DORCHESTER captain James Dunham feels third place is “very respectable” ahead of his side’s final Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League clash with Sherborne at the Rec tomorrow (1pm).

Dunham’s men are guaranteed to finish third whatever the result, ensuring an improvement upon last season’s finish of fourth.

And despite missing out on the league title, Dunham insists Dorchester have “grown up” as a team.

He told Echosport: “Third place is very respectable. We’ve always said we wanted to finish in the top three. The plan was to try and get as high as we can.

“Poole and Wimborne are two very good sides, that shows with Wimborne beating us twice.

“We’re happy with where we are and we’re looking to take 20 points. We’ve jumped up one place but we’ve grown up as a team and recruited a lot of players over the winter. Our second team have also had a solid season.

“We’ve got a lot of promising youngsters coming up and got the foundations right this year – it’s been very impressive.”

Dorchester are without the unavailable Will McKay and Pete Diffey, who will captain the seconds against Hamworthy Recreation Seconds. James and Will Caldwell replace them.

Dunham added: “(The Caldwells) are not around all year but when they are, they make a big impact.”

Dorchester: W Caldwell, J Caldwell, Roe, Anderson, Mitchem, Belt, Richardson, Dunham, Macklin, G Foot, Walklett