DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson admitted his side’s 5-1 loss to Winchester City had been a “big eye-opener” as the Magpies prepare for their Evo-Stik Southern Premier South opener against Metropolitan Police on Saturday.

Thompson’s men were thrashed in their final pre-season friendly with the Citizens last Wednesday, leading the Magpies’ boss to label the performance as “shocking”.

Speaking to Echosport after Dorchester’s final summer fixture, Thompson said: “I’m glad to get (Winchester) out of the way.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do before (Metropolitan Police). It’s a big eye-opener.

“We’ve had three games against tough opposition but to be beaten 5-1 by a team a league below is a bit of a shock to the system.”

With the 2018/19 curtain-raiser edging nearer, Thompson conceded he had learned from every pre-season game with regards to what his strongest starting XI may be.

He said: “It’s getting to the point where you really want to be thinking what your best team to go in is.“You learn from every game and I think some players really do play themselves into contention to be a definite starter and others maybe struggle a little bit.

“But it’s not easy in pre-season because you don’t always get the type of game you get against a development squad when you go into the Southern League, so the game’s very different.”

He added: “We’re maybe looking at players in our team that are used to playing against academy players, but can they handle a big bunch of thugs?

“You get some strong teams that are very different, so it’s not always a football match, it’s sometimes how physical and strong you can be.

“But I think we’re not the biggest team that’s for sure and we have to find a way to overcome those types of sides.

“I’m not saying how many – there will certainly be a few sides I’d think that will be very physical, but there may be other sides that try to play a passing game and a tempo game like us, Weymouth certainly do for example.”

“So it’s hard to tell. You have to have people ready for all sorts of occasions.”

Thompson also highlighted the difficulty in finding composure on the ball after retrieving possession.

He said: “When you win it back and when players are working really hard they’re in that work state, energetic, and they suddenly have to find composure, which is not on the same level to energy.

“It’s being able to combine those two which helps the players to become better.”

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil