last encounter between the two sides through suspension, but he has painful memories of the clash having been present in the Magpies’ dugout.

He added: “They battered us to be honest and got a lot of joy down the flanks, so our full-backs will have to be at the races.

“Having said that we need to try and stop the ball getting out wide and look to get our own players on the ball.

“It was nice to get a positive result on Saturday and it’s a result that has been coming – another victory would really help us move away from the bottom three.

“The lads are full of confidence, we’ve gone three games unbeaten and let’s hope we can make it four tonight.”

Regan Coward (back) and Jamie Gleeson (pelvis) remain sidelined while Jake Smeeton, who picked up an ankle injury at the weekend, is a major doubt.

Vickers said: “Jake’s doubtful as he’s got a swollen ankle. Everyone else came through Saturday unscathed and they’re all buzzing at the moment.”

Tonight’s opponents are unbeaten in four and have enjoyed four victories in their last five league encounters with Dorchester.

The Magpies though, have won three of the last four meetings on home soil.

Magpies (from): Evans, Filkins, Critchell, R Hill, Martin, K Hill, Walker, Bowles, Vickers, Jermyn, Coutts, Nodwell, Crittenden, Devlin, Moss, Emati-Emati, Groves, Charles.