DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson expects the Magpies’ FA Trophy second qualifying round tussle with AFC Totton to be “every bit as difficult” as their previous tie with Yate Town.

Thompson’s men host the Stags, who play one league below in the Evo-Stik Southern Division One South, at the Clayson Stadium tomorrow (3pm) having beaten Yate 2-0 in a replay after an initial 1-1 draw.

Respectful of the challenges posed by teams in the eighth tier of English football, Thompson sent scouts to watch Totton’s 1-1 league draw with Yate ahead of the Magpies’ clash.

He told Echosport: “I think it will be every bit as difficult as Yate Town was. They played each other the other day and apparently Totton, if anyone deserved to win it was them. I had someone there watching the game.

“It’ll be as difficult as Yate, which took two games, even though we were the better team in the first game. The second game was very level. It will be a tough tie, no doubt about it.”

While Thompson called for Dorchester to manage the pressure of being the higher-ranked team, the former Woking number two admitted the Magpies have more to lose should they taste defeat.

“There’s always a certain amount of pressure,” he said.

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“You have to deal with that, that’s cup football.

“You play teams below or above and people say you’ve got nothing to lose when you play a team above and obviously you do have things to lose in terms of the way people perceive things if you play a team in the league below.

“It’s not a massive difference between the two leagues. We’ve already played a team from that league, we knew how difficult that was,” he added.

Should Dorchester win the game, the Magpies would require just one more victory to earn a place in the main draw.

Thompson said: “We want to get through. It’s a very good competition and all football players dream of playing at Wembley, although that’s a very long way off.

“I’m not sure if a team from this level has ever reached Wembley, I know it has from one below the National League but in terms of the FA Trophy it’s a competition you want to progress in as far as you can.”

Thompson also revealed he has been scanning the market for a possible loan move, with any such deal taking the Magpies’ quota of loan players to the maximum of five.

He said: “I’m always speaking. I’ve been speaking (this week) to managers. Nothing’s definite yet but there’s always a possibility that someone could come in before (tomorrow).

“Obviously the team has to be prepared to let their player play in the FA Trophy.

“You’re always looking to improve. I wouldn’t say I’m happy but at the moment that’s the squad I’ve got.

“I wouldn’t rule out someone coming in before Saturday, but nothing (is) happening right at this moment. It’s just talking with people, finding out and watching games.”

Dom Panesar-Dower (concussion) remains out, while Luke Winsper (suspension) and Ross Carmichael return.

Tom Blair begins a suspension for his sending off in the Yate replay, although Echosport understands Dorchester are still awaiting confirmation on whether the winger will miss three, or four, games.