JASON Matthews will be bidding to complete a league double as Weymouth manager over Dorchester Town on Boxing Day.

With no real injury concerns, the Terras are in red-hot form going into the clash at the Avenue (3pm) and although the player-boss admits his side will be firm favourites on the day, he will be warning his side against complacency.

He told Echosport: “We look forward to it and it is probably going to be their biggest gate of the season because the Weymouth fans travel. It is a massive occasion and it’s great for the county as a whole.

“I know quite a few of the Dorchester lads know what it means to their fans. The likes of Critts (Nick Crittenden), Glees (Jamie Gleeson) and Smeets (Jake Smeeton) will dig in and make it really difficult for us. And they will probably play the best they can possibly play because they will be desperate to get a result against us.

“We are clearly favourites going into it because of our form, and that’s something we’ve dealt with all season. We are in a good position with games in hand in the league and if we win those it will take us away from the pack.

“The Christmas period sees you into the second half of the season and if we get results in the next three games I will be delighted.”

And the experienced goalkeeper, who has featured for both clubs throughout his illustrious career, is confident his squad can deal with the pressure the derby brings.

He added:  “I will say to the lads not to let the occasion get to them. They need to go out, enjoy it and play their football.

“I don’t put pressure on the boys, they are their own biggest critics to be fair to them, and they are hungry to do well.”

The 2-0 victory for the Terras in the reverse fixture at the Bob Lucas Stadium signalled the end of then Magpies’ manager Phil Simkin’s reign at the county town club in August.

And while a win for the Terras would heap the pressure on Dorchester manager Graham Kemp’s position, Matthews, who has respect for the Avenue chief, is fully focused on his own task at hand.

“I don’t know Graham that well, I obviously knew Phil well,” he added.

“In the dealings I have had with Graham he seems like a really nice chap, and he seems to be trying to do it in the right way. But as I saw last
season, you can’t build your own team and put your own things in overnight.

“You probably need a pre-season and time to bring your own players in. Graham hasn’t had that, he is trying to bring players in during the middle of the season and it’s not always easy.

“I don’t know their current situation and it’s up to me to concentrate on Weymouth Football Club and not Dorchester.”

The contest will also be defender Calvin Brooks’ last game of his loan spell with the Terras, as he is set to line up against his former club.

Terras (from): Matthews, Wells, Wannell, McPhee, Laird, Brooks, Kelly, Rigg, Sills, Yetton, Jevon, Colwell, Shephard, Fiddes, Poole, Copp, West