DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson confirmed he will field his “strongest” team against Poole Town in their Southern League Challenge Cup first round derby at the Clayson Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

The Magpies have already suffered disappointment in cup competition this season, bowing out of the FA Cup second qualifying round with a 2-0 defeat at Tiverton Town.

Thompson insisted he is aiming for victory in each game the Magpies play, and would not make wholesale changes for a competition in which Dorchester suffered a 2-1 defeat to Salisbury at this stage last season.

He told Echosport: “We don’t win every game but we try and win every game, so we’ll try and win this game. I’ve got to think about which team I turn out. I’ll put the strongest team out to try and win the game.

“I have to look if any players are a bit tired that have played every game, but we’re early in the season to be talking about tiredness really. It’s only October coming up.”

With the clash between the Dorset rivals representing a derby, Thompson was simply keen to win having seen his side last triumph against Wimborne Town on September 11.

He said: “The incentive is there to win a game. We haven’t won since (Wimborne) but I feel that in (two) games we haven’t been outplayed but we’re on the end of a 2-0 and 3-0 defeat.

“I’m trying to find a striker but I just can’t seem to get one. They choose other teams than us. Even (Korrey Henry) from Yeovil chose Poole over us, so it’s difficult.”

Referring to the positives from Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Hendon, Thompson felt goalkeeper Mike Edgar delivered a solid display.

He said: “Mike didn’t do anything wrong. You couldn’t blame Mike for any of the three goals, so I thought he had a decent game.“Positives? It’s very hard to find any. The first half was the positive I can find, I thought we were the better team.

“I don’t think we know how to get results at the moment, the know how and nous to get results in tight games.”

Dom Panesar-Dower (illness) and is a doubt, but Ash Pope (knee) and Josh Bailey (osteopubis) remain out and Tiago Sa has been recalled to Weymouth.

Goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay (suspension) is available but fellow gloveman Kingsley Latham (internal bleeding) will not feature.