Fitness race for Jermyn (From Dorset Echo)

Fitness race for Jermyn

9:15am Tuesday 2nd March 2010 in

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Dorchester Town stalwart Mark Jermyn faces a late fitness test ahead of tonight’s trip to St Albans City (7.45pm).

The tenacious midfielder, who if selected will make his 439th appearance in county town colours, picked up a toe injury during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Woking.

Jermyn burst past the visiting defence with a clever chip before cutting the ball back for team-mate Matt Groves.

However, the former was subsequently floored by the Cards’ keeper Ross Worner while the latter failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

As a result, Jermyn faces a race to be fit in order to notch his 35th start of the season.

manager Ashley Vickers is hopeful the 28-year-old will line up for the Magpies this evening.

He said: “Jem’s got a bruised toe from Saturday so we’re hoping that will settle down by tonight.

“Other than that everyone came through Saturday unscathed.”

Ryan Moss, who was confined to the bench on Saturday through illness, could return to the starting line-up this evening.

Fellow striker Jules Emati-Emati (ankle) is a major doubt once again while defender Gary Bowles is striving to recover from a bout of flu.

Vickers added: “Bowlesy was hit by flu so he has been more of a concern while Mossy appears to have had a 24-hour bug.

“Jules missed the game with a bruised ankle so we’ll have to see how he is, but he’s doubtful and may need another few days to recover. We want to make sure everyone is 100 per cent fit.”

Kyle Critchell is unavailable for selection due to his involvement with the Wales semi-professional squad ahead of tomorrow’s International Challenge Trophy match in Portugal.

Vickers, who spent two seasons at St Albans between 1998 and 2000, is looking forward to visiting his old stomping ground.

And the Magpies’ chief will be out to close the gap on 14th-placed City to just three Blue Square South points.

He said: “I had good times at St Albans and enjoyed it. They were a force to be reckoned with but have had some indifferent times since.

“They’ve got a good man-ager though in Steve Castle and he’s a winner, but if we start well we’ll be in with a chance.

“Our away form of late looks good on paper. We have been solid at the back but it would be nice to get a few more goals – I suppose that’s been the case for much of the season.

“We have a good platform on which to build and we are all confident that we can match anyone in the league.

“We had a good result against them on the first day of the season but tonight will be another battle.”

Dorchester, who beat the Saints 3-0 on the opening day, have lost just once in their last nine outings.

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