Magpies' sixth sense (From Dorset Echo)

Magpies' sixth sense

9:28am Monday 8th February 2010

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CARETAKER-BOSS Ashley Vickers believes there is no reason why his side cannot extend their impressive run to six games without defeat when they travel to Chelmsford City tonight (7.45pm).

Dorchester’s unbeaten run currently stands at five courtesy of Saturday’s goalless draw with Bromley.

Vickers admitted to feeling “slightly disappointed” at missing out on a third straight win but was happy to see his side maintain their momentum ahead of a tricky trip to Melbourne Park.

Reflecting on the weekend’s stalemate, in which Nick Crittenden struck a post, the Magpies’ chief said: “On the balance of play I felt we perhaps deserved more than a point.

“We put them under a lot of pressure in the final 15 minutes and Critts hit a post. However, Bromley had a one-on-one chance late on and Warren McBean is the one striker in this league I would have banked to finish it.

“I’m slightly disappointed with the point but with the amount of changes we had to make it’s a decent point as Bromley are a good side.”

The Magpies entered Saturday’s game without Mark Jermyn and Ryan Moss through illness and then saw keeper Simon Evans fail a fitness test prior to kick-off.

To make matters worse, skipper Kevin Hill and James Coutts were both forced off as the match progressed.

Vickers is hopeful that at least one of the five men will be fit to face the fifth-placed Clarets.

He said: “Simon’s bruised the inside of his knee. He would have played on Saturday but he had a fitness test beforehand and was brave enough to say that he wasn’t right.

“Regan Coward stepped in but he’s not 100 per cent at the moment so we’re trying to manage the two and get them fully fit. When we do we’ll have two great keepers.

“Hilly had cramp in his hamstring and couldn’t shake it off. Whether he’s okay for tonight remains to be seen. Couttsie cramped up as well and that’s why we took him off too.

“Hopefully Jem will be back fit but Mossy was in a bad way so we’ll have to see how he is.”

Vickers added: “Tonight is another massive game but I’ve got every belief in the players. We’ve had three clean sheets in a row and we’re unbeaten in five.

“I watched Chelmsford play against Weymouth recently and like a lot of decent teams in this league they’re strong out wide.

“But we’re strong at full-back and if we can remain as solid as we did against Bromley then there’s no reason why we can’t get something.”

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

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