DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson has swooped to secure the signings of striker Ashley Pope and attacking midfielder Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist. 

Pope joins the Avenue Stadium from Bournemouth on a work experience loan, becoming the second Cherries player to move to the Magpies on such terms this season after winger Antonio Diaz. 

Leigh-Gilchrist, meanwhile, becomes the third Bristol Rovers player to make the switch to Dorchester after fellow Pirates' men Mo Baghdadi and Cameron Ebbutt. 

Leigh-Gilchrist has been in excellent form this season for loan club Yate Town, having scored 12 goals during his stay with the Bluebells.  

He joins the Magpies on a one-month youth loan, with both players expected to be in the reckoning for a squad berth for Dorchester's away Evo-Stik Southern League Premier match at Chesham United tomorrow (3pm).