DORCHESTER Town boss Glenn Howes is confident the Magpies can “force the issue” against Truro City at the Avenue Stadium this evening (7.45pm).

Dorchester have lost their past five Pitching In Southern League Premier South games and face a White Tigers side spurred on by three straight league wins.

Ahead of facing the Cornish club, who beat Dorchester 1-0 in the reverse fixture, Howes believes Dorchester can take the game to Truro should they perform to levels seen in the 2-1 defeat to Chesham on Saturday.

He told Echosport: “If we perform like we did, we could really force the issue towards Truro.

“They’re a big, strong, powerful side – again, they have ambitions of promotion and pushing on to a higher level.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 1-2 Chesham United - match reaction

“I felt we went toe-to-toe down there. They dealt with the conditions better because they’re used to their surroundings.

“The boys really do enjoy playing at the Avenue, you can see that, so I’m hoping it will turn the other way. We’ll certainly give absolutely everything, that’s a given.”

He added: “We’re all honest to say when we fall short, we put our hands up.

“That performance has to become a normality. Then, looking at how we can have a little more composure in the final third, bravery in front of goal that we have in our middle third now.

“We had eight shots in the first half and a similar amount in the second. If your return is one goal, perhaps that’s not acceptable.

“On another day, I know those types of players come away with the match ball. Let’s see if we can produce that (tonight).”

Tiago Sa (ankle) and Thiago Caze da Silva (knee) are Dorchester’s main doubts.

On Sa, Howes said: “He’ll be a doubt but he’s under good care.

“He’ll look after himself and then Lauren (Watts, physio) and Karl (Lindsay) will analyse it and see if it’s worth the risk or if they need to give it a bit more time to get the swelling out of that ankle.

“He was a big loss when he came because he’s been brilliant for us. He had a knock on the ankle previously, which affected his input.

“But he was back to his best, charging down that left side and his distribution is really good.”

On da Silva, Howes added: “We’re quite encouraged that he’s going to do some work with Lauren (tonight).

“He’s been in the gym and he’s back to weight-bearing, which is really encouraging. It’s just going into some twisting and turning and more bounding movements.

“It sounds like he’s not too far away which will be a big lift amongst the camp for a personality of his calibre.”